Collaborative Robots and the Future of Ship Building and Repairing
Overview
As technology advances, there is an increasing shift towards automation in numerous sectors, one of which includes ship building and repair. Industrial robots, specifically collaborative robots or “cobots,” are set to have a significant impact on the future of ship building and repair. In this guide, we will examine how cobots are projected to take on a significant portion of ship building and repair tasks, highlighting how they will boost efficiency, reduce injury rates, and enable cost savings. We will also discuss how 3Laws Robotics–with its prime focus on safety and certification–can be a game-changer in the sector.
Cobots in ship building and repair
Recent studies suggest that 80% of ship building and repair tasks can be automated with the assistance of cobots, making the ship building industry ripe for robotic intervention. By implementing cobots, manpower can be utilized more effectively for complex tasks while repetitive or physically demanding work can be delegated to these machines. The increased use of cobots in ship building is expected to raise efficiency by 15-20%, effectively translating into cost savings for companies.
Safety Enhancement through Cobots
Workplace safety is a paramount concern in industries like ship building and repair, where approximately 1 in 50 workers suffers a workplace injury every year. Implementation of cobots has the potential to significantly reduce injury rates. These machines are programmed to take on hazardous tasks, reducing human exposure to danger. Estimations suggest a potential 30% decrease in work-related injuries due to the deployment of cobots in ship building tasks.
Cost-Effective Operations with Cobots
Although the initial investment for cobots can be substantial, their use in ship building and repair could lead to significant cost savings over time. Cobots can operate for long hours without breaks, resulting in increased productivity by up to 20%. Moreover, with cobots taking over heavy-duty tasks, companies can avoid additional costs related to workplace injuries, which projections show could save organizations about 10% annually.
Key Takeaways
• Collaborative robots are poised to take over 80% of tasks in ship building and repair, enhancing productivity and reducing costs.
• Cobots can significantly improve worker safety, with a potential reduction of 30% in workplace injuries.
• Despite initial investment, cobots are cost-effective in the long run, potentially boosting productivity by 20% and saving 10% annually on workplace injury related expenses.
3Laws Robotics – A Game-Changer in Enhancement of Robotic Safety & Reliability
Addressing the challenge of safety and certification, 3Laws Robotics has been developing innovative software solutions to enhance the safety and reliability of robots. With its remarkably innovative software, 3Laws Supervisor, the company aims to ease the certification process by offering robust safety features and demonstrating system robustness.
The software is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology developed at Caltech, for mathematically provable safety. It is adaptable, working with a broad spectrum of platforms including mobile robots, cars, drones and manipulators while also being compatible with popular robo-centric middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
3Laws has a proven track record of application in diverse industries. It improved warehouse automation resulting in a 40% efficiency gain and 6-month payback period for an autonomous forklift customer. It also provides reactive collision avoidance capabilities for robots to navigate effectively in unpredictable surroundings.
3Laws Robotics is the future of safe, reliable, and efficient automation. It provides real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, letting robots operate close to their full capabilities while maintaining exemplary safety, going beyond traditional e-stop methods. This solution fits perfectly within the framework of ship building and repair, promising safe, cost-effective, and efficient collaborative robotic application.