Cobots – Helpful or Harmful?

by | Mar 7, 2022 | Blog | 0 comments

A worker collaborating a cobot.

Engineers design Cobots (Collaborative robots) to work alongside humans in the manufacturing process. This creates a safe environment for the human workers. There’s been some controversy recently about these types of robotics. Some people claim that cobots are actually dangerous and could cause injuries to nearby workers. Is there a valid concern about using cobots in our manufacturing areas? Let’s take a look at both sides of the issue before making any conclusions.

What Are Cobots?

Although robots threaten many people, collaborative robots aren’t out to take your job. Engineers, according to TechTarget— design collaborative robots to work alongside humans on assembly lines, in warehouses, distribution centers, and in a variety of other settings. Unlike traditional industrial robots that are designed for one specific task and operation, cobots can handle a number of different tasks.

These types of robots are different from traditional industrial robots in a number of ways. First, collaborative robots have strong flexibility because engineers can program cobots to handle different tasks and work alongside humans without posing any kind of safety threat. They’re also compatible with a variety of devices and software systems. This means they’re easy to integrate into existing operations. Last but not least, engineers design collaborative robots dual-mode operation. This means that they can function as either standalone units or as part of an assembly line.

What Do We Mean by Collaboration in Robotics?

Many of us know about artificial intelligence and robotics, but what do we mean by collaboration in robotics? We mean robots that engineers design to work alongside humans. Collaborative robots do not replace human labor, but instead help improve productivity in well-suited environments. In some scenarios, collaborative robots may even save human health.

Collaborative robots are changing manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and other industries because they can operate side-by-side with humans and take over jobs that are dirty, dull or dangerous. With collaborative robots, there’s no need to replace workers in order to keep up with demand. Instead, organizations invest in capital equipment that helps them run more efficiently and profitably. Collaborative robots free humans to focus on higher value work while also reducing labor costs by eliminating much of their routine tasks.

Benefits of Collaboration in Robotics

Collaborative robots may be much safer than industrial robots. The initial shock of an industrial robot’s fast-moving parts can cause harm to humans and damage to other machines. A collaborative robot, on the other hand, is safe around people. It doesn’t move as quickly as an industrial robot, so there’s no danger of being accidentally struck if you’re within a close proximity to it.

If a collaborative robot injures someone, it’s easy to identify who should be held responsible. It’s usually not going to be anyone other than human employees. Collaboration also makes it easier for employees and machines to learn from each other, making them both more effective over time.

Collaboration between humans and robots is also a good way to reduce resistance to automation. If people know that they will have input into how their jobs are handled, they’re more likely to be on board with robotic technologies than if they feel like their job security is at risk.

In some cases, humans may even be able to work together with collaborative robots at tasks that are impossible for either group to complete by themselves.

Are Cobots Dangerous?

Collaborative robots work alongside humans without posing any danger to them. The problem is that many people don’t realize that they need proper training before starting to use these machines. If you think cobots are as dangerous as a manned machine would be, make sure to train on how to interact with and control them properly so you can start using them.
Cobots don’t have a safety cage, which is only present in fully automated industrial robots. They are lightweight and safe because they don’t use any force to manipulate an object. Engineers can program Cobots to keep their hands away from a person and to avoid dangerous areas when moving around.
As with all new machines, it’s vital to learn how they work before you start using them. This is especially true when dealing with cobots because they aren’t man-rated, which means that workers should assess and properly handle each situation. For example, don’t lift heavy objects above your head if you don’t know for sure that there isn’t a risk of dropping them on your feet.
If your business uses cobots, make sure you have access to enough training resources in case anything goes wrong. It’s also important to train everyone who will interact with these machines – from operators and engineers to maintenance workers.
At the end of the day, cobots are only as dangerous as you allow them to be. If the engineers program the cobots well enough, there should not be a safety issue.

How does PartsBadger use Cobots?

PartsBadger uses cobots for repetitive tasks in our shop. This allows our employees to focus on more valuable, high-skilled work. This also gives them a much safer work environment. They will be able to do any job quicker and safer with these machines!

We have recently brought in collaborative robots into our shop. We use these robots for repetitive tasks in our production line. This allows our employees to focus on more valuable, high-skilled work and also gives them a much safer work environment.

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