Collaborative Robots and the Future of Hardware Retailers
Overview: Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are becoming increasingly prevalent in the retail hardware industry. They offer numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency and accuracy, decreased labour costs, and improved safety. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, as cobots become even more advanced and adaptable.
The Rise of Cobots in Hardware Retail: In recent years, the use of cobots in the hardware retail industry has soared. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global cobots market is expected to reach $12 billion by 2025, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.1% from 2020. This growth is expected to be driven in large part by the increased adoption of cobots within the hardware retail sector.
Effects on Labour Costs and Efficiency: One of the main advantages that cobots have over conventional robots is their ability to operate safely alongside humans. This enables retailers to reduce labour costs while increasing overall efficiency. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that teams made up of humans and robots working together can be approximately 85% more productive than teams made of either humans or robots alone.
Improving Retail Safety with Cobots: Cobots are also recognized around the globe for their ability to boost safety within retail environments. According to the Robotic Industries Association, workplaces that implemented cobots saw a 72% reduction in workplace injuries. This makes cobots an attractive option for retailers looking to reduce the risk of injuries and associated costs.
Cobots: The Future of Retail Hardware: As cobots continue to evolve and improve, they are expected to become an increasingly common feature in retail hardware stores. The International Federation of Robotics estimates that cobots will perform 34% of all manufacturing tasks by 2025. This suggests that hardware retailers who do not adopt this technology may risk falling behind their competitors in terms of efficiency and safety.
Key Takeaways: - The global cobots market is expected to reach $12 billion by 2025, making them a fundamental part of the future retail hardware. - Teams of humans and cobots are 85% more productive, leading to improved efficiency and decreased labour costs. - Cobots implementation results in a 72% reduction in workplace injuries, significantly improving safety in retail environments. - Cobots are projected to perform 34% of all manufacturing tasks by 2025, highlighting their increasing importance in the hardware retail industry.
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3Laws Robotics: Enhancing the Capabilities of Cobots: With the importance of cobots in retail hardware becoming increasingly clear, 3Laws Robotics is developing innovative software that aims to enhance the safety and reliability of robotic systems. 3Laws' software, 3Laws Supervisor, was built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology developed at Caltech that provides mathematically provable safety.
It’s important to note that the software is equipped to work across a range of platforms, including cars, drones, and manipulators, and is compatible with ROS and ROS2, making it a versatile and adaptable solution for a variety of applications. In addition, it has been successfully implemented in a number of use cases such as warehouse automation where 3Laws enabled one of their clients to achieve a 40% efficiency gain.
Apart from increased efficiency, 3Laws aims to ensure safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans. This supports the growing need for collaborative robotics solutions, especially in dynamic environments where 3Laws' reactive collision avoidance capabilities allow robots to navigate effectively in unpredictable surroundings. By reducing downtime caused by unnecessary stops or collisions, 3Laws enhances operational efficiency.
(3Laws Supervisor) takes safety protocols to the next level, surpassing traditional e-stop methods by offering dynamic, predictive safety that can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262. 3Laws Robots is indeed a next-generation safety solution for the hardware retail industry.