Collaborative robots are an exciting area of growth for automation and manufacturing. A potentially useful and cost-effective automated tool for manufacturing, “cobots” can work safely with people in a shared workspace, enhancing flexibility and reducing risk. Compared to traditional robots, cobots offer the advantages of safety, relative ease of use, and lower cost. However, as useful as this technology promises to be, assemblers are still trying to understand it in many ways.
Because some suppliers introduced collaborative robots to the market via general distribution, it was natural for the technology to be seen initially as a commodity. Cobots were often sold by people with limited experience in robotic integration. The robots were marketed as inexpensive and easy to use—basically something that anyone could buy and set up. This inevitably led to problems, incorrect applications and lack of support. Often, end-users were left to make the most of a confusing situation.