Designed specifically to work with humans in a shared workspace, most cobot applications today run completely autonomously. So there is usually no collaborative approach. The limited speed and the (temporary) lack of cognitive capabilities are the main reasons for this.
Motives to use cobots
Used mostly in applications where humans are in close proximity. Therefore a cobot allows for cost reductions. A cobot can take over (some of) the repetitive tasks of an operator. Although, of course, a cobot will not be able to completely replace an operator. In addition, cobots are used to protect the operator from repetitive or dangerous tasks or to relieve ergonomics.
Industries
A collaborative robot cannot be used everywhere due to its limitations, such as reach and payload capacity. Environments that require high speeds, heavy loads, and large workspaces are less suitable for the cobot. Similar to traditional robots, cobots will be used primarily in manufacturing industries rather than process industries. For example, think of industries such as food, automotive, electronics, engineering, and metalworking.
Cobot applications
- Palletizing
- Polishing and grinding
- Gluing and dispensing
- Screwing
- Assembly
- Loading of machines
- Loading and placing
To learn more about cobot applications, read this article 7 Industries That Benefit Most From Cobots in 2022.
