Next time you order your drink while in the pub, quite likely it would be made by a cobot and not the bartender. Possibly, even the next day’s dosa could also be made by a cobot.If that got you thinking that its just a robot, the answer is no. Cobot is a collaborative robot, which assists humans and not replace them.
Based on this concept, Denmark-based Universal Robots which was founded 12 years back, is now helping industries like manufacturing and others on enhancing its productivity, which earlier heavily relied on hand assembly for the more dynamic and flexible functions in their production processes.
How the tech works
Interestingly, programming cobots is quite an easy task and can be done in just 5 mins. The simple technology is today being implemented in not only manufacturing but also various other sectors like FMCG, Electronics, Education and R&D Centres. Other sectors include fashion, plastic and polymers, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
For instance, motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto deployed 100 cobots which support processes like material handling and machine tending along with the employees.
Similarly, in industries where human labour is being used just to pick and place the product repetitively all day long, cobots can come to rescue and eliminate the need of manual tasks.
“These employees can then be trained and positioned in other various tasks of production line. China has already been doing this for quite sometime now,” says Esben H Østergaard, CTO and co-founder of Universal Robots.
These cobots can also multitask in a day. They can be programmed for a certain task for few hours and then re-programmed and used for other tasks later in the day.
“Conveyor belt is another common example where cobots are being widely used. We also see welding and polishing as the next upcoming areas where this technology can be largely implemented,” he adds.
In India, Universal Robots counts customers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford, TVS, Hindustan Unilever, P&G, L’Oreal, Siemens, TCS, Aurolab, Denso etc. Globally, Universal Robots has installed over 50,000 cobots while in India in a span of one year since its foray, it has installed over 200 cobots.
These handful compact devices easily flaunt flexibility, light weight, cost-effectiveness. Zero annual maintenance costs, reduced power consumption are some of the other benefits.
Scope and market size
Amid steaming concerns like automation and robots replacing human workers, cobots can be a one of the answers. “In Europian countries, Governments are planning to implement taxes for robotic companies to tackle these issues which can also be as one the ways,” says Pradeep David, Country Head of India and Sri Lanka.
“Study says that cobots can reduce ideal time by 80% and in India this technology completely sinks with our mindsets. Keeping intact the human labour and enhancing the productivity simultaneously, cobots can be one of the ways to go forward.”
While global cobots market is projected to grow to $3,811.483 million by 2021, the Indian market is comparatively quite nascent. According to market estimates, America and APAC region will drive the global market for collaborative robots over the forecasted period due to increase in manufacturing activity and a surge in demand for these robotic solutions by the enterprises operating in the regions.
Read More: Cobots is the future of Robotics
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