Robot Accuracy 101: 7 Terms Every Engineer Should Know

In a world where precision makes or breaks production, understanding the language of robot accuracy is essential. Whether you’re fine-tuning a cell or sourcing a new solution, these terms will help you make more informed decisions—and avoid costly missteps.

Terms to Know:

• TCP (Tool Center Point) – The calculated point on the robot’s tool that performs the operation. Accurate TCP is critical for precision tasks.
• Repeatability – How consistently a robot returns to a taught position. High repeatability does not guarantee accuracy.
• Absolute Accuracy – The ability of the robot to reach a commanded position in space. This is Dynalog’s specialty.
• Calibration – The process of identifying the robot’s model with real-world measurements to improve its overall accuracy.
• Kinematic Model – The mathematical model describing robot joint and link behavior. Calibration fine-tunes this model.
• Volumetric Accuracy – Accuracy within a defined 3D space, crucial for multi-axis applications.
• ISO 9283 – The standard that defines static (accuracy, repeatability, etc.) and dynamic (speed, acceleration, etc.) testing for industrial robots.

If you’re serious about automation performance, knowing these terms isn’t optional—it’s fundamental. At Dynalog, we don’t just know them—we build solutions around them.