The robotics industry is expected to be one of the leading industries of the next century. With the increased performance of computers and microprocessors and the maturation of software and vision recognition, robotics will continue to be adopted at ever-increasing rates in the fields of manufacturing, semiconductors, product verification and evaluation industries, and health related industries.
Virtus'' founder''s work with leading robotics companies in Japan put Virtus in a strong position to cater to this growing market in both the U.S. and Europe. Key application for motion sensors in robotics include motion control systems and fatigue sensing. Placing sensors on robotic arms give immediate positional information that can be used to control the robot arm in a smoother more controlled fashion. The abundance of inexpensive sensors available makes it a cost-effective endeavor to place sensors on multiple parts of a robotic machine, especially those with numerous degrees of freedom.
Sensors can also be used to estimate the life-time of a robotic system or to signal when a part is about to fail. Measuring both vibrations and reaction time gives the end-user information about wear and tear. For example increasing vibrations in a system over a few years may signal that maintenance is necessary. In another example, if the robotic arm is not smooth instead jerks at one location, accelerometers can sense this and give notice to the user that for example a screw may be loose or an obstacle has entered the path of movement. Mobile robots, too, need sensors for driving and/or walking control.