How automation and cobots are used today
Cobots offer fast ROI, are easy to deploy, offer low TCO, and are safe to operate around humans without barriers.
Since the introduction of robots on the production line, the world has witnessed a revolution in automated production. Today, there are countless applications for industrial robots in many industries, which has led to a huge growth in the field of robotics. While the entire industrial robotics sector has seen growth during that time, the most exciting and fastest growing segment belongs to collaborative robots (cobots).
Cobots are growing in popularity due to their flexibility, safety, small footprint, fast ROI, low TCO and user-friendliness. Keep reading to learn more about how automation and cobots are used today and why these tech solutions are so popular.
Robots technology and cobots automation have found a wide range of industrial applications including assembly, dispensing, welding, finishing, material handling, material removal and quality inspection.
Cobots are used in eight major industrial sectors: food and agriculture; furniture and equipment; electronics and technology; metal and machining; automotive and subcontractors; plastics and polymers; pharmaceutical and chemical; science and research.
This list continues to grow as new opportunities to benefit from collaborative automation are discovered.
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The success of the automation industry depends on many types of hardware and software technologies. While machines are capable of accomplishing a number of tasks within an enterprise or on factory floors, they need to be paired with the right software and end effects to be truly effective. Here are four types of automation being used today.
1 - Robots
Traditional industrial robots are large machines that require a safety fence. Expensive to buy and operate, these traditional robots are difficult to program and tend to have a single purpose. It's no surprise that the industrial sector is increasingly interested in production automation cobots.
Cobots are smaller and more flexible than traditional industrial robots. They are also more secure, allowing them to be deployed with human personnel on a variety of tasks, from machine care and quality control to finishing and packing & palletizing.
2 - Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence, or AI, plays an increasingly important role in the industry. In fact, AI is seen as an essential component of Industry 4.0 – a vision of future manufacturing that combines the best of data communication, real-time analytics, and human-to-human collaboration. robot. When machines are equipped with AI, they can learn to react to a variety of situations.
3 - Modeling and simulation
Using technology and automation effectively requires planning and understanding of the end product. Manufacturers rely on modeling and simulation to get a better view of how their products perform. This makes it simpler to tweak and change designs, plan for potential problems, and visualize outcomes. Simulation software is widely used when implementing traditional industrial robots, due to the high cost and low flexibility of traditional robotic systems.
Although cobots can be modeled in simulation software, for the majority of cobot implementations this step is simply not necessary - instead of spending hours modeling the application, cobot users can can simply select an appropriate end-effector, perform a safety assessment and then move the cobot into position to test its performance.
4 - Computer vision
Computer vision technology can be used in many industries to help guide robots and inspect products. Computer vision is extremely accurate and can be used to identify even the smallest defects. Vision and sensor systems can also be used for position and part measurement applications.
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There are many aspects of manufacturing that can be improved by the advent of technology and automation.
- Solve the shortage of labor
Labor shortages are a very real threat to the success of manufacturing industries. Several regions of the world are seeing their current workforces reach retirement age without the presence of younger workers to fill their roles. This has important consequences. On the one hand, there are not enough people to fill the hours required for efficient production. In addition, older workers may not be able to complete strenuous, repetitive, or fine-motor tasks as efficiently as they used to.
Automation can solve these problems. For example, in areas where there are not enough workers, manufacturers can deploy a cobot. And because cobots and humans can safely occupy the same workspace, cobots allow companies to add capacity to existing employees. Instead of replacing human workers, cobots can take on repetitive and dangerous jobs, freeing humans to do higher-value jobs.
- Increased production
Automation can help companies streamline production processes, leading to increased output and improved quality outcomes. Whether deployed on assembly, welding, sanding, inspection or other tasks, cobots can operate quickly, reliably, and consistently. And unlike their human counterparts, robot workers can operate 365 days a year, which allows companies to increase output by working extra shifts or stopping production.
- Long-term cost reduction
The main benefit of automation is lower production costs over time, due to improvements in the manufacturing process. They are also more precise and efficient, resulting in less material wastage. Additionally, when robots take over dangerous tasks from human workers, there are fewer costs associated with workplace injuries.
Cobots are a versatile, disposable solution designed to meet a wide range of industrial needs. They are designed to be user-friendly, which means that in most cases, programming and troubleshooting cobots can be done by the end user.
- Improve quality
Robotic technology and automation can guarantee a level of quality that human labor cannot match. Even the most precise and experienced craftsman will make some mistakes, such as over-tightening or misaligning screws or failing to apply an even coat of paint over a large surface. In any case, automation greatly reduces the amount of errors.
With so many applications and benefits of combining technologies, countless manufacturers have introduced automation into their businesses and factories. Let's take a brief look at the role automation plays in the automotive, electronics and interior industries.
- Car
There are many opportunities for robotics and automation in the automotive industry, including the care, assembly and quality control of machines. Implementations lead to increased throughput and improved product quality.
- Electronic device
Cobots are also a great solution for electronics manufacturers that need a flexible robot that they can easily adapt to a wide range of parts and processes.
- Furniture and equipment
Furniture manufacturing benefits greatly when automation is put to use. For example, cobots can be used to assemble, glue and weld products together. They can also be used for inspection tasks and even for packing and unloading the finished product.
There are very few physical manufacturing processes that cannot be relaxed or solved with the advent of automation systems. The manufacturing industry is adapting each year by integrating AI, robotics, advanced equipment and sensors into their processes. The most exciting and fastest growing segment of the industrial robots market are collaborative robots. Cobots offer fast ROI, are easy to deploy, offer low TCO, and are safe to operate around humans without barriers.
