Is your next robot a cobot?

I recently began looking into robots for an application and noticed other applications that also appeared suitable for automation.

No, our company is not looking to replace associates—the robots, in general, will be targeted for more mundane tasks such as machine tending, repetitive assembly and spray painting.

A couple of decades ago, I sold robotic thermal spray systems. We offered bright orange, 6-axis, articulated robots, which were effective for a variety of uses. Our applications required repetitively spraying hot metal or other materials onto parts, including anything from dental implants and hip replacement parts to jet engine components and centrifuges for use in the Canadian oil sands. Those robots always needed some sort of guarding, be it a light beam or actual fencing. In most cases, we provided soundproof rooms with dust collectors for the overspray.

Now, collaborative robots, or cobots, are available. A conventional robot requires guarding to prevent humans from entering its workspace and possibly getting injured. Cobots, on the other hand, generally do not require guarding, but users must perform a risk assessment for each application. The manufacturer of the cobot I’m looking at has sold thousands of them, 80 percent of which do not require safety guarding. This enables humans to work beside them on the shop floor.

In addition, the cost of a robot has dropped over time. Back in the day, my base price for a robot with a 10-kg payload capacity was around $90,000. The cobot I’m eyeing is around $46,000 for the same capacity. One with a 5-kg capacity is about $10,000 less, and is suitable for simple, repetitive-assembly operations. Even lower-priced cobots are available, though they sacrifice some accuracy.