Development of an Experimental Set on Automated Work-piece Sorting and Storage System Using Industrial Robots Controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) develop an experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller, 2) evaluate the quality of the experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller, 3) find the efficiency of the experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller, and 4) study the satisfaction of students towards the experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller. The population included 17 first-year undergraduate students in Mechatronics and Robotics Technology at Nakhon Si Thammarat Technical College who registered in the subject of Robotics Technology and Application in the first semester of the academic year 2024. The research instruments were an experimental set, a quality assessment form, a data recording form, an achievement test form, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Statistics included mean, percentage, and standard deviation.

The results of the study revealed that 1) the experimental set of automated work-piece sorting and storage system using industrial robots Controlled by a programmable logic controller could be developed according to the specified design. 2)  The experts had the highest opinion towards the experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller. 3) The developed experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller had an efficiency (E₁/E₂) of 84.51/80.88, which is in accordance with the specified criteria of 80/80. Finally, 4) the learners reported the highest level of satisfaction with the experimental set of automatic work-piece sorting and storage with industrial robots controlled by programmable logic controller.