MT Magazine May/June 2024

FEATURE STORY

THE AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS ISSUE

14

Designed to be easy to use, easy to program, and easy to attain an ROI: the cobot. (Image: Kuka Robotics)

Machine load/unload is a good application for cobots, as seen here at Go Fast Campers with a unit from Universal Robots. (Image: Universal Robots).

As there is an increased need for reliable productivity, cobots can provide the way to achieve that even for organizations that don’t have deep familiarity with automation or programming skills. While those six-axis arms – so physically imposing that they served as little more than lobby ornaments – were once so challenging to set up and run that they required massive resources, cobots are designed and engineered for comparative simplicity in their appearance and in their setup. If it is the right task, this simplicity can equate to productivity. So, if you’re interested in the potential of deploying cobots in your operations, here are some key things you should know. This information was garnered from leading suppliers of cobots: ABB Robotics, Fanuc America, Kuka Robotics, Universal Robots, Yaskawa Motoman. 1. What Makes a Cobot a Cobot Versus a Robot? The operative term is “safe” because it is meant to work collaboratively – or at least in the same space – with people. As Yaskawa America’s Bill Edwards, senior manager, collaborative robots, puts it: “A cobot is a robot that has some combination of safety features and sensors in place that allow it to operate in the same space as a human worker. Typically, these sensors are going to be presence detection (laser scanners, lidar, light curtains) and/ or power force limiting (PFL) sensors built into the robot arm. The RIA/A3 had also introduced criteria where the arm must also have a safe design, such as smooth finish and no sharp edges.” Which is not to suggest that traditional robots aren’t safe. But they do require more in the way of protective barriers that keep people away from the work zone while the robot is in operation. 2. What Are the Ideal Applications for Cobots? Cobots are ideally suited for applications that require an operator to frequently interact with the robot – like in the

case of high-mix, low-volume production runs. The reduced time it takes for an operator to enter the collaborative robot cell, whether behind a fence or not, makes changeovers far quicker and less disruptive. Also, for tasks that require a lot of path programming, a cobot solution can be a good fit due to the simplified programming methods that have been recently developed, says Tim Paton, ABB Robotics, general industry segment manager. Another way to consider whether a cobot is applicable comes from Travis Langford, channel development manager at Universal Robots: “The easiest way to think about it is that a cobot is human, not superhuman. Most industrial robots have superhuman speeds and can handle massive payloads. Cobots are more in the realm of human speeds and payloads.” Adam Willea, district manager-Florida, Fanuc America, cites a couple of specific applications: “Ideal applications are slow material handling projects or inspection projects. With slow throughput material handling, this could be machine load/ unload, packaging, palletizing, assembly, and so on. “For inspection, this would either entail the robot carrying a camera/sensor and working it around a part for quality checks or, alternatively, carrying a part to present various angles to a fixed sensor/camera for the same inspection.” 3. What Are the Applications Best Avoided? Universal Robots’ Langford provides a great image of what not to attempt: wrapping a shoebox with paper. A person should do the wrapping. Then the cobot can pick it up and stack it on a pallet. (Shoelace-tying is another example he provides that cobots are not well suited for.) Cobots are comparatively simple devices and they should not be deployed in complicated tasks. Fanuc’s Willea lists other tasks to be avoided: “Anything that requires high speeds, high payloads, dangerous tooling, or dangerous parts. Cobots are legally required to run much slower than industrial robots to maintain