Collaborative Robots and the Future of Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
Overview
The future of perishable prepared food manufacturing is transitioning steadily towards incorporating collaborative robots known as 'cobots'. In this guide, we will examine how these intriguing innovations are shaping the food industry's future, the hurdles and concerns in scaling up the utilization of cobots, and how companies like 3Laws Robotics are developing solutions to these challenges. Some key statistics referenced in this guide include; stagnant growth rate for perishable prepared food industry, 25% of tasks in food manufacturing being potentially automated, and a predicted cobot market value of $12 billion by the year 2025.
Collaborative Robots and Food Manufacturing
Collaborative robots, or cobots, have the potential to reshape the perishable prepared food manufacturing industry. Between 2020 and 2021, this industry saw a growth rate of only 0.010%. However, the introduction of cobots into production lines can see this number drastically change. Cobots are designed to work in tandem with humans and are safe to use, with their sensors avoiding human injuries during operation. By integrating cobots into the workforce, food manufacturers can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase product quality.
The Scope of Automation
The Food and Agriculture Organization states that up to 25% of tasks in food manufacturing can potentially be automated. For perishable prepared foods, critical tasks such as sorting, picking, and packing can be taken up by cobots. Such automation would not only increase productivity but also improve the quality and consistency of the products. Moreover, cobots can work non-stop, eliminate the possibility of human error, and reduce the risk of food contamination, thereby ensuring stringent food safety standards.
Concerns and Hurdles of Scaling Up Automation
Scaling up the use of cobots in perishable prepared food manufacturing does come with concerns and hurdles. Manufacturers often worry about the integration of cobots with existing machinery and the cost associated with it. There is also a need to train employees to work alongside these new technological partners. Finally, ensuring the safety of human workers sharing workspace with these robots and the challenge of robot certification are significant hurdles that need to be overcome.
The Emerging Cobot Market
Despite these challenges, the cobot market is surging. By the year 2025, the cobot market is predicted to reach $12 billion, indicating the industry's swift transition towards automation. Collaborative robots are proving to be cost-effective in the long-term, due to their ability to work 24/7 without downtime and improve operational efficiency. They are also entirely configurable and can work with precision in tasks such as cutting, thus reducing wastage and ensuring consistency in the food manufacturing process.
Key Takeaways
- Cobots can help stagnating perishable prepared food manufacturing industry by improving efficiency and ensuring consistent product quality.
- Up to 25% of tasks in food manufacturing can potentially be automated by these cobots.
- Despite concerns regarding integration and training costs, the cobot market is predicted to reach $12 billion by 2025.
For companies looking to adopt cobot technology, 3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of developing innovative software to enhance safety and reliability of robotic systems. They bring to the table their software, 3Laws Supervisor, which simplifies the process of obtaining certification by offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness. This software is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), scientifically backed technology that guarantees safety.
3Laws has a vast array of use cases spanning diverse industries and applications. For warehouse automation, they managed to help a client achieve a 40% efficiency gain. In the realm of human-robot interaction, 3Laws' software offers safe, uninterrupted operation of robots near humans, which is vital in an industry where collaborative robotics is on the rise.
With their reactive collision avoidance capabilities, 3Laws allows robots to manoeuvre effectively in unpredictable environments, which is especially important in dynamic settings like food manufacturing setups. By providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, 3Laws enables robots to operate closer to their peak capacities.
The adaptability of 3Laws' software is also impressive. It is compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2, and can work with a variety of platforms, including mobile robots, drones, and manipulators. As such, it places itself as a next-generation safety solution that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods.
Collaborative robots are poised to revolutionise the perishable prepared food manufacturing industry, and companies like 3Laws Robotics are making this future more accessible and safer for everyone.