4 key advantages of cobots in the workplace

Over the past few decades, the world has seen a steady increase in the use of industrial robots and robotic automation. And with so much money riding on new technologies and future automation, industrial robot brands are continuing to ride hot on the heels of the next innovative leap that can revolutionise the robotics market.

Today’s robots are fast leaving behind their fixed work stations and limited functions to work side by side with human employees in shared workspaces. Collaborative robots, also called cobots, are making automation easier across all industries and are redefining human-robot relationships.

Businesses in today’s industrial landscape are finding more and more uses for cobots in the workplace. Here are four of the main advantages of cobots:

1. Easy programming

Conventional robots can only perform a single predetermined action and require lots of knowledge and time to be correctly programmed. Cobots, on the other hand, are easy to program and can be completely set up in as little as 30 minutes. They can be made to learn new actions with the use of mobile applications and simple software. Cobots can even sometimes be made to perform multiple tasks, making them ideal for fast use in critical industrial processes.

2. Increased efficiency

Traditional robots require operators to load the right parts and leave the workspace before they can function. Cobots, however, can work directly with parts given to them by their operator, without any need for the operator to leave the workspace. This reduces time, space and business expenses while boosting productivity and profitability.

3. Can be used by small businesses

Today’s cobots are a game-changer for small and mid-sized businesses that can’t reap the benefits of conventional factory automation systems. The advanced collaborative robot technology available at present can be used to automate a large number of manufacturing processes from assembly and sorting to polishing and packaging. This helps smaller corporations to create novel business models that can improve profits while still being sustainable.

4. Safety

Industrial workplaces can be fraught with danger, but cobots make accidents and failed machinery a thing of the past. Not only do collaborative robots work side by side with humans, they can also perform complex and dangerous tasks that are difficult to achieve with the use of traditional robots and manpower. Cobots prevent human error and protect the user from harm by displaying a high level of accuracy and reliability with every movement.