“Which robot is best for my application?” or “Where do I start?” are questions you may be asking yourself if your considering adding a robotic system to your production process. Josh Tuttle, business development manager at Aerobotix, breaks it down with four easy tips below.
1. Nature of task
If the task is repetitive, doesn’t require human interaction, and demands speed and precision, an industrial robot may be a better option.
If the task requires human collaboration, frequent changes, or is more flexible in nature, a cobot is ideal.
2. Risk assessment
Perform a thorough Robotics Industrial Association (RIA) assessment with your integrator or robot provider to identify potential hazards and take measures to mitigate them. This may involve installing safety sensors, barriers, or other protective equipment.
3. Programming
Robots often have user-friendly interfaces that allow non-experts to program and operate them. If you have a smaller team or limited robotics expertise, cobots can be a more accessible choice.
Production parts often require error recovery and other complex programming that may need to be performed by an integrator or experienced robot programmer.
4. Duration of tasks
For short-term, adaptable tasks, a cobot is preferable, especially in the lab before automating production.
For long-term, consistent tasks, industrial robots are more suitable.
