The rise of collaborative robots in industrial technology has sparked a “cobot revolution,” redefining how humans interact with robots in factories. Technological experts, manufacturers, and customers alike have repeatedly highlighted the benefits that cobots can bring to the floor, such as workplace safety and increased ROI. Because of this, several companies are now deploying the latest cobots in their assembly lines.

Your company may soon consider taking the same action to stay ahead of the competition and reap the benefits from this investment. However, you might want to ensure that the cobot is deployed for a task that it can actually perform well. Here are 5 steps you can take to determine the best application for a new cobot.

5 Steps to Choose the Best Task for a New Cobot

1. Identify the Most Suitable Tasks

Cobots are not designed to completely replace humans. Rather, they can augment industrial processes by taking on certain tasks, allowing operators to focus on high-skill assignments. Here are two criteria that you can look for when choosing tasks that your cobot can perform in place of an employee:

Repetitive 

A human can easily fulfill the same task, but might not be able to perform it with the same energy over an extended amount of time because of how mundane the task is. This also applies to tasks that require operators to twist and turn repeatedly. The results of the same repetitive task may vary in quality. If these jobs are left to human employees, they may also suffer repetitive strain injuries.

Cobots are able to do these tasks effectively without further strain. Some cobots have integrated vision systems making them highly capable of pattern and color recognition. These vision application features give them the ability to do repetitive tasks when given the command, executing these jobs effortlessly.

Dangerous 

These tasks may involve working in close proximity to heavy machinery or take place in environments that push employees to their limits (i.e. blast furnaces or freezers). Human operators are understandably at risk when performing these tasks themselves.

Cobots not only can perform these daunting tasks but can also do so without causing potential harm to the humans around them. Cobots have the ISO 10218-1 and ISO/TS 15066 human co-operation safety requirements which they have to meet. With their speed and force capabilities, cobots still put safety above all in every aspect.

2. Learn Your Cobot’s Kinematics

Robotic arms can perform tasks previously done by humans, but they do not move in the exact same way as human arms. You may have to forget how to complete a certain task manually, thinking about how to accomplish the same task alongside a cobot instead. Familiarize yourself with your cobot’s kinematic range and workspace. You can also explore the different orientations from which the cobot can reach the same point. Move the end effector into place, and then keep it in position while moving the elbows around.

Once you have an idea of your cobot’s range of movement, it will become easier for you to program the first tasks. Most cobots can be programmed by moving them into certain positions.

TIP: Stand in your cobot’s workplace and attempt to complete the task yourself. Mimic the robot –if your cobot only has one arm ending with a three-fingered gripper, use only one arm and three of your fingers to perform the task. A hands-on approach can help you clearly imagine how your cobot would move to execute the same task, faster than a simulator could.

3. Rethink Existing Schedules

Aside from being able to take on mundane or high-risk jobs with ease, cobots are also capable of working 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, not needing breaks or vacations the way that humans do. You will most likely have to rethink planning and production schedules to account for robotic additions to the team. For one, your company can add a third lights-out shift for cobots, programming them to assemble parts overnight and complete them before workers arrive in the morning. 

Or they can fill positions in workcells that are hard to keep staffed so the production line does not have to stop and customer orders can be filled on time.

4. Consult the Manufacturer/Distributor

Even after your cobots have been programmed and positioned, you’ll still want to keep in touch with your cobot manufacturer and distributor. With several sales and deployments under their belts, they would know the best tasks suited for specific robots in a given work environment, as well as the grippers you should be using. 

5. Think Forward

The goal of the design for assembly (DFA) process is to increase productivity by planning for future products to be assembled in the simplest way. This does not necessarily mean that you have to redesign all your company’s existing products. However, you might want to account for your cobot’s capabilities in future designs so that the cobot can fit well into applications related to new products.

There may be advantages to incorporating cutting edge manufacturing technology into your assembly line, but even the most advanced cobot will only perform well on the floor if it suits the task assigned to it. That being said, the steps to determine the best application for your new cobot are still straightforward, only requiring a bit of extra time and thought on behalf of the operators. 

It is also generally advisable to maintain contact with manufacturers and distributors, regardless of the equipment in question. The benefits of expert insight can extend beyond the deployment of your new cobots and help optimize the rest of your assembly line.

Interested in going further into the world of cobots? Continue to follow this series with a fourth bonus article about the types of collaborative robots for industrial applications.

Elixir Industrial Equipment, Inc. has been in the business of providing world-class manufacturing solutions alongside professional post-sales service. If you have been considering improving your production line by incorporating cobots, feel free to contact us, and we will help determine the most efficient options for your company.

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