What is Classification?

In some technical reports, certain paragraphs or sections use a kind of writing and pattern
of organization known as classification. Classification means either (1) explaining which
class a thing belongs to or (2) diiding a group of things into classes. In planning !our
reports, !ou ma! find that classification is an effectie wa! to present background
information to !our readers.
"ee the complete example of a diision#t!pe classification.
$rue classification. %ou are &classif!ing& (in the strict dictionar! sense of the term) when
!ou place an ob'ect, action, or person in one of seeral classes. (or example, the )%*
Corporation ma! hae 'ust come out with its new +,C computer but cannot decide
whether to classif! it as a laptop or a notebook computer. + botanist ma! hae discoered
a new species of fungus and must now decide how to classif! it. -ritten documents on
these .uestions would resemble comparison because features of the new item (the
computer or the fungus) must be compared to those of the established classes. $he /upiter
example in the following shows an example of a true classification in which the writer
shows wh! the ob'ect belongs to one specific categor!.
0iision. In writing courses, classification more commonl! refers to breaking a thing
down into its t!pes, classes, categories, or kinds and then discussing each one. (or
example, computers for some time now hae been diided into seeral classes1
minicomputers, microcomputers, and macrocomputers. +nd, if !ou hae eer taken
biolog!, !ou know that terrestrial life is diided into into plant and animal &kingdoms&2
the kingdoms, broken down into ph!la (the plural of ph!lum)2 ph!la, into classes2 classes,
into families2 families, into genera2 and genera, into species. 3ach of these diisions
represents a grouping of t!pes.
"eeral ke! words indicate that classifications are being discussed1 classes, kinds, types,
categories, sorts, or groups. Classification can be .uite useful in technical reports1 it
breaks the discussion of a sub'ect into smaller chunks, and it can make the 'ob of
ealuation and selection much easier.
/upiter can be classed as a /oian planet because of its size and its aerage
densit!. Indeed /upiter is the largest planet in our solar s!stem (as shown in
(igure 14) and one of the brightest ob'ects in the sk!, haing attained a
magnitude of #2.5, more than a full magnitude brighter than "irius, the
brightest star in the sk!. /upiter6s brightness results from its great size of
course but also from its high reflectiit!1 it reflects about 77 percent of the
light it receies. $he size and composition of /upiter6s interior are open to
much speculation. "ome astronomers picture the interior as haing a radius of
oer 89,999 miles and as possibl! being composed of li.uid h!drogen. $he
core is small and dense and ma! contain iron silicates. $he other /oian
characteristic of the planet is its densit!. 3en though its diameter is onl! 11
times that of the 3arth, its total olume is 11 ) 11 ) 11, or oer a thousand
times that of 3arth.
(igure 14. /upiter
:ore graphicall!, oer 1999 3arths could be packed into the space occupied
b! /upiter.
&$rue& classification. In this example, the writer argues that /upiter should be categorized
as a &/oian&#t!pe planet. $his is one t!pe of classification2 in the other, !ou diide a
collection of things into categories, or t!pes.
How to Identify Classes and the Principle of
Classification?
;nce !ou know what !ou are going to diide into classes, !our next step is to identif! the
classes and the principle of classification. (or example, if !ou were classif!ing dial!sis
machines (used to treat people with kidne! disease), !ou might list these classes1 parallel
flow design dial!zers, coil design dial!zers, and hollow#fiber capillar! dial!zers. $he
principle of classification is the design of the structure through which blood is filtered.
$he principle of classification then is the method !ou use to sort the items into classes. If
!ou sorted marbles into red, green, and blue ones, !ou6d be using color as the principle of
classification. %ou must be careful to use onl! one principle of classification at a time.
(or example, !ou couldn6t sort !our marbles b! color and size<!ou might hae some big
red ones and some small red ones=
>ere are some additional examples of classifications and their principles1
Topic Classes Principle of classification
3lectrical circuits "eries ?athwa! of electrical
?arallel
"eries#parallel
current
+nemias ,lood#loss anemia
Iron#deficienc! anemia
?ernicious anemia
:ain cause of the anemia
>urricane track prediction
methods
$otal climatolog! and
persistence methods
?articular climatolog!
and persistence method
Circulation and
climatolog! method
0!namic model method
Combination of hurricane
characteristics
-ind machines @ift machines
0rag machines
Interaction between the
wind and propeller blade
How to Discuss the Classes?
