How Collaborative Robots Fill Automation Gaps for Manufacturers

Collaborative robots or "cobots" are a new class of robots that are bridging the gap between fully manual assembly and fully automated manufacturing lines. Lightweight, flexible, easily programmable and safe to implement, collaborative robots can meet short-run production challenges faced by manufacturers that are adjusting to advanced processing in smaller batch sizes. This has become a critical competitive advantage for small and mid-sized specialty device manufacturers and is helping to fill automation gaps for larger OEMs with processes that couldn't be cost-effectively automated in the past. Join two robotics experts as they discuss how cobots differ from traditional industrial robots, and how to seamlessly integrate specialty applications such as soft gripping for pick-and-place, and assembly. They will also provide examples of how manufacturers can increase production, improve quality, and reduce costs with collaborative robotics.