Cobots: What are They and Why Are They Becoming Important?

We are living in an era where automation and robotics are working to reshape multiple key industries in the global business landscape. This has enabled collaborative robots, also known as cobots, to emerge as an attractive solution that can bridge the gap between human workers and machines.

As manufacturers struggle with growing labour shortages and rising costs, the need for greater flexibility and less downtime is paramount. Cobot technology is not just redefining the workplace, but leaving businesses to focus on more complex and innovative tasks, ultimately bolstering their transformation strategies as a result.

In this way, AI is contributing to an even bigger industrial shift towards an optimised workplace - providing organisations with the appropriate tools to upscale their business. 

How Cobots have risen in popularity

A cobot, or companion robot, is a robot intended for direct human-robot interaction within a shared space, or where humans and robots are in close proximity. These types of machines are typically lightweight and are constructed to ensure maximum safety within the workplace.

The market is continually expanding and was valued at roughly US$760m in 2022, according to Apollo Research Reports. This figure is expected to rapidly swell to US$22.6bn by 2032.

These machines operate using a range of sophisticated hardware and software, including robotic arms that are equipped with multiple joints to facilitate a wide range of motion. Programming cobots can be done via traditional coding, graphical user interfaces, or even hand-guiding the robot through desired movements.

As a result, cobots can assist throughout various areas of business. Perhaps the most well-known use case for them currently is in manufacturing and industrial environments performing tasks such as welding, handling heavy loads and quality testing and inspection.

On a more complex level, cobots are being integrated with machine learning algorithms to improve their adaptability within a specific environment and so they can improve their decision-making abilities. 

Despite their growing popularity within warehouse and manufacturing environments, there are still several key challenges associated with cobots. Specifically, there are still concerns over these machines replacing human labour, which could contribute to increased job cuts.

Likewise, it is important to set cobots up responsibly to avoid increased safety risks. Cobots on average have a lifespan of roughly 30,000 to 40,000 hours.

AI in the wider robotics industry

As this type of technology has evolved, AI is now being operated in tandem with automation to help robots perform more complex tasks.

In line with the continued fast-paced development of generative AI (Gen AI), robotic exploration has turned increasingly into action in 2024. Now, the industry is poised to rapidly accelerate, with advances in deep learning algorithms for example improving robot interactions and helping business leaders with their decision-making capabilities.. 

One such company developing robotics with AI in mind is Universal Robots, who have expanded their models to fit a broad range of applications. This had led them to become one of the most popular cobot series in the world.

“It has been interesting and perhaps surprising to see AI changing the lives of office workers before it touches working practices in most factories,” Anders Billesø Beck, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Universal Robots, previously told AI Magazine. 

“We have many partners developing applications using AI to allow our robots to perform more complex and diverse functions. For example, AI allows robots to have human-like perception, handle variation, move parts precisely, adapt to changing environments, and learn from their own experience.”

As cobot technology continues to be developed, they are expected to become more common across numerous workplaces. If used successfully, they have the potential to improve worker safety and adapt to changing production needs.

At their core, cobots are designed to be used in tandem with humans.

******

Make sure you check out the latest edition of AI Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Tech & AI LIVE 2024

******

AI Magazine is a BizClik brand