What are cobots?

The future of collaboration between man and machine

Robots are no longer a rarity in modern industry. But while traditional industrial robots usually work in cages behind safety fences, a new generation of robots is finding its way into factories, workshops and even small businesses: cobots - short for collaborative robots.

Contents

1. Definition: What is a cobot?

2. How do cobots work?

3. Typical areas of application

4. Safety and standards

5. Advantages of cobots

6. Conclusion: The focus remains on people

💡 Definition: What is a cobot?

A cobot (collaborative robot) is a robot that can work directly with humans without the need for strict safety barriers. It was developed to perform tasks together with humans - safely, intuitively and flexibly.

In contrast to conventional industrial robots, which are usually designed for high performance and speed, cobots focus on cooperation, safety and user-friendliness.

⚙️ How do cobots work?

Cobots are equipped with numerous sensors and intelligent controls that make them particularly sensitive to their environment. They recognize obstacles, stop automatically when touched and can often be guided or programmed by hand without the need for in-depth programming knowledge.

Many models can be controlled via an intuitive user interface or by "teach-in" - the human simply guides the robot arm manually through the desired movement, which the cobot then repeats independently.

🧰 Typical areas of application

Cobots are being used in more and more sectors - from industry to trade. Typical areas of application are

• Assembly and screwdriving work
  Support for precise, repetitive tasks.

• Packaging and palletizing
  Ideal for flexible production lines with changing products.

• Machine loading
  Cobots load and unload CNC machines, injection molding machines or printers.

• Quality control
  Using camera systems, they can inspect components and detect defects.

• Laboratory and research environments
  They reliably perform monotonous or dangerous tasks.

🛡️ Safety and standards

Safety is at the heart of every cobot application. Modern cobots comply with international standards such as ISO/TS 15066, which regulates limit values for force, speed and contact.
Thanks to integrated force sensors and adaptive motion control, cobots detect when a human gets too close and react at lightning speed - usually by stopping automatically.

🚀 Advantages of cobots

1. flexibility:
A cobot can be easily reprogrammed and used for new tasks.

2. safety:
Thanks to intelligent sensor technology, it can work together with humans without a cage.

3. productivity:
Cobots take over monotonous or ergonomically stressful tasks while humans concentrate on complex tasks.

4. scalability:
Cobots are a realistic entry-level solution for automation, especially for small and medium-sized companies.

🏭 Conclusion: the focus remains on people

Cobots are not competitors, but colleagues. They expand the possibilities of humans, making work safer, more efficient and more attractive. In the factory of the future, humans and machines will work side by side - and cobots are the key to this new form of collaboration.

FAQ