-hen !ou write the discussion of the indiidual classes, !ou must choose sources of
discussion that enable !ou to explain each class full!, add comparisons so that readers
can see the differences between the classes, and plan for the length of !our classification.
Choosing sources of discussion. -riting the discussion of indiidual classes is much the
same as it is with extended definitions1 !ou combine a ariet! of sources to explain the
classes full!<see the checklist for a listing of these sources. $o discuss the three t!pes of
dial!sis machines for ictims of kidne! disease, !ou might use these sources1
Classification of dialysis machines
Definition Aidne! disease
Description :ain components of these different machines
Process >ow the different machines operate
Comparison +dantages and disadantages of these machines
;f course, some classifications ma! use onl! one kind of writing. (or example, in the
discussion of different hurricane track prediction methods, the discussion would most
likel! be process<step b! step how the methods work.
+dding comparisons. Bo matter which sources !ou use in discussing the classes,
comparison is an important ingredient. It helps readers distinguish the different classes
from each other. Check out the following example of how comparisons work in
classifications.
Comparisons used in classification. Comparing the t!pes to each other gies readers a
clearer sense of the t!pes as well as their distinguishing features.
"hort and extended classifications. In short classifications, an oeriew of the t!pes is
packed into one sentence or into one paragraph (as illustrated in the short#paragraph
classification in the following). In an extended classification, !ou might hae one or more
paragraphs on each t!pe. If !ou are going to write an extended classification, !ou6ll use a
paragraph or more discuss each of the classes, and a separate paragraph must introduce
these classes<as illustrated in the extended classification in the following.
"ingle#paragraph classification. +ll the classes are discussed briefl! in this one
paragraph.
3xtended classification with subclasses
"chematic iew of classification. Cemember that this is 'ust a t!pical or common model
for the contents and organization<man! others are possible.
How to Format for Classifications?
Classifications don6t call out for an! special format2 'ust use headings, lists, notices, and
graphics as !ou would in an! other technical document. (or details, see1
>eadings
@ists
Botices
Draphics
Information and programs proided b! hcexresEprismnet.com. Cop!right 1FF4#2918
Features of Industrial Robots
+n industrial robot is a complex, technical s!stem consisting of seeral subs!stems
operating within the robot6s ph!sical make#up. 3ach of these subs!stems performs its
own carefull! defined functions and contributes to the oerall function of the industrial
robot. $hree of the more important of these ;eriew of this document. Bot onl! does
this introductor! sentence tell us the three main t!pes of subs!stems to be discussed2 it
also gies us an oeriew of the three main parts of this document..6)& 2G&&subs!stems
include (a) kinematics, (b) the control s!stem, and (c) the drie.
Note: $his information is deried from a report written in the mid#1FH9s. :oe !our
mouse pointer oer the thin dotted line links to see discussion.
Kinematics
Ainematics refer to the spatial arrangement, according to the se.uence and structure, of
the axes of moement in relation to each other. $here are four basic t!pes of moement
that an industrial robot ma! hae1 (1) cartesian, (2) c!lindrical, (8) polar, and (7) 'ointed#
arm. (igure 1 illustrates these four t!pes of moement and their applications.
Cartesian Co-rdinate Robot! $he Cartesian co#ordinate robot is one that consists of a
column and an arm. It is sometimes called an x#!#z robot, indicating the axes of motion.
$he x#axis is lateral motion, the !#axis is longitudinal motion, and the z#axis is ertical
motion. $hus, the arm can moe up and down on the z#axis2 the arm can slide along its
base on the x#axis2 and then it can telescope to moe to and from the work area on the !#
axis. $he Cartesian co#ordinate robot was deeloped mainl! for arc welding, but it is also
suited for man! other assembl! operations "ource of borrowed information $hese
bracketed citations indicate the source of information used to write this classification. $he
4 indicates the sources number2 the 15, the page number. %ou would look this source up
in the list of sources attached to the end of this document (not included here).6)&
2G&&I7115J.
