Collaboration is the ability to work together safely and towards a similar goal or objective. For many years now, man has been afraid to work with robots because of their unsafe nature, untethered capabilities, and inability to understand humans. Well, not anymore.

Introducing Cobots, a collaborative robot that’s been designed to work safely, effectively and efficiently with humans without traditional fencing. This may seem too good to be true, but in fact, it’s real.

These Collaborative Robotics are gaining popularity as the number one technological assistance for large and established companies. Moving with swift and posing safer for you. Read further below and learn all about their functionality and features.

All About Collaborative Robotics

The technology industry has created models by trying to find the perfect aide for simple applications like machine tending, transporting, picking and placing, palletizing and other capabilities. As so, various companies came up with force limited robotic models.

Cobots have certain features unique to its kind, that allows it to be safe around humans. This, therefore, makes it easier and safer to work cohesively. Read about its amazing features and the four types of Collaborative Robotics.

It’s Features

  1. Safety Caps
    The main feature that makes these robotics unique is their ability to read joint forces. Under different working conditions, they can detect any abnormal forces directed towards and it causes them to revert to the previous position or stop.

     

    This is a safety measure, in that, once they come into contact with a human, they can immediately respond to any dissipation of energy received due to the contact.

  2. Teaching Abilities
    It can be hand guided. Similar to when you have a new member in the team who needs to be oriented. The Cobot can be directed to follow various paths or patterns.

     

    This doesn’t relate to its safety measures but it means for it to be collaborative, it’s open to learning new things.

  3. Light in Weight
    Their design is compacted for both safety and control. Safety in that they have all the wires and motors internalized. Control in that these robotics tend to be more responsive than industrial robots.

     

    Some of them also have a skin covering to provide a cushion upon contact or impact with a human. Learn more about the differences between collaborative and industrial robots.

  4. Easy Programming
    With the ability to be taught and without fencing programming, these robots don’t require intricate integration. This means easy programming and no need for changes in its production line.

Types of Collaborative Robotics

Reading through the robots background, you’ll learn that during its make, engineers thought it would be best to provide a robot that would relate effectively to the needs of their clients.

While doing so, they thought it would also be best to look for a type that would perfectly coexist with humans without causing them harm. Hence, these four types.

  1. Safety Monitored Robot
    In some occasions, the robot could be left to handle tasks by itself. Without human guidance and monitoring, safety measures have to be put in place to protect the interest. For this kind, the robots are made in such a way that if humans come into the robots space, it’ll stop any movements since they have safety caps.

     

    This makes it useful in that the robot can easily detect humans at its predetermined zone, making it safe for the human. One drawback though is that, in a scenario where contact is constant, work will be relatively slow due to constant stopping.

  2. Power and Force Limiting Robots
    This is the most recognized collaborative robot. It provides a safe, work friendly environment for humans and robot to coexist. Without the need for fencing or additional safety tools, this type reads force loads to allow them to stop once on overload.

     

    Another feature of these robots is that it can dissipate the forces received from human contact. Which also explains their round shape.

    Their technological specifications are designed in that the maximum force denoted by N and the energy, J, can be indicated to know how much force can be exerted by the robot to remain within the safety region.

  3. Speed and Separation Monitoring Robots
    Very similar to the safety robotics, it is controlled by laser vision systems to monitor human positions. It will work in accordance with its make in that whatever installed features have been placed; they will follow to ensure the safety of workers.

     

    Once a human comes close, the robot will sense and respond accordingly by stopping or slowing down. Depending on how close the worker is, the robot can wait for instructions or just slow down to avoid contact.

    The difference between this cobot and the safety monitored robotics is that with this kind, the robot only needs to pause its activities as it awaits the human to move away from it.

    As for the safety monitored robotics, once a human gets into the safety predetermined zone, the robot is not allowed to move until a
    feedback or command is sent out allowing it to resume activities.

  4. Hand Guiding Robots
    As explained above, these robots are teaching friendly. Using traditional industrial robots formatting, these type of robotics can be used to guide people through a hand guiding motion

     

    The safety parameter here is that the robot will feel forces exerted by the human as they come into contact. It will need the force limiting features to adequately provide safety to any human it comes close to.

    Otherwise, it’s quite a primary type of robot but presents various benefits of robots including, ease of work, pressure, and tension.

Get the Aide You Need

Teamwork is a wonderful thing for any work environment. It provides a smooth, safe, and secure work environment. With these collaborative robotics, the essence is the same. Working in union towards a similar goal at a faster pace.

If you’re looking for an aide for your company, something that will work faster, smarter, and better to compete in the industry. Then get in touch with us, and let’s journey through together.