Cobots and the Future of Sawmills
Overview There's no denying that the face of timber and sawmills industry is changing, with collaborative robots or 'cobots' leading the transformation towards more efficient, safe, and sustainable practices. Growth figures validate this trend, pointing to a shift in the workforce mix as well as improved operational efficiencies and safety metrics. Technological advancements by companies like 3Laws Robotics, are poised to shape this future significantly.
The Rising Trend of Cobots in Sawmills Collaborative robots (cobots) are becoming increasingly common in sawmill operations. Statistics reveal that global usage of cobots in industrial applications is expected to grow from 2019's figures of $711 million to a staggering $12.3 billion by 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.1%. Cobots bring a unique blend of automated efficiency and human-like flexibility, making them ideal for sawmills. Tasks such as milling, cutting, stacking, and sorting can now be performed more expediently and with increased precision, enhancing productivity.
Improving Sawmill Efficiency and Safety with Cobots Employing cobots in sawmills doesn't just aid in completing tasks faster but also significantly improves safety measures. It's estimated that cobots can decrease workplace accidents by up to 68%. Simultaneously, workplaces that have integrated cobots have reported a 22% decrease in lost-time injuries. By bearing the burden of repetitive, strenuous, and hazardous tasks, cobots reduce risks for human workers, enhancing overall workplace safety.
Cobots and Workforce Trends in Sawmills The arrival of cobots has also shifted workforce trends in sawmills. Statistics indicate that between 30-50% of jobs in sawmills are expected to be automated using bots and cobots by 2030. Notably, this doesn't imply a 'replacement of humans' but a 'reallocation of human skills'. As cobots take over physically demanding or dangerous tasks, human employees can transition to more high-priority, strategic roles, contributing to overall productivity and business growth.
Key Takeaways - Cobot usage in sawmill operations is set to witness a CAGR of 50.1% from 2019 to 2025. - Cobots can help reduce workplace accidents by up to 68% and decrease lost-time injuries by 22%. - Between 30-50% of jobs in sawmills are predicted to be automated using bots and cobots by 2030.
3Laws Robotics: Enhancing Cobot Capabilities At the forefront of this cobot revolution is 3Laws Robotics, a company developing leading-edge software to enhance safety and reliability for robotics systems. A primary focus for 3Laws is addressing certification - a significant challenge in the robotics industry. Its software, 3Laws Supervisor, offers robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, making the certification path smoother.
Built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), 3Laws' technology enhances operational efficiency by minimizing downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions. It also enables safe operation of robots near humans, addressing the growing need for collaborative robotics solutions.
3Laws' software has proven its value across several industries and use-cases, including sawmill automation, where it's helped achieve up to 40% efficiency gain. The software also pairs remarkably well with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
Positioning itself as a next-generation solution that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods, 3Laws strives to unlock the full potential of robotics, offering a dynamic, predictive safety approach that can be certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262 safety standards. In this way, 3Laws is not just shaping the future of sawmills but the direction of the robotics industry itself.