Initially, robotics and automation seemed like a luxury for enterprises. Bigger businesses had the capacity to invest in advanced technology to simplify and speed up their logistics and operations. The same could not be said for smaller businesses working with limited manpower and budget – until now.
Collaborative robots (also known as “cobots”) are attractive solutions for businesses in need of flexibility for their growing business but don’t have the capital resources or scale of work to justify their automation. Simply put, it is an ideal solution for small to medium-sized businesses interested in investing in automation.
These collaborative robots can adapt to different positions, as well as accomplish tasks with minimal programming and supervision. Unlike traditional robots, they do not replace their human counterparts. Instead, they work together with humans to improve high-mix, low volume (HMLV).
Who Can Benefit from Collaborative Robots?
Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the helping hand of a robot. Today’s collaborative robots are lighter and easier for small to medium-sized manufacturers to integrate into their operations and logistics.
In terms of who should invest in collaborative robots, it would make sense if the following people consider dabbling into cobots:
- Operators with dangerous or repetitive jobs
- Owners in need of a fast payback period for their investments
- Managers who are unable to fill shifts, but can redeploy employees
- Small to medium-sized manufacturers with a minimum of 50 employees and a maximum of 500 employees
Why Should You Invest in Collaborative Robots?
According to an MIT study, human-robot collaborations are 85 percent more productive than robots or humans working alone. For instance, it’s more cost-effective for a person to present parts to a robot for assembly instead of moving the robot from one facility to another to gather the materials before it can do its job.
Collaborative robots work with software for many applications and machines, which means you can easily redeploy them to make your operations more flexible. Plus, cobots are lightweight and reliable.
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In terms of repairs, most collaborative robots come with warranties that account for additional operating hours to ensure the machines run smoothly for years.
The most common types of collaborative robots include the following:
- Fixed-base. A single-arm in charge of the repetitive work; often handles the tools and parts.
- This includes exoskeletons, which allow the users to leverage the personal touch of a human and the endurance and strength of a machine.
- Especially useful for quick changeovers and pick-and-place tasks.
In terms of collaborative applications, HMLV small and medium-sized businesses can use collaborative robots for the following:
- Packaging and shipping. Tasks include applying shrink wrap to boxes and loading pallets. Collaborative robots are good at heavy lifting.
- Machine tending. Cobots are often used for this purpose. They are in charge of replacing repetitive tasks of placing and picking tools or parts.
- Inspection of products and parts. Unlike human inspectors, robots do not experience mental fatigue.
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They can inspect items more quickly and accurately using high-resolution sensors or cameras. - Adaptive assembly. Cobots are so flexible they can snap on parts, tighten bolts, drive screws and apply adhesives.
The versatility of cobots makes it an appealing addition to any work, especially for small to medium-sized businesses that wish to simplify their operations.
What are the Benefits of Collaborative Robots?
Increased Human and Robot Efficiency
With traditional robotics, operators often load the parts to machines and leave the workspace to allow the robot to do its work. Cobots, on the other hand, receive the parts directly from the operators without leaving the workspace. It saves you time, floor space, and money.
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Greater Flexibility
Today’s robots can work in complex human environments without the need for barriers or external sensors. This enables manufacturers to remove robots or deploy both robots and humans within a single workspace. This offers great flexibility to small to medium-sized facilities.
Easy to Integrate
As mentioned above, cobots are movable and lightweight. You can easily integrate them into your current infrastructure without needing costly or permanent infrastructure changes. Unlike traditional robotics, which take months or years to install, you can deploy collaborative robotics within a few short weeks and immediately reap the benefits.
Reduced Human Error and Increased Accuracy
Human error can be costly for any business since it can hurt your bottom line. Collaborative robots reduce your risk for this by enabling you to make rapid decisions, as well as helping you manage multiple tasks and minimizing the likelihood of human error.
Who says enterprises are the only ones that can benefit from robotics? No matter what your work style is, a collaborative robot can streamline your operations. With cobots, anything is possible – even for small to medium-sized businesses.