Some industrial digital technology such as collaborative robots (cobots), automated processes and AI can help to support existing workforces, allowing employees to work collaboratively with technology, particularly on tasks that are repetitive and low skilled, allowing them to focus on the more knowledge-based elements of their roles.
Collaborative robots (cobots) are providing manufactures with safe, versatile, easy-to-use automation that supports human labourers. But how could you replace humans with collaborative robots? These “Cobots” are ergonomically designed machines that service a wide variety of human needs and offer a broad range of capabilities. They are actually improving work conditions and empowering humans to have more fulfilling jobs in manufacturing industries, explained in more detail throughout our FREE Modern Manufacturing guide. We provide a deeper look into Modern Manufacturing Recruitment while covering many topics from an ageing workforce to how technology is affecting manufacturing.
Universal robots have always seen the potential for cobots to level the playing field for smaller companies, manufacturers in developing nations, and businesses in areas where labour is scarce. One of the main reasons why Cobots were invented back in 2008 was to help smaller companies grow. The development of these robots can make the most tedious, time-consuming and even dangerous work a lot safer for the factory worker.
Fast forward to 2021 and there’s a range of robots in all sectors that can help your business:
4 & 6 Axis Industrial Robots
4 or 6 axes industrial robot is a robot system used predominantly in the manufacturing sector. Industrial robots are automated, programmable, and capable of movement on four or six axes.
The typical applications for these types of robots include welding, painting assembly, disassembly, pick and place, packaging and labelling, palletising, product inspection and testing. All of these are accomplished with high endurance, speed, and precision. They can assist in automated material handling where the product is deemed too heavy for operator manual handling.
Collaborative Robots
· Co-existence: Humans and robots work alongside each other but with no shared workspace.
· Sequential Collaboration: Humans and robots share all or part of a workspace but do not work on a part or machine at the same time.
· Co-operation: Robot and humans work on the same part or machine at the same time and both are in motion.
· Responsive Collaboration: The robot responds in real-time to the worker’s motion
Cartesian Robots
A cartesian coordinate robot (also called a linear robot) is an industrial robot whose three principal axes of control are linear (for example they move in a straight line instead of rotating) and are at right angles to each other.
Among other advantages, this mechanical arrangement simplifies the robot control arm solution. It has high reliability and precision when operating in a three-dimensional space.
Delta Robots / Part Picking Robots
A delta robot is a type of parallel robot that consists of three arms connected to universal joints at the base/ The key design feature is the use of parallelograms in the arms, which maintain the orientation of the end effector.
Delta robots have popular usage in picking and packaging in factories because they can be quite fast, some executing up to 300 picks per minute.
Vision Guided Robots
A vision-guided robot (VGR) system is basically a robot fitted with one or more cameras used as sensors to provide a secondary feedback signal to the robot controller to more accurately move to a viable target position.
VGR is rapidly transforming production processors by enabling robots to be highly adaptable and more easily implemented, while dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of fitted tooling previously associated with the design and set up of robotic cells, whether for material handling or automated assembly.
These vision-guided robots typically integrate high-speed visions with 6 axis industrial robots or delta part picking robots.
Source: Expert
