Cobots that work alongside humans in automated processes are already in the future. Collaborative solutions are already transforming the way we operate and eventually the industrial world we know, whether they are used in production, storage, maintenance or training. They are also suitable for entry level automation applications because they are easy to develop and install.
Collaborative and industrial robots are increasingly used in a wide range of industrial activities. The high rate of adoption of robotic solutions is mainly due to the great benefits they can offer. The robots improve productivity and throughput while offering high precision and reproducibility. They are also easier to retrofit into existing manufacturing setups as no physical barriers are required to ensure a safe working environment.
The flexibility of cobots to perform multiple functions is what makes them profitable for companies. “They are reprogrammable and, therefore, can be reused in numerous activities; some even have the ability to learn,” says Juan Miguel Poyatos, director of the Industry 4.0 Executive Program at the School of Industrial Organization.
Construction, logistics, and healthcare are now the industries that invest the most in cobots, as they can increase productivity by up to 85 percent. The robotic arm is the most common cobot design and is used for screwdriving, sanding, moving goods, assembly, and welding.
Experts say that for a cobot to be effective, it is necessary to identify the tasks that are suitable for cobots to be performed by looking at their characteristics, which means that they must be performed by trained personnel with the support of a robot.
As an internal policy, organizations must inform about the benefits of this technology and its internal explanation of the benefits of the new technology and its contribution to greater productivity and competitiveness.
Traditional industrial robots are sometimes much more difficult to program than collaborative robots. Simple applications no longer require a team of robotics engineers to program them. Universal Robots “cobots” offer a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create programs, change waypoints, and communicate via digital inputs and outputs. Third-party developers can also provide a wide range of plug-and-play products for the Universal Robots robotic arm while adhering to the same easy-to-use paradigm.
Repetitive jobs are ideal for collaborative robotics technology to thrive. The list goes on and is not limited to a single sector. Robotic automation has the potential to be used anywhere a task is performed the same way over and over again.
Collaborative robots have changed the rules of the game not only in the manufacturing industry, but also in other fields where automation is possible. Industries that were previously uninterested in robotics are now discovering that collaborative technology can help them reap the benefits of automation as well.
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