Cylindrical Co-rdinate Robot! $he c!lindrical co#ordinate robot is a ariation of the
Cartesian robot. $his robot consists of a base and a column, but the column is able to
rotate. It also carries an extending arm that can moe up and down on the column to
proide more freedom of moement. $he c!lindrical co#ordinate robot is designed for
handling machine tools and assembl! (7114).
(igure 1. (our basic t!pes of robot configurations and their factor! applications.
Polar Co-rdinate Robot! $he polar co#ordinate, or spherical co#ordinate robot consists
of a rotar! base, an eleation piot, and a telescoping extend#and#retract boom axis.
$hese robots operate according to spherical co#ordinates and offer greater flexibilit!.
$he! are used particularl! in spot welding I5125J.
"ointed-#rm Robot! $he 'ointed#arm robot resembles a human arm. It usuall! stands on
a base on which it can rotate, while it can articulate at the &shoulder& 'oint, which is 'ust
aboe the base. $he robot can also rotate about its &elbow& and &wrist& 'oints. -ith the
swieling and bending at the wrist, six degrees of freedom can be obtained. $he 'ointed#
arm robot is the most popular form for a robot and is capable in welding and painting
work I711KJ.
Control $ystems
$he control s!stems of an industrial robot determine its flexibilit! and efficienc!, within
the limits set beforehand b! the design of the mechanical structure.
Purpose of the Control $ystem! $he control s!stem proides a logical se.uence for the
robot to follow. $he s!stem proides the theoretical position alues re.uired for each step
and continuousl! measures the actual position during moement. +s the robot operates,
the control s!stem ealuates the theoreticalLactual difference, together with other
measured alues and stored data (e.g., theoretical speeds), and produces actuating
ariables to drie the robot.
%ypes of Control $ystems! $here are two basic Ae! word indicating classification $he
word types tells us we are going to read about categories of control s!stems.6)& 2G&&t!pes
of control s!stems1 (1) the point#to#point control s!stem and (2) the continuous path
control s!stem.
Point-to-point control system. -ith point#to#point control, the robot records the
point where it picks up a part and the point where it releases that part. $he robot
then determines the best path to take between the two points I417FJ. $he point#to#
point s!stem is used when greater repeatabilit! is re.uired, or when the path
between endpoints does not matter. ?oint#to#point control s!stems work well in
loading and unloading applications I81HHJ.
Continuous path control system. + continuous path control s!stem is one in which
the robot is programmed to follow an irregular path exactl!. Inside the control
s!stem, the path to be traelled is represented b! a large number of points in close
proximit!2 these points are stored in the robot6s memor!. In the working c!cle, the
robot follows the points to reproduce the desired path. $he s!stem is used for 'obs
when the robot is re.uired to follow a specific path, such as in welding or painting
I1711HJ.
Dri&e
$he drie of the robot conerts the power supplied to the grippers into kinetic energ!
used for moing the robot. $he basic Ae! word indicating classification $he wod types
tells us we are going to read about categories of drie s!stems.6)& 2G&&t!pes of drie
s!stems include (1) electrical, (2) pneumatic, and (8) h!draulic I17181J.
'lectrical Dri&e $ystems! 3lectromechanical drie s!stems are used in about 29 percent
of toda!6s robots. $hese s!stems are sero motors, stepping motors, and pulse motors.
$hese motors conert electrical energ! into mechanical energ! to power the robot I21K2J.
Pneumatic Dri&e $ystems! ?neumatic drie s!stems are found in approximatel! 89
percent of toda!6s robots. $hese s!stems use compressed air to power the robots. "ince
machine shops t!picall! hae compressed air lines in their working areas, the
pneumaticall! drien robot is er! popular. Mnfortunatel!, this s!stem does not make for
eas! control of either speed or position<essential ingredients for an! successful robot.
Hydraulic Dri&e $ystems! $he most popular form of the drie s!stem is the h!draulic
s!stem because h!draulic c!linders and motors are compact and allow high leels of
force and power, together with accurate control. + h!draulic actuator conerts forces
from high pressure h!draulic fluid into mechanical shaft rotation or linear motion.
>!draulic fluid power is more cost effectie for short#stroke, straight#line positioning
re.uiring high forces, controlled acceleration, and repetitie motion. Bo other drie
s!stem packs as much power into such a small package2 no other drie is as safe or as
resistant to harsh enironments.