Next up in our Building the Future series on robotics we will take a deeper look into the collaborative robotics market. This market saw new innovation recently with the launch of Universal Robotics new UR20 system. With a payload of 20 kilograms and a reach of just under 2 meters, Universal Robots’ brand new UR20 collaborative robot is advertised as the lightest robot of its kind for its associated speed and payload.
For those familiar with conventional industrial robots, a “small” payload of 20 kilos and a reach of less than 2 meters might appear unimpressive. However, instead of a massive industrial robot, the UR20 is a collaborative robot (or “cobot”) weighing just 64 kilograms, with a tiny footprint of just 0.25 square meters.
In this post we will take a close look at collaborative robots, their capabilities, and where they are most useful in the current robotics landscape.
Collaborative robots are an evolution of industrial robots that are smaller, lighter, and designed for work in shared spaces with human beings. Like industrial robots, cobots are normally anchored to the floor or to a platform and use an articulated arm capable of movement along 4 to 6-axes.
Lightweight components, rounded edges, and safety protocols are all useful in making cobots viable for working closely with human beings. Cobots normally do not complete tasks with humans simultaneously, instead working sequentially or independently.
Cobots are used mostly in warehouse and manufacturing environments and can independently swap attachments to their arms, allowing them to complete a variety of jobs including:
The UR20 is incredibly flexible and was designed with an emphasis on palletizing, having the reach and payload for EU and US standard height palletizing. This is a common practice in manufacturing and warehouse applications, when heavy objects need to be organized, packaged, and placed on pallets for logistics and shipping.
For decades, industrial robots have been used in completing dull assembly line tasks with a high level of efficiency. Industrial robots used to be the only option for companies looking to automate their manufacturing business. Fortunately, collaborative robots these days possess similar capabilities in a smaller, safer, more cost-effective, and flexible package.
Today, average large-scale industrial robots weigh in excess of 1000 kilograms. Additionally, in comparison to cobots, industrial robots are incredibly expensive. It can take years for companies to achieve return on investment from an industrial robot. This also means that industrial robots are often limited to use in manufacturing processes that are repetitive and unchanging for years at a time. This can provide better ROI, but it ultimately means that industrial robots are limited in their flexibility.
Still, industrial robots have their own advantages. They are large but also incredibly powerful, precise, and fast. Unfortunately, this also means they are unsafe for working in any close capacity with human workers, and they lack the sensitivity and force control of cobots for completing intricate tasks.
On-board sensors allow cobots to detect human workers in their proximity and adjust accordingly by slowing their movements or stopping. Not only can adopting cobots increase a business’ productivity, but they can significantly reduce injuries and accidents as picking and placing heavy objects can be delegated to cobots so employees avoid hurting themselves or others.
Collaborative robots represent the cutting edge of automation as it continues to transform the efficiency and profitability of businesses across the globe. Whereas automation used to be a tool solely available for large corporations and manufacturers, cobots have made automation both feasible and scalable for smaller businesses.
In the current climate, collaborative robots provide plenty of opportunities for small and mid-sized enterprises due to pandemic-related manufacturing labor shortages and disruptions to the supply chain. Accordingly, it is not surprising that global cobot sales are projected to eclipse $5.7 million USD by 2027. There is no better time for companies looking to automate or transform their businesses to invest in collaborative robots.
At Dura Digital we continually invest in future technologies in the hope of providing insights and awareness of new technologies that help you transform your business. Contact us for more details on how we can help you advance your digital transformation!
Next up in our Building the Future series on robotics we will take a deeper look into the collaborative robotics market. This market saw new innovation recently with the launch of Universal Robotics new UR20 system. With a payload of 20 kilograms and a reach of just under 2 meters, Universal Robots’ brand new UR20 collaborative robot is advertised as the lightest robot of its kind for its associated speed and payload.
For those familiar with conventional industrial robots, a “small” payload of 20 kilos and a reach of less than 2 meters might appear unimpressive. However, instead of a massive industrial robot, the UR20 is a collaborative robot (or “cobot”) weighing just 64 kilograms, with a tiny footprint of just 0.25 square meters.
In this post we will take a close look at collaborative robots, their capabilities, and where they are most useful in the current robotics landscape.
Collaborative robots are an evolution of industrial robots that are smaller, lighter, and designed for work in shared spaces with human beings. Like industrial robots, cobots are normally anchored to the floor or to a platform and use an articulated arm capable of movement along 4 to 6-axes.
Lightweight components, rounded edges, and safety protocols are all useful in making cobots viable for working closely with human beings. Cobots normally do not complete tasks with humans simultaneously, instead working sequentially or independently.
Cobots are used mostly in warehouse and manufacturing environments and can independently swap attachments to their arms, allowing them to complete a variety of jobs including:
The UR20 is incredibly flexible and was designed with an emphasis on palletizing, having the reach and payload for EU and US standard height palletizing. This is a common practice in manufacturing and warehouse applications, when heavy objects need to be organized, packaged, and placed on pallets for logistics and shipping.
For decades, industrial robots have been used in completing dull assembly line tasks with a high level of efficiency. Industrial robots used to be the only option for companies looking to automate their manufacturing business. Fortunately, collaborative robots these days possess similar capabilities in a smaller, safer, more cost-effective, and flexible package.
Today, average large-scale industrial robots weigh in excess of 1000 kilograms. Additionally, in comparison to cobots, industrial robots are incredibly expensive. It can take years for companies to achieve return on investment from an industrial robot. This also means that industrial robots are often limited to use in manufacturing processes that are repetitive and unchanging for years at a time. This can provide better ROI, but it ultimately means that industrial robots are limited in their flexibility.
Still, industrial robots have their own advantages. They are large but also incredibly powerful, precise, and fast. Unfortunately, this also means they are unsafe for working in any close capacity with human workers, and they lack the sensitivity and force control of cobots for completing intricate tasks.
On-board sensors allow cobots to detect human workers in their proximity and adjust accordingly by slowing their movements or stopping. Not only can adopting cobots increase a business’ productivity, but they can significantly reduce injuries and accidents as picking and placing heavy objects can be delegated to cobots so employees avoid hurting themselves or others.
Collaborative robots represent the cutting edge of automation as it continues to transform the efficiency and profitability of businesses across the globe. Whereas automation used to be a tool solely available for large corporations and manufacturers, cobots have made automation both feasible and scalable for smaller businesses.
In the current climate, collaborative robots provide plenty of opportunities for small and mid-sized enterprises due to pandemic-related manufacturing labor shortages and disruptions to the supply chain. Accordingly, it is not surprising that global cobot sales are projected to eclipse $5.7 million USD by 2027. There is no better time for companies looking to automate or transform their businesses to invest in collaborative robots.
At Dura Digital we continually invest in future technologies in the hope of providing insights and awareness of new technologies that help you transform your business. Contact us for more details on how we can help you advance your digital transformation!
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
