Human-Robot Collaboration aims at exploiting the different but complementary skills of both the human worker and the programmable machine. It requires a high degree of interaction between the two actors and it is accomplished by special devoted robots. It is possible to redesign existing industrial robotic cells for executing a number of collaborative actions, respecting safety requirements.
There is an increasing interest both from academic people and from robot manufacturers in the design of robots that are able to work side by side with human operators for the execution of complex industrial tasks. In a survey on innovative flexible approaches to automotive assembly technologies, considerable importance is given to cooperation among humans and robots. During complex assembly tasks, some components require both precise handling and secondary assembly operations, such as inserting fasteners and connecting wire harnesses. Some of these tasks require the precision and speed of automation, while others benefit from the dexterity and intelligence of human operators. Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) brings benefits to industrial applications in terms of speed, efficiency, better quality of the production and better quality of the workplace (ergonomic).
As far as now, robotic automation was seldom applied in small batch productions because of the variety of products and of variable production schedules. The workplace organization leans towards flexibility where manual systems are advantaged. Now, several robot manufacturers have introduced special robot architectures, named collaborative robots, allowing the human workers to execute their assembly and welding tasks in the same workplace as the robots. Examples are Universal Robots (UR3, UR5, UR10), KUKA LBR iiwa, ABB Yumi and Fanuc CR-35iA etc.
KUKA LBR iiwa the arrival of the LBR iiwa, our lightweight robot for delicate assembly work, safety fences make way for human-robot-collaboration in the workspace. For the first time, humans and robots can work together on highly sensitive tasks in close cooperation. This opens up the possibility of new applications and the way is paved for greater cost-effectiveness and utmost efficiency. The collaborative and sensitive LBR iiwa robot is available in two versions with payload capacities of 7 and 14 kilograms.
Universal Robots is a leader in the collaborative robot world. The company is growing fast and is now the largest collaborative robot manufacturer worldwide. The UR10, which is the largest platform made by the company, is largely used in heavier applications or applications that require a greater reach. The UR10 has the same characteristics as its lighter brothers regarding programming. For controlling such a large robot, it’s a really easy-to-use interface. UR10 users can also benefit from the UR+ platform for accelerating the programming method or to finding a tool that would easily suit this robot.
Unfortunately, these robots have limitations in terms of payload, velocity, strength that prevent their widespread use. Some of these limits are related to the necessity of respecting the Technical Specifications ISO 15066 in order to assure human worker safety. Introducing a robot in your enterprise is certainly a big step for your business. It will help boost your output, increase your productivity, prevent injuries and bring many more advantages. However, the process of getting there might be a long and exhaustive one. Once all these tasks have been accomplished, you must make sure to choose a robot that suits your needs. Having a robot with the right reach, degrees of freedom and payload is integral to the success of your application. The next step in your integration process will be to choose the different tools to be fitted on your robot so it will work properly. Shopping for your robot is just one part of the robotic integration; figuring out the right applications, the right person to do it and how to introduce it in your enterprise are also a huge part of the implementation.