Cobots and the Future of Concrete Pipe, Brick, and Block Manufacturing
Overview:
The integration of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, in the concrete pipe, brick, and block manufacturing industry holds the potential to revolutionize production processes. Cobots can undertake labor-intensive tasks, enhancing productivity and reducing the risk of workplace injuries.
Cobots in Manufacturing
The use of cobots in the manufacturing industry has seen significant growth in recent years. According to Tractica, the cobot market is projected to reach $12.3 billion by 2025, up from $1.9 billion in 2018. Moreover, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) estimates that cobots will capture 34% of all industrial robot sales by 2025. The concrete pipe, brick, and block manufacturing sector plays an important role in this growth trajectory. Cobots in this sector can handle heavy objects, ensure precision and quality control, and cut production costs.
Safety and Reliability
A key advantage of deploying cobots in the concrete, brick, and block manufacturing industry is enhanced safety and reliability. Manual labor in this industry is linked to a higher-than-average rate of injuries; 3.9 incidents per 100 workers, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here, cobots can step in to perform high-risk tasks, reducing the likelihood of accidents. Cobots are equipped with specially designed safety features that ensure they can work alongside humans without causing harm.
Process Efficiency
Cobots can notably improve process efficiency and significantly reduce production costs. The annual production waste in the United States' concrete industry is estimated to be around 3% or 12 million metric tons, as per a study by NRMCA. Cobots can help curb this waste by improving precision, performing repetitive tasks with error rates as low as 0.02% according to Rethink Robotics. This increase in efficiency can lead to substantial cost savings for manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
- The cobot market is set to expand, with sales of cobots forecasted to capture 34% of all industrial robot sales by 2025.
- Cobots can contribute to enhanced safety in the concrete, brick, and block manufacturing industry, helping reduce the high injury incidence rate.
- Deployment of cobots in the manufacturing process can increase efficiency, decrease waste, and reduce costs, with their low error rates leading to less production waste.
3Laws Robotics
3Laws Robotics is revolutionizing the realm of robotics safety and reliability, developing state-of-the-art software that enables certification of robotics systems, to overcome one of the most significant challenges faced by robotic companies. The software, 3Laws Supervisor, incorporates safety features and provides evidence of system robustness, offering the potential to ease the certification process.
The approach of 3Laws extends beyond conventional e-stop methods, offering a proactive approach to safety. Their next-generation solution can unlock the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety that can be security certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262 standards.
3Laws' technology finds application in diverse industries and applications, from warehouse automation and safe human-robot interaction to operation in dynamic environments. The software is versatile, working seamlessly with a wide range of platforms, including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators, and is compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.