Seven collaborative robots (cobots) have been launched thus far in 2024.

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As of 2017, only 2.8 percent of newly installed industrial robots were collaborative robots, also known as cobots, according to the “Synthetic Intelligence Index Report” published by Stanford University in 2023. By 2021, this percentage had risen to 7.5%.

As human-robot collaboration becomes increasingly prevalent, robots are now being utilized to support a diverse array of applications worldwide. As part of the ongoing digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, the business has experienced significant growth.

A significant portion of this growth can be attributed to ongoing labour shortages and demographic shifts within the North American workforce. Despite being an ongoing concern predating the pandemic, attracting and retaining top talent remains a pressing issue for employers, according to the “2024 Talent Study” conducted jointly by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute.

Collaborative robots offer a multitude of benefits.

While traditional cobot implementations often necessitate complex setup and dedicated, isolated cells separate from workers, experts in the field argue that collaborative robots (cobots) offer numerous flexibility benefits. These modules make them exceptionally alluring to manufacturing executives seeking to make strategic, bite-sized investments in automation that yield swift returns.

Several flexibility options of collaborative robots (cobots) include:

• Accessible, intuitive interfaces empower users to manage and program their applications with ease.
• Incorporating robust security features that enable personnel to operate safely within a robotic enclosure during its operational phase?
• Intended to be easily relocated, the system is designed to be mounted on a cart and transported to various workstations.
• Built-in power sensing ensures effortless duty cycles without the need for configuring additional external sensors.
• As cobots occasionally coexist with human colleagues without replacing them, they can have a profound influence on workers’ perceptions of automation and the potential transformations it may bring to the workplace.

As manufacturers face skills gap challenges, analysts suggest that cobots’ numerous benefits make them an ideal entry point into automation, offering a seamless transition for producers seeking to bridge the divide between traditional manufacturing and Industry 4.0 capabilities. Additionally, they provide answers for highly automated, state-of-the-art factories seeking the next value-add in specific niches such as precision screw assembly, buffing, and grinding operations, which they highlight.

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Newest cobot product bulletins

1. Schneider Electrical Lexium

The Lexium Collaborative Robotic Line made its debut in March. | Supply: Schneider Electrical

At MODEX 2024, the two new Lexium cobots boast payload capacities ranging from three to 18 kilograms, with precision positioning accuracy of ±0.02 millimeters and a working radius reaching up to 1,073 millimeters.

The robots leverage Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture, a holistic framework that integrates cutting-edge devices, control systems, software, and business applications to facilitate seamless data flow and centralized machine management from the production floor to the boardroom.

2. Doosan Robotics Prime-Sequence cobots

Doosan’s P-Sequence robots are its longest-running cobot series, boasting a wide range of models and applications. | Supply: Doosan Robotics

With an arm reach of 2,030 mm (79.9 in.), the company claims to offer the longest-reaching cobot available. The P-series boasts a payload capacity of 30 kilograms (66.1 pounds). Doosan stated that its product is primarily intended for specific applications.

The P-Sequence robotic options boast an integrated gravity-compensation mechanism that minimizes energy expenditure, outperforming peer payload cobots, according to the corporation. This innovative design boasts inherent wrist singularity freedom, featuring five distinct levels of versatility, with the elimination of the fourth axis and a notable increase in sixth-axis velocity to an impressive 360 levels per second. The P-sequence also incorporates PL(e) and Category 4 security ratings for enhanced authentication and verification.

3. Kawasaki Robotics CL Sequence cobots

The CL Sequence cobot. | Supply: Kawasaki Robotics

Kawasaki Robotics’ systems are equipped with cutting-edge robotic technology and boast a rapid velocity of 200 degrees per second.

The cobots boast exceptional repeatability of ±0.02 mm, with payload options and reach configurations available at three levels: 3 kg/590 mm (6.6 lb./23.2 in.), 5 kg/800 mm (11 lb./31.4 in.), 8 kg/1,300 mm (17.6 lb./51.1 in.), or 10 kg/1,000 mm (22 lb./39.3 in.). They offer complimentary mounting orientations, impressively compact footprints, and an IP66 rating for added durability.

