As traditional robots are phased out with the evolution of manufacturing, collaborative robots now get a foothold into the manufacturing industry across the globe. They can now be found even in sectors that were not very keen on robotic automation such as furniture, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and more.
Collaborative robots are a new generation of robots that work alongside human workers on the factory floor. They are lightweight, flexible and highly mobile. As a result of factors that make it easier to acquire and much better to work with, robot assembly is now the most common method of production.
Main Types of Collaborations
Collaborative robots foster different types of collaboration between the worker and the robot on the factory floor. Following are some of the collaborations that can be split into various categories, take a look:
1. Sequential Collaboration
Sequential collaboration is whereby human workers and collaborative robots for manufacturing work separately to complete a particular production process. The production process will involve different steps and each worker human and robot completes their separately to produce an end product that is ready for shipping.
Take the manufacturing of a shoe, for example. A human employee shapes the sole and the top part of the shoe, then the robot following the design sketch it is given and programming instructions provide assembles the different components of the shoe into a complete product awaiting packaging ready for sale.
2. Simultaneous Collaboration
This type of collaboration occurs when both the human worker and the robot worker are able to work on a single work item at the same time.
For example, this is quite common with automakers who are already making use of collaborative robots. Human workers will be working on the intricacies of the design of the car door or any other part of the car, while the robot will be screwing other parts or items onto the same car or part.
Simultaneous collaboration brings out the meaning of the word collaborative in industrial robots. It enhances the quality of the product and ensures that production is fast and accurate.
3. Supportive Collaboration
This type of collaboration occurs when industrial robots in manufacturing and human workers are completing the same task at the same time. For example, a wearable technology like exoskeleton robot arm that helps workers in the auto industry lifts heavy parts without any strain on their part.
Why Companies Are Preferring Collaborative Robots?
Here are some of the main reasons why more and more companies are referring collaborative robots over the traditional robots:
1. Safe to Work
As illustrated in the different types of collaboration that can be achieved while working with a cobot, they are safe to work with. Traditional robots, on the other hand, need to be kept away from human workers as they are prone to causing fatal accidents.
As a major feature of their design, cobots have round, smooth edges to ensure that any contact with a human being does not lead to a fatal accident. In addition, they have the ability to sense when a human worker is too close to them and they will immediately stop moving or working.
2. Easy to Use
First, assembling a cobot does not take longer than a day, unlike a traditional robot. This helps save time and resources as it is able to get to work as soon as it is bought.
Secondly, they have an easy to use interface which can be used to program instructions on how to carry out a particular task.
Third, with a little training, factory workers are able to work or program the cobot. IT can be taught how to perform tasks either by programming or manually by holding it and taking it through the motions of performing a task. With the growing machine learning capabilities, it can be left to observe how a task is carried out and it will capably complete it.
3. Help in Maintaining Jobs
Rather than render factory workers unemployed, collaborative robots are tools to help them do their jobs better and faster. In fact, to help, factory workers focus on much more advanced jobs within the factory. Collaborative robots carry out boring and repetitive tasks, freeing up human employees to higher-level tasks.
What The Future Holds?
If we look at the present-day scenario, Collaborative Robots are becoming highly equipped for handling various industrial tasks. According to a recent report, it was seen that more than 70 percent of the physical tasks in manufacturing industries are now automated.
Many experts even believe that the line between collaborative robots and industrial robots has started to blur. And if this trend continues, smart collaborative robots will soon start to overrun the industrial sector.
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Sr. Content Strategist
Meet Manish Chandra Srivastava, the Strategic Content Architect & Marketing Guru who turns brands into legends. Armed with a Masters in Mass Communication (2015-17), Manish has dazzled giants like Collegedunia, Embibe, and Archies. His work is spotlighted on Hackernoon, Gamasutra, and Elearning Industry.
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