Collaborative robots have existed since 1990, and since then there have been many great technological advances that have influenced the growth and improvements of these cobots, which now include advanced sensors, software, EOAT, cameras and artificial intelligence, plug and play, and CAD data (for automatic programming) that help them to detect and adapt quickly and easily to any type of situation in their work area, generating effective automation.
Collaborative robotics is designed to assist human labor. Working in a collaborative environment, these robots even have the ability to learn, performing repetitive or low impact tasks that allow operators to focus on tasks that require more attention in the production line. This equipment is equipped with sensors to detect the operator, thus generating greater safety with a learning perspective in which the robot remembers the movements and repeats them, making it a flexible system for someone who is not a programmer, allowing them to carry out different processes in the production line, thereby generating greater cost-effectiveness by reducing integration costs.
Currently, the industrial sector has experienced a growth in collaborative robots as this technology is more affordable, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enjoy their advantages and thus generate greater demand and competitiveness.
Within the collaborative market, there are manufacturers of cobots that cover a wide variety of applications, with more flexible designs, easy integration and minimal programming, thus making automation more effective. Among them we can find KUKA, ABB, FANUC and Universal Robots.
According to market studies, collaborative robots are expected to reach a value of $12.308 billion by 2025. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.31%, it is expected that by 2025, cobots will represent an approximate increase of 34% of the market compared to 2016, which represented 3% of the total market.
For this year, companies expect to see a significant increase as technological advances applied to collaborative robots will increase their capacities in production tasks, improving the functionality of the application, and triggering an increase in employment and productivity, a rapid return on investment and high profitability, expanding the industrial sector’s market.