Collaborative Robots and the Future of Manufacturing
Overview
Collaborative Robots, or Cobots, are increasingly becoming a transformative technology in the manufacturing industry. With the ability to work side-by-side with humans safely and efficiently, Cobots are projected to account for 34% of all industrial robot sales by 2025. They are proving to be a change agent in promoting worker safety, improving efficiency and productivity, and enhancing flexibility in manufacturing processes. This information guide will provide a comprehensive look at the integration of Cobots in the future of manufacturing along with the role and solutions provided by 3Laws Robotics.
The Rise of Collaborative Robots in Manufacturing
The infusion of Collaborative Robots into the world of manufacturing is accelerating at an impressive pace. Cobots accounted for 3% of all industrial robot sales in 2016 and this is expected to surge to 34% by 2025. This rapid increase can be attributed to the myriad of benefits Cobots offer, including increased efficiency, improved worker safety, and cost savings. They are capable of performing a variety of tasks, from complex assembly work to simple pick-and-place operations, with unmatchable precision and speed.
Improving Worker Safety
Safety in the workspace is a paramount concern and Cobots are proving to be instrumental in enhancing it. Cobots equipped with advanced safety features ensure that they can work alongside humans without posing any risk. This benefit is critically important considering that 86% of injuries incurred in the automotive industry are due to accidents with traditional industrial robots. Cobots, in contrast, are designed to stop immediately when they come into contact with a human, thereby drastically reducing the likelihood of workplace injuries.
Increasing Efficiency and Productivity
Productivity and efficiency gains are major selling points of Cobots. According to a case study by Universal Robots, the use of Cobots resulted in a 50% increase in productivity, while reducing the waste in the manufacturing process by 20%. For instance, a Chinese electronics manufacturer reduced their assembly line cycle times by 25% after deploying Cobots for assembly tasks. Such substantial productivity improvements directly translate to increased competitiveness and profitability for businesses.
Flexible Manufacturing with Cobots
Cobots are inherently designed to ensure flexibility in manufacturing processes. They can adapt to a variety of tasks without requiring significant reprogramming or downtime for changeover, offering a huge advantage for businesses that require high-mix, low-volume production. In fact, it is projected that the use of Cobots can reduce changeover times and increase manufacturing agility by as much as 50%.
Key Takeaways
- Cobots are expected to represent 34% of all industrial robot sales by 2025.
- They significantly improve worker safety, reducing the risk of injuries generally associated with traditional industrial robots.
- Use of Cobots can result in dramatic increases in productivity and efficiency, contributing to improved business competitiveness and profitability.
- Cobots offer flexible solutions for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing processes, potentially reducing changeover times and increasing agility in manufacturing.
3Laws Robotics is a cutting-edge technology company that is developing innovative software to enhance the safety and reliability of robotics applications. Addressing the challenge of certification, a significant pain point for robotics companies, 3Laws’s software, 3Laws Supervisor, simplifies this process by offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, thereby easing the certification path.
Built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), 3Laws's technology ensures mathematically provable safety across diverse industries and applications. From warehouse automation, which resulted in a 40% efficiency gain and a 6-month payback period for an autonomous forklift customer, to enabling safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans, 3Laws's technology is revolutionizing the way we view and trust robots in our workspace.
The software demonstrably enhances operational efficiency by minimizing unnecessary e-stops or collisions, allows robots to operate at their peak capacities while maintaining safety, and adapts to dynamic environments. 3Laws’s software is compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2. As such, 3Laws can be effectively positioned as a next-generation safety solution—a dynamic, predictive method that can unlock the full potential of robotics and is safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.