CoBots

Cobots, short for collaborative robots, are a type of industrial robot designed to work alongside humans in shared workspaces. They emphasize safe, flexible interaction through built-in sensors and safety features that limit force, speed, and power, enabling close-proximity manipulation without heavy guarding. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are typically easier to program and reconfigure, making them accessible to small and mid-sized operations.

Cobots operate under safety standards such as ISO/TS 15066, which complements ISO 10218 by addressing collaborative applications. They use concepts such as power-and-force limiting (PFL) and speed- and separation-monitoring (SSM) to reduce risk when humans and robots share a task. The operator can guide a cobot with hand-guiding or teach it tasks via a pendant or offline programming, often supported by quick-change tooling and adjustable work envelopes.

Common use cases include assembly, pick-and-place, machine tending, packaging, and materials handling, as well as laboratory or healthcare tasks that benefit from human-robot collaboration. Cobots typically have lower payloads and slower speeds than large industrial robots, but their cost, safety requirements, and ease of integration can yield shorter payback periods for repetitive, precision, or ergonomically demanding tasks.

Market adoption has grown with advances in payload options, sensing, and interoperability with PLCs and manufacturing software. While versatile, cobots are not a universal substitute for traditional robots; for high-speed, heavy-duty, or hazardous environments, traditional industrial robotics may still be preferred.