Human-robot collaboration: Welcome, fellow robot!

Flexible manufacturing in variable batch sizes with utmost efficiency – this is the challenge for the production of the future. To meet it, human-machine interaction will be required through all phases of robotic automation implementation – making it easier and faster to setup, install, commission, program, operate maintain and re-use robots in all applications.

In today’s modern factories, many production steps are already automated using machines. Human knowledge, intelligence, flexibility, creativity and sensitive touch ensure the smooth running and quality of production processes.

Alongside conventional industrial robots, collaborative, sensitive robots (“cobots”) can make it not only easier to commission and program them, but in many cases also work directly together with production workers, easing their workload. They can take on strenuous, ergonomically unfavorable and monotonous work, such as overhead work or the performance of repetitive tasks. Their floor space requirement is relatively low, as any safety equipment required can be designed to be extremely space-saving.

Depending on the area of application, humans and cobots can work together with varying degrees of proximity. Even though the term “human-robot collaboration” is the one most commonly used, the “C” in HRC can stand for various different forms of cooperation.

Coexistence: Humans and robots work in adjacent workspaces without safety fencing. They do not, however, share a common workspace and work independently of one another on different tasks. In this case, the sensitivity and safety of a cobot can greatly ease and speed the commissioning, programming and re-use due to handguiding, teach training, and the lightweight nature of most cobots.

Cooperation: In human-robot cooperation, humans and robots work in the same workspace. They work alternately on different tasks within a process. There is no direct interaction. This type of collaboration calls for fenceless operation, either because the cobot is inherently safe or the workspace is protected with sensors.

Collaboration: Humans and robots interact in a shared workspace. For example, the robot passes something to the human operator, or they simultaneously perform different tasks on the same workpiece.

Human-robot collaboration is revolutionizing industrial production – and also playing a major role in other sectors, such as the medical technology sector.

Automation expert KUKA is one of the primary driving forces at the forefront of this development with its sensitive, collaborative robots and intelligent software solutions.