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Cobots: giving greater confidence in automation solutions

16 June 2023

George Thompson and Andrew Mason discuss the rise of the cobot and its potential applications in production environments.

To help understand how they can used in a range of applications it might help to understand where they came from. Collaborative robots (cobots) were first developed for use in relatively simple and low payload automation applications. They had three key attributes – firstly they are able to work alongside humans without the need for fences or guarding. This can be achieved as long as there is compliance with the requirements for collaborative operation defined in ISO 10218-1: 2011 clause 5.10.5 (power and force limiting).  

Secondly, they are small and lightweight enough to be redeployed in different locations within a factory. This helps if the hours of just one task are insufficient to justify a payback – by utilising the cobot in multiple applications in different locations will often enable sufficient payback. Finally, they have an intuitive programming software with facility to drag and teach positions to build an application. 

Easy programming
The introduction of easy programming and the subsequent development of an ecosystem of complementary End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) and sensors – such as force and vision – has enabled inhouse engineering departments to develop their own cobot applications with the need of any outside help, which can result in reduced lead times and costs, as long as the appropriate legislation is understood and followed. 

From the initial introduction of cobots, which had a typical payload capacity of 5kg and reach of about 800mm which is similar to that of a human arm. Subsequently cobots with higher payloads and reach has led to wider application deployment – for example end of line palletising with payload of 20kg and reach of 1.7m – which enables cobots to complete with lower end industrial robots. Here the risk posed to humans by the higher payloads is likely to result in the application needing to be guarded and/or protected with light curtains and floor scanners. However, many en-users still see the benefits of easy integration and in-house programming provide sufficient benefits to justify the project.

Since the initial introduction of cobot arms, the second phase has been with automated vehicles such as Automated Mobile Robots (AMR) or Automated Guided vehicles (AGV) for transportation of goods within manufacturing facilities. The automated vehicles are typically used in logistical tasks to delivery part from stores to the line or finished goods to stores or despatch.

Combinations of cobot arms on AMRs is also a growing area, with the AMR delivering the arm to position to a pick position. The cobot arm completes the picking or placing task and then the mobile robot is then able to move the arm to another production station.  These combination units can have a positive impact on productivity, enabling a reduction in dangerous or repetitive tasks for operators such as manual lifting and introducing automation into a manufacturing process that may not have given sufficient return-on-investment in the past.

The introduction of cobots has given confidence in automation for companies who have previously not been able to justify or have feared investment. It can also be an enabler for more traditional automation by allowing companies to see the benefits that automation can bring to a business.

George Thompson is chairman of the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA); Andrew Mason is Automation Sales Manager at RARUK.


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