For years the main headache of many a production manager or business owner is achieving optimum output with minimal and cost-effective input. Thanks to the latest advances in technology, businesses can now automate and optimize their production lines. Using cobot is a unique approach to automation that combines the best of robotics, human monitoring, and advanced data analytics. By integrating automation into your business, you can increase productivity while improving worker safety and reducing costs.
What is a Cobot?
According to universal-robots.com, a cobot is a collaborative robot that helps in manufacturing by performing tasks alongside human employees. It is a powerful production optimization tool working in close proximity to humans with little risk of injury. While humans concentrate on strategic tasks, cobots handle heavy and repetitive tasks, reducing the need for human labor and increasing productivity.
Features of a Cobot
Source: tuliptechs.com
The essential components of a cobot include the following:
Artificial Intelligence
The AI that powers the cobot enables it to learn from its interactions with humans and other machines. AI allows a cobot to excel at its tasks over time.
Sensors
These sensors allow the cobot to “see” its surroundings and make decisions based on what it sees. For example, if there’s something in front, it will stop moving forward until someone tells it otherwise or until someone moves the obstruction.
Actuators
Actuators help move the robot around or manipulate objects in its environment, including arms used for picking and putting them down or grippers used for gripping objects.
Benefits of Automation with a Cobot in Manufacturing
A cobot performs different functions depending on the work environment you need its services. Some can perform complex tasks while others perform simple but repetitive tasks like picking up items off the floor and putting them elsewhere. Working with a cobot presents the following benefits:
Source: cobottrends.com
Ability to Co-work with Human Employees
A cobot collaboratively performs tasks alongside human workers. It supports them in completing tasks that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to complete. It helps create a safer workplace and improve overall productivity. Using the cobot helps make their production lines more efficient and increases the rate at which they produce goods while also improving employee safety, satisfaction, and retention.
Seamless Deployment to Existing Processes
A cobot is a serious alternative to traditional automation and robots because it seamlessly integrates existing processes. You can program a cob for multiple tasks, thus suitable for almost any application in any industry. You only need to program a cobot’s skillset to suit the needs of different tasks and applications.
Ability to Quickly Learn New Tasks
You can easily deploy a cobot across production lines when the current process is complete. You can program a cobot to take up tasks in different environments, situations, and parts of the production process. A cobot works fine in an array of industries. You won’t have to purchase new machines when you want to change your production process to add different products. You can program a cobot for quick changes in product requirements to get new products out faster.
Source: tuliptechs.com
Mobility and Lightweight
A cobot is lightweight and easy to move from one part of the production process to another. It presents a huge advantage to manufacturing companies that need to move quickly with their products or adapt quickly to changing markets.
Adaptability to Production Changes
A cobot is ideal for various industries, from manufacturing to food service. For example, if you have a new product launch on your hands, your cobot can be deployed quickly from one task to another without extensive programming. It adapts quickly to changes in the production environment without any downtime.
Cost-effectiveness
A cobot is more cost-effective than some other forms of automation because they don’t require an operator’s salary or benefits. A cobot is less expensive than traditional automation solutions. As such, it’s easy for small businesses with limited budgets to invest in this technology without worrying about how it will impact their bottom line.
Source: cobots.ch
Accuracy and Efficiency Improvement
Cobot provides one of the most effective ways of improving productivity through its accuracy and efficiency. A cobot thrives in tasks that demand a high degree of precision and accuracy. A cobot is precise and reduces errors while also avoiding collisions or other hazards when working alongside people. It offers support in completing difficult or dangerous tasks for humans, thus creating a safer workplace while improving overall productivity.
Increase Productivity
A cobot helps your workforce become more productive, efficient, and accurate. Using a cobot on your factory floor can increase overall productivity as it performs tasks that are dangerous to humans. It handles heavy lifting or repetitive tasks like picking up parts from a conveyor line. For example, if you need a robot that can pick up pieces of metal and small objects, your best bet would be a cobot arm with grippers because they’re lighter and easier to maneuver around objects with precision control over each joint movement. Unlike humans, cobots don’t get tired or distracted and don’t need breaks. As a result, they will save your company money while maintaining safety by keeping employees safe from getting hurt.
Safe Working Environment
By using sensors, a cobot can detect when someone is in their way or within touching distance and respond accordingly. A cobot can sense if they’re going too fast or too slow and adjust accordingly by slowing down or stopping. That means it can work alongside people without injuring anyone or damaging anything else. A cobot learns from its interactions with people and improves performance over time.
Source: frost.com
Conclusion
A sure way to achieve efficiency and minimize costs for a company looking to improve its production is using a cobot. It’s paramount to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for manufacturing. You will need to carefully consider the type of cobot that is most beneficial to your business.
A cobot is an excellent co-worker useful for various tasks, including picking up objects and moving them around. You can program it for multiple tasks and seamlessly integrate it into existing processes. A cobot increases productivity and efficiency and improves accuracy in the production process. With all the advantages of using cobot, it seems the right time to go out of the way and start incorporating it into your business.
