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FS 2016 – Collaborative Robots
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Collaborative robots (Cobots)
Collaborative Robots, sometimes referred to as cobots, are designed to work alongside
humans in a “collaborative workspace”, an area where the robot and the human can perform
tasks simultaneously.
Besides the robot itself, the collaborative robot might include the ‘end effector’, that is the
tool adapted on the robot arm with which the robot performs tasks, and the objects moved by
it.
Unlike more traditional machines, which are ‘caged’ by a guarding mechanism, collaborative
robots often operate in the human-occupied workspace without safety fencing. However, not
all collaborative robots are guard-free, depending on their function and related safety
requirements.
Cobots are expanding the possibilities of automation as they are often easier to deploy and
use. Consequently, more flexible production automation will become increasingly accessible
to a wider number of businesses, including Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).
However, they do present new safety concerns.
As well as manufacturing, there are many other sectors where such a collaborative operation
delivers distinct advantages, including:
•
Medical (where robots are used during various medical procedures including surgery)
•
Healthcare (where robots perform tasks such as assistance with mobility)
•
Service (both domestic and professional applications)
•
Space (for example on the International Space Station)
•
Defence (robots assisting in bomb disposal and wearable robots for enhanced
mobility)
The automotive industry has been the single largest driver of the robotics industry worldwide
for decades. Today, automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), as well as other
tier suppliers are making use of new collaborative robot technologies.
Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO - Universal Robots has said:
“The world's first collaborative robots entered the market in 2009. The new
generation nicknamed cobots created a paradigm shift within the manufacturing
industry: Large corporations as well as small and medium-sized companies are
looking for new ways to optimize production processes in order to compete on a
global scale.
“The invention of cobots has made automation accessible for all. The cobots' ease-
of-use, flexible deployment, human-robot-collaboration, space saving qualities, and
their fast payback makes this new kind of robot attractive. The full potential of the
global market of cobots is very far from being realized yet - we therefore expect
increased demand in the next few years."