Functions for the CL Sequence robots encompass end-of-line, packaging, and palletizing/de-palletizing tasks.

4. FANUC CRX-10ia/L Paint

FANUC’s 10ia/L cobot. | Supply: FANUC

The FANUC CRX10ia/L collaborative robot features a 10 kg (22 lb.) payload capacity and a reach of 1,418 mm (55.8 in.). Claiming a breakthrough, the company asserts that its collaborative paint robot is the first to meet explosive protection standards, conforming to IECEx, ATEX, as well as regulatory guidelines in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Brazil.

Designed specifically for high-mix, low-volume paint applications, as well as ideal for operators with limited or no robotics experience. The “easy-teach” features combine seamlessly with intuitive drag-and-drop programming and guided instruction to facilitate a seamless learning experience. (Imitative learning is a fundamental capability of collaborative robots.)

The robotic system, alongside portraying capabilities, can also be utilized for powder and liquid coating applications, as highlighted by FANUC.

5. Common Robots UR30

UR’s UR30 cobot. | Supply: Common Robots

Common Robots, a pioneer in collaborative robotics, further expands its innovative product range by introducing a new model featuring a 30-kilogram payload capacity and an impressive attain of 1,300 millimeters. The UR30’s design prioritizes flexibility, resulting in a significantly smaller and more compact robot compared to its counterparts.

The UR30 is a significant addition to the comprehensive range of products from Common Robots, joining the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16, and UR20 in its expanding portfolio.

6. Techman Robotic TM30

The TM30 cobot is designed specifically for tasks such as palletizing and semiconductor manufacturing applications. | Supply: Techman Robotic

The Techman Robotic cobot features a payload capacity of 35 kilograms or 77.1 pounds, as well as an arm reach of 1,702 millimeters or approximately 67 inches. With its impressive reach-to-weight ratio, the TM30 is well-suited for palletizing applications.

The TM30’s additional fame stems from its utility in facilitating the semiconductor back-end process, a critical stage that often necessitates manual labor for handling and transporting heavy wafer packaging boxes, with individual units weighing up to 35 kilograms.

Techman’s robots are equipped with proprietary AI-powered computer vision technology. This comprehensive package also includes a series of advanced add-on tools for enhancing security, precisely positioning incoming parts, reading barcodes, taking precise measurements, and conducting visual inspections.

7. Delta D-Bot Sequence

Delta’s D-Bot sequence of cobots. | Souce: Delta

At the 2024 Hanover Messe, Delta Electronics Inc., a pioneer in energy management and a provider of innovative green technologies, will unveil a cutting-edge lineup of six collaborative robots. The payloads of these munitions range from 6 to 30 kilograms, weighing between 13.2 and 66.1 pounds, while their effective reach spans 800 to 1800 millimeters or approximately 31.4 to 70.8 inches.

These six-axis robots offer speeds of up to 200 levels per second, boasting an impressive level of accuracy within ±0.02 millimeters. The newly released cobots provide a straightforward, plug-and-play installation process and an intuitive interface that enables even non-experts to easily operate them.

Manufacturing processes involve functions that facilitate palletizing, which enables efficient placement of products on a pallet.

What’s subsequent for cobots?

As the subscription model revolutionizes the software and cloud service industries, robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) is poised for continued growth as more small businesses invest in automation.

The immediate integration of artificial intelligence into industrial robotics. As robotic management software evolves from code-centricity to user-focused interfaces, the prospect of instructing an AI to demonstrate or programme a robot to perform a task becomes increasingly plausible.

While uncertainty surrounds future prospects, collaborative robots remain a viable option for manufacturers seeking to automate tedious, dirty, and hazardous tasks without undertaking a major conventional robotic automation project.

Concerning the creator

As a proposal author at D2L, Isaac Maw serves as a thought leader in the education and innovation space, helping organizations reimagine the future of learning and work. As a seasoned editorial professional at Engineering.com, he previously held the position of editor.

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