The automotive industry is utilizing a collaborative robot (cobot) in their assembly lines. These collaborative robots are designed to work with line workers rather than replace them.
- By combining human coordination and reaction speed with robotic precision, cobots are carving their own niche in the automotive industry and will soon be adopted by other industries.
- A common vision of the assembly line of the future is of a mechanical environment dominated by robots, with little or no room left to spare for the traditional line worker. This innovative robot, known as the "collaborative robot", or "cobot", is an intelligent assembly device that works in conjunction with assembly line workers, rather than in place of them, with the goal of actually making their jobs easier. Differentiating these machines from conventional robots is the fact that cobots rely entirely on their human operators for both movement and control.
- It is important to note that unlike conventional robots, cobots are not motor-driven. The only motor that they require is a tiny servo-motor to steer, but not to power, its wheels. The robot moves only when the operator applies force to a handle.
- With these benefits in mind, it should come as little surprise that cobots are being developed under a grant from the General Motors Foundation. In fact, they are already being used at both GM and Ford on an experimental basis with positive reviews.
- Cobots are ideal for doing tasks that fall between manual and automated. They preserve a worker's ability to use his or her judgment as needed and, at the same time, eliminate the strain of performing potentially dangerous work.
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