Cobots are growing in popularity due to their flexibility, safety, small footprint, fast ROI, low TCO and user-friendliness. Keep reading to learn more about how automation and cobots are used today and why these tech solutions are so popular.
Which industries rely on Cobots?
Robots technology and cobots automation have found a wide range of industrial applications including assembly, dispensing, welding, finishing, material handling, material removal and quality inspection.
Cobots are used in eight major industrial sectors: food and agriculture; furniture and equipment; electronics and technology; metal and machining; automotive and subcontractors; plastics and polymers; pharmaceutical and chemical; science and research.
This list continues to grow as new opportunities to benefit from collaborative automation are discovered.
What technologies are used for automation?
The success of the automation industry depends on many types of hardware and software technologies. While machines are capable of accomplishing a number of tasks within an enterprise or on factory floors, they need to be paired with the right software and end effects to be truly effective. Here are four types of automation being used today.
1 - Robots
Traditional industrial robots are large machines that require a safety fence. Expensive to buy and operate, these traditional robots are difficult to program and tend to have a single purpose. It's no surprise that the industrial sector is increasingly interested in production automation cobots.
Cobots are smaller and more flexible than traditional industrial robots. They are also more secure, allowing them to be deployed with human personnel on a variety of tasks, from machine care and quality control to finishing and packing & palletizing.
2 - Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence, or AI, plays an increasingly important role in the industry. In fact, AI is seen as an essential component of Industry 4.0 – a vision of future manufacturing that combines the best of data communication, real-time analytics, and human-to-human collaboration. robot. When machines are equipped with AI, they can learn to react to a variety of situations.
3 - Modeling and simulation
Using technology and automation effectively requires planning and understanding of the end product. Manufacturers rely on modeling and simulation to get a better view of how their products perform. This makes it simpler to tweak and change designs, plan for potential problems, and visualize outcomes. Simulation software is widely used when implementing traditional industrial robots, due to the high cost and low flexibility of traditional robotic systems.
Although cobots can be modeled in simulation software, for the majority of cobot implementations this step is simply not necessary - instead of spending hours modeling the application, cobot users can can simply select an appropriate end-effector, perform a safety assessment and then move the cobot into position to test its performance.
4 - Computer vision
Computer vision technology can be used in many industries to help guide robots and inspect products. Computer vision is extremely accurate and can be used to identify even the smallest defects. Vision and sensor systems can also be used for position and part measurement applications.
Why are automation and technology so appealing to manufacturers?
There are many aspects of manufacturing that can be improved by the advent of technology and automation.
- Solve the shortage of labor
Labor shortages are a very real threat to the success of manufacturing industries. Several regions of the world are seeing their current workforces reach retirement age without the presence of younger workers to fill their roles. This has important consequences. On the one hand, there are not enough people to fill the hours required for efficient production. In addition, older workers may not be able to complete strenuous, repetitive, or fine-motor tasks as efficiently as they used to.
Automation can solve these problems. For example, in areas where there are not enough workers, manufacturers can deploy a cobot. And because cobots and humans can safely occupy the same workspace, cobots allow companies to add capacity to existing employees. Instead of replacing human workers, cobots can take on repetitive and dangerous jobs, freeing humans to do higher-value jobs.
- Increased production
Automation can help companies streamline production processes, leading to increased output and improved quality outcomes. Whether deployed on assembly, welding, sanding, inspection or other tasks, cobots can operate quickly, reliably, and consistently. And unlike their human counterparts, robot workers can operate 365 days a year, which allows companies to increase output by working extra shifts or stopping production.
- Long-term cost reduction
The main benefit of automation is lower production costs over time, due to improvements in the manufacturing process. They are also more precise and efficient, resulting in less material wastage. Additionally, when robots take over dangerous tasks from human workers, there are fewer costs associated with workplace injuries.
Cobots are a versatile, disposable solution designed to meet a wide range of industrial needs. They are designed to be user-friendly, which means that in most cases, programming and troubleshooting cobots can be done by the end user.
- Improve quality
Robotic technology and automation can guarantee a level of quality that human labor cannot match. Even the most precise and experienced craftsman will make some mistakes, such as over-tightening or misaligning screws or failing to apply an even coat of paint over a large surface. In any case, automation greatly reduces the amount of errors.
What are some examples of automation?
With so many applications and benefits of combining technologies, countless manufacturers have introduced automation into their businesses and factories. Let's take a brief look at the role automation plays in the automotive, electronics and interior industries.
- Car
There are many opportunities for robotics and automation in the automotive industry, including the care, assembly and quality control of machines. Implementations lead to increased throughput and improved product quality.
- Electronic device
Cobots are also a great solution for electronics manufacturers that need a flexible robot that they can easily adapt to a wide range of parts and processes.
- Furniture and equipment
Furniture manufacturing benefits greatly when automation is put to use. For example, cobots can be used to assemble, glue and weld products together. They can also be used for inspection tasks and even for packing and unloading the finished product.
Ending
There are very few physical manufacturing processes that cannot be relaxed or solved with the advent of automation systems. The manufacturing industry is adapting each year by integrating AI, robotics, advanced equipment and sensors into their processes. The most exciting and fastest growing segment of the industrial robots market are collaborative robots. Cobots offer fast ROI, are easy to deploy, offer low TCO, and are safe to operate around humans without barriers.
