What is the purpose of 'wait' commands in FANUC programming?

The purpose of 'wait' commands in FANUC programming is to pause execution until a specific condition is met. This is essential for synchronization purposes, especially in scenarios where the robot must coordinate its actions with other devices or operations in the environment. For example, a 'wait' command may be used for waiting until a signal is received from a sensor that indicates it is safe to proceed or until an external operation is completed, ensuring that the robot does not proceed prematurely and potentially cause errors or collisions.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the function of a 'wait' command. Shutting down the robot is unrelated to pausing execution; initiating a program automatically does not involve waiting for conditions; and increasing the robot's speed is a matter of controlling motion dynamics rather than halting operations for verification or synchronization purposes. Thus, the 'wait' command is specifically designed for controlling the flow of a program based on real-time conditions.