Robotic Design Configurations and Platforms for Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

Industrial robots play a vital role in modern manufacturing by improving precision, consistency, and productivity. Selecting an appropriate robot configuration is critical, as it directly influences workspace reach, accuracy, speed, payload capacity, and overall system performance. This paper presents a review and comparative analysis of common industrial robotic design configurations, including articulated, SCARA, Cartesian, cylindrical, spherical, and parallel kinematic robots. The structural characteristics, advantages, limitations, and work envelope properties of each configuration are examined. Articulated robots provide versatile spherical workspaces for a wide range of tasks, SCARA robots are well suited for high speed planar assembly, and Cartesian systems deliver rigid and accurate motion for handling heavy loads. Cylindrical and spherical robots support specialised applications, while parallel robots offer high stiffness and precision. Key considerations such as workspace constraints, industrial challenges, and emerging trends in collaborative operation and adaptability are discussed. This review supports informed robot selection and system integration for efficient and flexible manufacturing systems.