Cobots and the Future of Repair and Maintenance
Guide Overview
This guide explores the revolutionizing role of cobots (collaborative robots) in repair and maintenance fields and presents the future prospects of this transformative technology. Throughout the guide, we will discuss the increasing presence of cobots in industries such as predictive maintenance, the benefit of decreased downtime, and the integration of 3Laws Robotics' innovative technology for enhancing safety and reliability in robotic systems.
Cobots in Industrial Maintenance
The presence of cobots in industrial maintenance is growing at an exponential rate. As per the International Federation of Robotics, the installation of cobots is expected to reach around 624,000 units worldwide by 2022, indicating an increasing adoption rate in various industries. These cobots, with their advanced sensors and prediction algorithms, are capable of identifying and reporting mechanical failures much before they actually occur, thereby averting potential disasters. This phenomenon of detecting problematic machinery and fixing it ahead of time is often referred to as predictive maintenance. The concept of predictive maintenance is increasingly becoming popular due to its ability to reduce unplanned downtime by about 45%.
Decreased downtime with Cobots
With their versatile capabilities, cobots are proving highly beneficial in decreasing work-time losses. Cobots can function round-the-clock without the need for intermittence for regular maintenance, thereby increasing operational efficiency. The cobots can perform continuous monitoring of machinery, resulting in potentially reducing machine-related downtime by almost 30%. Also, they reduce safety-related incidents on the work floor, which can often cause significant delays.
3Laws Robotics: Enhancing Safety and Reliability
Recognizing the importance of cobots in the future of industry maintenance, 3Laws Robotics is focusing on developing cutting-edge software to enhance the safety and reliability of robotic systems. Their software, the 3Laws Supervisor, incorporates Control Barrier Functions, a technology that provides mathematical assurance of safety.
Key Takeaways
- Cobots are revolutionizing the world of industrial maintenance, with their installation expected to reach 624,000 units worldwide by 2022.
- Predictive maintenance, enabled by cobots, can help decrease unplanned downtime by approximately 45%.
- Cobots can potentially decrease machine-related downtime by nearly 30%.
- 3Laws Robotics is leading the way in focusing on enhancing the safety and reliability of robotic systems, by providing mathematical assurances of safety through the use of Control Barrier Functions technology.
3Laws Robotics: Enhancing the future of Cobots
3Laws Robotics is actively addressing the challenges of certification – a significant hinderance for robotics companies. Their innovative software, 3Laws Supervisor, simplifies this process by offering robust safety features and providing evidence of system robustness. The technology is adaptable and can accustom a wide range of platforms including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. The company emphasizes the software's compatibility with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
3Laws helped a customer with an autonomous forklift achieve a 40% efficiency gain, resulting in a 6-month payback period. They enable safe operation of robots near humans - a rapidly growing need in the era of collaborative robotics. Their reactive collision avoidance capabilities allow for effective navigation in unpredictable surroundings. By offering real-time guardrails, they allow robots to operate closer to their peak capabilities, while ensuring safety. As a next-generation safety solution, 3Laws Robotics extends beyond traditional e-stop methods and unlocks the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety. The company assures the potential of getting certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262, reflecting their commitment to safety and reliability in robotics.