THE RISE OF COBOTS

COBOTS or COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS, a new era in automation. We just grasped and, got all familiar with AI and, automation and, smart manufacturing strategy, another methodology emerged to push the boundaries of knowledge. Industry 4.0 included technologies like sensors, wireless communication and, digitalization. But even our networks are not 4G anymore, moving towards the 5.0 industry. A human-centric and, more molded version of previous approaches, and, with a stronger emphasize on collaborative technology of humans and, machines, Cobots are invented.

Collaborative Robots are friendly robots. They are designed in such a way that they can work with humans in close proximity. Cobots are designed to perform repetitive tasks so that humans can handle more complex tasks. These collaborative robots are becoming more common and, trendy in the industry, be it for efficiency in work or even to gain fame. They are intended for direct human-robot interactions inside a shared space, where they co-work. It has changed the world of automation significantly.

(There is a very cool café where the Cobots are servers and, sometimes baristas too. Robotic cafe, located inside Science City- Ahmedabad has gained fame for its Robo-Based service, making it a live example of Cobots.)

These robots are supplied with various sensors that make it collaborative by giving them a ‘feel’. Hence when it is interrupted in work it won’t harm people like traditional robots, instead, they will shoot into a safety mode. Compared to robots, these are cost-effective and, user-friendly that allows even small size industries and, companies to employ them to increase productivity and, increase quality.

Benefits of Cobots:

A few features and, advantages of these robots are;

1. Size: Cobots are compact, small, therefore can be used almost anywhere in a production process without taking much space.
2. Cost: The production cost is much less hence the process is sleek and, higher production.
3. Installing: They are easy to install. And they can even be controlled with apps and, software's.
4. Human Safety: These robots can do dangerous task that may be dangerous, unsafe or difficult for human employees, like working with chemicals, heat, welding, soldering or lifting heavy objects.
5. Flexibility: Cobots are highly adaptable and can easily learn new operations. They can be reprogrammed and, readjusted using application. This will reduce downtime and, improves flexibility.
6. Accuracy and, Consistency: Cobots can persistently operate with the same amount of force and, in a same exact way every-time, it ensures same and, accurate results all the time.
7. Mobile: Cobots are lighter in weight and, can easily be moved. They can easily execute same or different task at a different location in the same company.

Limitations:

1. Human Dependency: Cobots can operate on their own but they still need human assistance at times and, supervision.
2. Lower Payloads: Cobots can typically handle small payloads of 3 to 10 kg approx, while a few variations can handle up to 50kg, they are not meant for heavy-duty applications.
3. Limited Speed: Since safety happens to be the main goal of Cobots, speed is the secondary focus, especially when higher safety precautions are adopted. The average speed limits up to 250–300 millimeters per second. Moreover, the speed is reduced when there is human interaction to embrace safety. Hence, they aren’t much suitable for the work that needs higher speed.
4. Safety Clearances: Getting safety approval for Cobots can be a little troublesome and, time-consuming. This is because not only is there a great variety of safety regulations for close proximity robots, but also due to the fact that the relocation and, task change or tool change may need new safety certificates.

Cobots in Human Workspaces, Uses and, Utilities:

For-as-much-as Cobots have made their way in numerous sectors around the world. The industries include- Electronics, automotive, manufacturing, supply chain management, healthcare, plastics, food, agriculture, furniture, pharmaceutical, packaging, metal fabrication, construction, education and, more and more.

And their common applications includes:

• Assembly: Cobots are generally used for accurate and repetitive assembly processes such as screwdriving, and part fitting.
• Dispensing: Cobots can be used for dispensing projects such as gluing, sealing and, painting as they have torque sensors.
• Finishing: With force control that automatically adjusts to the required force, Cobots ensure consistent polishing, sanding and, buffing of materials.
• Machine tending: Cobots are used for machine-tending projects, including computer numerical control, injection molding and in-circuit-testing, which checks each component individually for damage.
• Material handling: Cobots are used extensively for material handling tasks such as picking, loading, unloading, stacking and, transporting goods in warehouses and, manufacturing settings.
• Packaging: Cobots are utilized in packaging processes to automate tasks such as filling, sealing and labelling products.
• Quality control: Vision-enabled Cobots are useful in inspecting items for defects or oddity in quality control processes. So that only high-end products reach the market.
• Agriculture applications: Cobots helps in tasks like planting, harvesting and, monitoring crops.
• Healthcare support: Cobots are increasingly used in healthcare for tasks such as medication dispensing, patient monitoring and, surgical assistance, thereby enhancing the capabilities of healthcare professionals.

Cobots VS Industrial Robots:

Industrial robots and, Cobots have many similarities, but the unique features make Cobots different. The major differences between a Cobot and an industrial robot are as follows:

• Industrial robots are designed to work independently, while Cobots are designed to collaborate or co-work with humans.
• The design of a Cobot is more lightweight and, flexible than huge industrial robots, which are larger and, more powerful than Cobots.
• Unlike industrial robots, which are built for speed and, accuracy in repetitive tasks, Cobots are outfitted with a variety of sensors and, safety features to ensure they can interact with people safely.
• Cobots are frequently employed for tasks such as assembly line, packaging and, quality control. Whereas Industrial robots are typically designed to perform specific tasks in a highly structured, automated environment.
• Industrial robots are suitable for large companies to produce many pieces in a standardized way. Smaller companies can rather afford cobots due to their cost-effectiveness and flexibility.
• Unlike Cobots, industrial robots are usually caged off to prevent humans from entering the workspace while the robot is in operation.
• Cobots come with user-friendly interfaces and, spontaneous programming, making them accessible to non-tech and, non-expert people. Unlike industrial robots, that often require specialized knowledge for setup and operation.

Although industrial robots play important role in the automotive industry and, its suppliers, their high cost, huge size, gigantic weight and, complex programming requirements have limited their use in other vertical industries.

Written by: Nandni Joshi