Collaborative robots and industrial robots have revolutionized manufacturing and industrial processes, offering unparalleled efficiency and precision. These robots serve different purposes, and both have a role in optimizing the manufacturing and supply chain industries. Understanding the differences between them is crucial for businesses looking to implement automation solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Understanding the Basics of Robotics in Warehousing
Warehouse robots come in many forms and can fulfil a variety of roles. They excel at lifting heavy objects and performing repetitive tasks that require speed, reach or accuracy. Collaborative robots and industrial robots specialize in different areas of automation, and an efficient warehouse will typically use both, depending on the task at hand.
What are Collaborative Robotics (Cobots)?
Collaborative robots (cobots) are small, light robots that are designed to work near or alongside humans. They’re easy to set up and can typically be reconfigured to perform a variety of tasks depending on what’s needed at any given time. Most cobots have force control and/or optical sensors to reduce the risk of them colliding with or otherwise injuring human workers during operation.
What are Industrial Robots?
Industrial robots are larger, heavier machines typically designed to perform a single task. They’re capable of lifting heavy loads and performing repetitive tasks quickly and accurately. Most industrial robots are installed in a fixed area and are intended to operate without human intervention. Their size, weight and speed can make it unsafe for humans to occupy areas where industrial robots are operating.
Advantages and Use Cases for Collaborative Robots
Industrial robots are useful for production lines and moving bulky loads around in fenced-off areas of a warehouse. However, many tasks can’t be 100% automated, and cobots can help complete those jobs.
Collaborative robots represent a new frontier in automation technology. Unlike their industrial counterparts, cobots are designed to work alongside human operators in a shared workspace. This capability opens up new possibilities for collaborative manufacturing environments, where robots and humans can collaborate on tasks in real time.
The defining feature of cobots is their inherent safety mechanisms, which allow them to operate safely around humans. Advanced sensors and vision systems enable them to detect and respond to changes in their environment, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. This makes them well-suited for applications such as pick-and-place operations, machine tending and assembly tasks that require human-robot collaboration.
Cobots can carry out pick-and-place, packaging and assembly tasks that involve handling delicate items. They can work next to people, and they’ll automatically slow down or stop if a human is in their planned movement path. This makes them ideal for carrying out repetitive motions that might cause occupational injuries to human workers and tasks that require a steady hand or more precise motions than people are capable of.
Integrating cobots into existing workflows can be more complex than deploying industrial robots. Companies must consider factors such as safety protocols, ergonomic considerations and workforce training to ensure successful cobot implementation. Working with experienced robotics integrators can help businesses navigate these challenges and develop tailored solutions that maximize the benefits of collaborative robotics.
Advantages and Use Cases for Industrial Robots
Industrial robots have long been the workhorses of manufacturing floors worldwide. These machines are engineered to perform strenuous or repetitive tasks with high precision and speed, making them indispensable in industries ranging from automotive to electronics. Equipped with multi-axis robotic arms, automated cells and sophisticated control systems, industrial robots excel in tasks such as assembly, palletizing, material handling, painting and inspection.
Production lines rely on industrial robots to perform lifting, welding and assembly tasks at high speed and with great precision. They can be relied upon to do their job safely and accurately while maintaining a steady pace for hours on end. However, they’re difficult to reconfigure and usually lack the safety features of cobots.
While safety records are improving, historically, many injuries have been caused by workers attempting to interfere with the operations of an industrial robot or carry out maintenance on one without taking proper precautions.
One of the key advantages of industrial robots is their scalability and adaptability. These machines can be easily reprogrammed to accommodate changes in product specifications, production volumes or assembly processes. As a result, they offer manufacturers the flexibility needed to respond to dynamic market demands quickly.
To protect people in the workforce, industrial robots are usually kept separate from human workers. They either operate in their own predefined areas or behind guardrails. When these safeguards are respected, they can improve workplace safety and prevent injury by carrying out tasks that are too dangerous for humans.
Warehouse Robots and Automation Trends
Budgets and labor have been hit hard in the warehousing industry, with the current warehousing workforce at 1.83 million people, down from 1.94 million in early 2022.
Warehouses and distribution centers are struggling to find reliable workers and get them up to speed in time for seasonal peaks in demand. They’re also being forced to find ways to improve the efficiency of their operations in an increasingly competitive and demanding marketplace.
Cobots and industrial robots offer an effective way for companies to increase their efficiency. While cobots can be incorporated into SLAM lines to improve the last 100 yards of the picking and packing process, industrial robots can integrate into the earlier parts of the supply chain, loading and unloading goods and carrying out other tasks that require strength, speed or heavy lifting.
AI and computer vision technologies can help both types of robots perform their duties and improve safety, facilitating better human-machine collaboration. From monitoring stock levels and assisting with analytics to detecting obstacles and avoiding collisions, machine vision can make robots valuable colleagues for warehouse workers and managers.
Choosing the Right Solution
When it comes to selecting between collaborative robots and industrial robots, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The decision depends on various factors, including the nature of the tasks to be automated, the existing infrastructure and the specific requirements of the workforce.
For companies seeking to streamline repetitive tasks and achieve high levels of precision, industrial robots may be the preferred choice. These machines excel in environments where speed, accuracy and scalability are paramount, making them ideal for mass production and assembly line operations.
On the other hand, businesses looking to enhance workplace safety, promote human-robot collaboration and increase flexibility may find cobots to be a better fit. While cobots may not match the speed and precision of industrial robots in certain applications, their ability to work alongside human operators opens up new possibilities for agile and adaptive manufacturing processes.
Organizations operating on a limited budget should consider existing bottlenecks to get the greatest ROI from their budget. Investing in sophisticated cobots to speed up the last 100 yards would offer limited returns if current manual processes aren’t keeping up with the speed at which the warehouse can feed that part of the supply chain.
A good robotic process automation system works well within the current infrastructure and can be built around or expanded as the organization grows. It should also be reliable and easy to maintain with the organization’s current skill set. Working with supply chain automation experts to review existing operations and identify areas for improvement is essential.
Both collaborative robots and industrial robots have their own unique strengths and applications in industrial automation. By understanding the differences between these two technologies and evaluating their respective advantages and limitations, businesses can make informed decisions that drive productivity, efficiency and innovation in their operations.
Whether it’s harnessing the precision of industrial robots or embracing the flexibility of cobots, automation holds the key to unlocking new opportunities and staying competitive in today’s fast-paced manufacturing landscape.
How enVista Supports Robotic Integration
enVista’s consultants have vast expertise in robotic integration and process automation. We’ve helped organizations across a variety of industries improve the efficiency of their warehouses and distribution centers with our proven, vendor-agnostic consulting methodologies. From automation strategies to robotics integrations, our team can assist with all kinds of warehouse optimization projects.
Want to learn more? Contact enVista today.
