Robots have become a common feature in the modern factory. Manufacturers now prefer to automate their processes with robots. This is evidenced by the results of numerous surveys on the manufacturing industry that have shown that robots, collaborative robots are the leading items bought by factories.
As more and more manufacturers accept and invest in collaborative robots, collaborative robot manufacturers are growing in the market. They are developing robots that will deliver robust results to manufacturers.
Here are some of the features that make up modern collaborative robots.
Safety
One of the major features that industrial robot manufacturers focus on as they build these vital machines is safety. Collaborative robots are extremely safe for use in the factory floor without need for fencing as was the case with traditional robots.
Among the foremost safety features of the cobot is its design. Collaborative robots are designed with rounded to edges to ensure they do not cause injuries when bumped into. They also have in built safety mechanisms that allow them to stop when they sense human presence close enough to them to cause an accident.
Size
Collaborative robots are made to be highly compact in size. They occupy minimal space within the factory floor. This is one of the features that has led to their high popularity.
With the rising costs of factory real estate, it is quite difficult for factories to invest in large machines that take up large amounts of space. Therefore, for their small size, many factories will love collaborative robots.
Affordability
Another prominent feature that industrial robot manufacturers focus on while manufacturing the collaborative robot is their purchase price. Cobots are quite affordable unlike their traditional counterparts.
As a factory asset, utilized in production, their affordability is seen by how long it will take for the factory to recoup their investment. For the most part, companies that have already acquired the collaborative robot have seen that they are able to recoup their investment in less than two year.
With their impact felt immediately they start working in the factory.
Ease of use
Another prominent feature of the collaborative robot is how easy they are to use. For most factories, there is no need to employ a highly specialized robot programmer.
Collaborative robots are easy to use. Any factory worker can become the designated robot programmer. All that is required is a short training from the cobot manufacturer or integrator. Following the training, the factory worker can now, easily and competently program the cobot to carry out a production task.
Multi-tasking
Another highlight feature of the collaborative robot is the ability to carry out more than one task in the factory. This is a great advantage and cost-effective measure to a factory, since they do not have to buy numerous robots for different tasks.
To enable the multi-tasking capability, factories need to purchase additional tools that enable the robot to do more than one task. The tools can enable the robot to carry out tasks such as inspection, pick and place and even assembly tasks.
Lightweight
Another feature of collaborative robots is that they are lightweight. For the users in the factory, this is an advantage. How?
The robot may be required to carry out tasks in different corners of the factory. This means that it has to be moved from one corner to another. Being lightweight makes it possible for factory workers to move it.
Another advantage of the robot being lightweight is that it will not cause any serious injuries when bumped into.
Conclusion
Industrial robot manufacturers have over the last decade designed, developed and offered to the market the cobot. Users in the market accepted it and have gained greatly from it. With all the above features, collaborative robots are built for the modern factory. Going forward, it is expected to feature strongly in every factory that wants to do well in the market.
