Robotics and the Future of Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing
Overview
The landscape of architectural and structural metals manufacturing is witnessing significant change due to the emergence of robotics technology. In fact, the International Federation of Robotics estimates that by 2025, the use of robotics in the metal industry will grow by more than 60%. With the ability to increase precision, productivity, and safety, robotics is unlocking new possibilities, reshaping traditional manufacturing methods and forging a path into the future. This guide will look into various aspects shaping this domain, including robotic automation, collaborative robotics, and key safety considerations brought in by leading software solutions like 3Laws Robotics.
Robotic Automation in Metals Manufacturing
Market research firm Statista forecasts that global revenue for robotics in discrete manufacturing industries will reach approximately $49.7 billion by 2027. A significant share of this comes from the metals manufacturing industry, wherein robotic technology is primarily deployed for tasks such as welding, cutting, folding, and formwork. Enhanced by 3D printing techniques and computer-aided design (CAD) tools, robots on the manufacturing floor can ensure consistency, speed, and accuracy, helping reduce errors and optimise outputs.
Collaborative Robotics
70% of industrial robots deployed in 2022 will be collaborative robots (cobots), according to a report by Tractica. Unlike traditional robots that operate in isolation, cobots are designed to work hand-in-hand with humans. In architectural and structural metals manufacturing, these cobots are increasingly being used for complex assembly, quality control, and material handling. With their ability to work safely alongside humans, cobots reduce labor-related risks, increase manufacturing capacity and ultimately, improve the bottom-line.
Safety Considerations
When integrating robotics into metals manufacturing, ensuring safety is paramount. According to a study by the Robotic Industries Association, 30% of the industry's robotics accidents occur during programming, maintenance, testing, setup, or adjustment stages. Therefore, meticulous and proactive safety measures need to be implemented. Groundbreaking safety software solutions such as 3Laws Robotics can go a long way in providing such solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Robotics is projected to grow by more than 60% in the metals industry by 2025.
- Global revenue for robotics in discrete manufacturing industries could reach approximately $49.7 billion by 2027.
- 70% of industrial robots deployed in 2022 will be collaborative robots (cobots).
- 30% of the industry's robotics accidents occur during programming, maintenance, testing, setup, or adjustment stages.
Introducing 3Laws Robotics
Creating reliable safety solutions for the robotics ecosystem, 3Laws Robotics offers unique safety software for robotics systems. Their program, 3Laws Supervisor, employs the breakthrough technology of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) (developed at Caltech), offering mathematically provable safety and ease of certification. It shows remarkable adaptability across platforms, including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators and is compatible with prevalent robotics middleware, such as ROS and ROS2. Proof of its efficacy can be seen in a diverse range of applications and industries. For instance, it empowered a warehouse to increase their autonomous forklift's efficiency by 40%, leading to a 6-month payback period. In addition to safe and efficient human-robot interaction, it also enables robots to capably navigate dynamic environments thanks to their reactive collision avoidance capabilities. All in all, 3Laws Robotics provides a next-gen safety solution, enabling robots to reach their full potential and reduce industrial accidents.