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Cobots, i.e., collaborative robots, are specially designed for working collaboratively with humans. Cobots can be called the newer type in the robotic technology generation. Cobots are highly popular in Western countries due to labour shortages. It is suitable mostly for lower-volume and higher-variability environments.

Cobots also have simple programming and faster installation. Cobots are less expensive, easy to install, and need less floor space. One of the biggest advantages of cobots over traditional robots is their capacity to work alongside humans without compromising productivity.

The environment is also pleasant for the workers. Let’s dissect the whole thing between Cobots and traditional robots. For decades, traditional robots have dominated industries, or, say, the robotic market.

Traditional robots are capable of handling repetitive tasks autonomously but are isolated from the human environment for safety purposes. Traditional robots are mainly used for high-volume work. Whereas, if we look at cobots, it is inherently safe and collaborative to work alongside the human environment.

The cobots are equipped with advanced sensors to detect human presence and ensure the human counterpart. Cobots are also flexible, adaptable, and suited mainly for lower volume and higher variability environments.

Automotive assembly lines, where the tasks need to be performed with high precision, ideal speed, and consistency, increase the likelihood of finding more traditional robots.

On the other hand, collaborative robots are used mainly in Midwest manufacturing sectors with labour shortage issues. Tasks such as material handling, pick and place, quality inspection, and assembly are the specialty of Cobots.

The main reason for Cobot’s popularity is its ease of programming and the fact that it requires less time. Cobots, in contrast to traditional robots, have intuitive interfaces that allow even non-technical personnel to program them quickly and easily.

Hence, the reconfiguration of cobots for different tasks is easy, simple, and efficient. Cobots are also faster to install, reduce downtime, and increase overall productivity. Cobots are cost-effective and accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.

It requires less complex infrastructure and is integrated into existing production lines with minimal modifications. Cobots are also an attractive choice due to their availability in limited space. However, so many beneficial points for the cobots cannot undermine their sparkling effects on raising controversial debate about their impact on the workforce.

Even traditional robots got associated with job displacement due to replacing the human workforce in repetitive tasks. But, if you look deep, Cobots are supporting the highly skilled human workforce to focus on higher-value activities such as innovation and quality control, where they can literally spend more time rather than worrying about mundane activities.

It also provides quite an ample place for experienced workers to use their energy in more innovative and creative activities. The involvement of robots is a real revolutionary technology to satisfy the demand for mass-scale production, but it also shows that if we could go further into more research and innovative thinking, we could reduce the cost-cutting of such technology and use it to support the workforce of any skill rather than creating a fear of replacing the work.

The security of anything is not guaranteed; we can work towards it, but it will be foolish to think that anything can provide 100% security. The aim of providing a safe environment with a 99.99% target should be the target for the future of robots.

As we are not unknown of the capacity of AI and robots use, it can do anything, but it will be great to see if we can work with the future of robots that can provide a realistic target of safety, are easy to install, and are very handy for any range of skilled people to use them. The future of robots should be stretched more towards handling hazardous activities or even working in dreadful areas, but they should be available at a minimum cost.

Sources:- Universal robots, techbriefs, surecontrols