Robotic Collision Sensors provide crash protection and increased safety by mechanically detecting when the robot arm* has encountered an obstruction, absorbing the crash energy, and quickly signaling the robot to stop – thus preventing costly damage to equipment and tooling.

RAD's Spring-Assist Ultimatic™ Pneumatic Collision Sensor minimizes the potential for costly damage to the robot arm or tooling in the event of a crash and maximizes uptime by automatically returning to within 0.0005" (0.013mm) of its starting position once it has been separated from the source of the crash.

NOTE: RAD Spring-Assist Ultimatic™ Collision Sensors effectively replace the discontinued EOA MultiClutch Breakaway Safety Devices. For more information, click here.

The Spring-Assist Ultimatic™ Collision Sensor is RAD's patented mechanical collision sensor that:

• Sends a signal to the system's E-stop or controller within 4 to 10ms of a collision to minimize costly damage to equipment and/or tooling. RAD's collision sensor provides protection even if the system itself is not moving.
• Absorbs the crash energy without loss of air pressure in the collision sensor. Keeping the air in the collision sensor prevents tooling "sag" and eliminates the effects of compressed air being released into the environment.
• Resets Automatically to within ± 0.0005" (0.013mm) in X, Y, and Z dimensions and to within ± 0.017º rotationally to maximize uptime and eliminate the need for human intervention.
• Increases Payload Capacity to nearly double that of RAD's standard U-4622 with no increase in size
• Maintains significant resistance even with no air pressure, reducing tooling sag if air pressure is lost
• Provides angular, rotation and axial (compressive) compliance
• Allows pneumatic adjustment so the user can easily change the amount of resistance the unit must encounter before signaling a collision.
• Has a compliance adjustment feature that lets the user determine the amount of deflection allowed before a signal is sent to the robot's E-stop or controller.

Operating Principle

RAD's Spring-Assist Ultimatic™ Collision Sensor works by establishing the minimal points of contact required to restrain all degrees of freedom (movement) in normal operation. When a robotic crash occurs, external forces upset this balance thereby allowing angular, rotational or compressive compliance. This motion opens a normally closed switch and sends a signal to your robot's E-stop or controller.

Note: The Spring-Assist Ultimatic™ Collision Sensor can be used as a compliance (alignment) device rather than a collision sensor by simply mounting the unit without wiring it to the robot. Please see the Compliance Device section for more end-effector compliance options.