The U.S. has set 2015 as a goal to reach grid parity (that point where solar electricity is equal to grid electricity) while other nations predict reaching it as soon as 2010. No matter your thoughts on regulatory involvement it is clear there will be a resurgence in investment, development and innovation within the PV manufacturing community throughout the world and it will largely be driven by technology. Finding the most effective tools and processes to gain more productivity and decrease costs within a set capital plan is paramount. While the significance of robot automation in the manufacturing of solar cells is obvious, which robot types and kinematics fit each unique process may not.
Which solar manufacturing areas offer the greatest return opportunities for robotic automation? Which robot type is best for a given solar
application task and how does vision fit it? This white paper by Adept Technology Inc., acts as a primer targeting these issues and discusses how the solar industry can best maximize factory throughput, drive down costs and improve efficiencies with robotic automation.
Solar Cell Manufacturing & Robot Automation: Right Fit / Right Robot