Cobots

  Mr. Mofongo Grand Café and Restaurant is a unique dining establishment located in Groningen, Netherlands, known for its eclectic menu and innovative use of technology. Above the Café and Restaurant is Mofongo’s Distillery & Cocktail bar. The demonstration of the entire process of distilling from basic ingredients to the final product is impressive, but the most distinctive feature is the 26-foot-high liquor cabinet behind the cocktail bar with 56 different homemade liquors and exceptional rum varieties. This huge selection is not reachable by humans, but a robot arm can take it in stride. The robot arm, named Armano, is positioned at the cocktail bar. It is capable of drawing liqueurs and gins from the bar’s extensive collection. You can see a short video of the robot in action here. The owner claims it is unique in the world, adding a technological and theatrical element to drink preparation. The spectacle draws in curious customers, but it also helps bartenders. The robot arm is not eliminating jobs; it is providing assistance to humans. You might say it is collaborating. This is an example of the relatively new class of technology called cobots.

Collaborative robots, or cobots, are a type of industrial robot designed to work alongside human workers in a shared workspace. Unlike traditional industrial robots, which are often isolated from human contact due to safety concerns, cobots are equipped with advanced safety features which allow them to operate safely in close proximity to humans. Cobots, represent a specialized segment within the fast-growing industrial robotics market. As of 2024, the global collaborative robot market was valued at two to four billion dollars, and analysts expect it to grow significantly over the coming years to $11.8 billion to $71.36 billion by 2030. I expect cobots to have a big impact, enhancing efficiency and productivity across various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and of course Dutch bars.

To drill down a bit further, let me summarize some of the key features. Cobots are designed with safety as a priority. They include features such as power and force limiting, safety-monitored stops, and sensors that detect human presence to prevent accidents. Cobots are flexible and can be easily programmed and reprogrammed for various tasks, making them versatile tools in different industrial settings. They are often user-friendly and can be programmed by non-experts, sometimes through hand-guided programming. With the rapid emergence of AI, cobots will likely learn how to program themselves. A robot blog said cobots are generally more affordable than traditional robots, offering a lower cost of entry for automation.

Some common applications of cobots include use in assembly lines for tasks such as screwing, gluing, and inserting components with high precision and consistency. They excel in machine-tending tasks where they can handle repetitive actions like loading and unloading machines. In industries such as automotive and electronics, cobots perform welding and soldering tasks that require precision. Finally, cobots assist in packaging automation and material handling, improving efficiency in logistics operations.

Some industry-specific examples of cobot use include the automotive industry where cobots assist workers by performing tasks like lifting heavy parts or holding components during assembly. This reduces the physical strain on human workers while maintaining precision in assembly tasks. In the electronics manufacturing sector, cobots handle delicate tasks such as soldering and inspection, which require high accuracy and consistency. Lastly, cobots are used for order picking and packaging in warehouse distribution centers, enhancing productivity by operating continuously without fatigue.

As of June 2023, Amazon had 750,000 robots in its fulfillment centers and warehouses. It has numerous different types of robots with a lot of emphasis on safety of humans working near them. Proteus, Amazon’s first fully autonomous robot, is designed to operate safely alongside humans by using sensors to maintain a safety bubble around itself. It slows down or stops when it detects people or obstacles nearby.

Cobots represent a significant advancement in robotics by enabling safe and efficient human-robot collaboration across various industries. Their ability to perform repetitive tasks while ensuring safety makes them invaluable in modern manufacturing and production environments. I expect to see humanoid cobots become essential in home healthcare with seniors. The iRobot Roomba is the tip of the iceberg.

Read much more about robots in Robot Attitude: How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Will Make Our Lives Better.