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Three pillars of successful cobot deployment: security, quality and flexibility

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Three pillars of successful cobot deployment: security, quality and flexibility
The use of collaborative robots is expected to increase rapidly in the next years to meet the needs of flexible production lines. To ensure that manufacturing layouts can be easily adapted to changing customer requirements, we recommend teaming up mobile robots and cobots. In addition, companies must consider integrated software apps and vision technology, as well as ensure support and risk assessment.
To ensure future-proof operation, industrial companies need to optimize harmonious interaction between humans and machines. Here are three tips for manufacturers considering implementing collaborative robots, for a three-tier strategy to ensure powerful functionality, safety and flexible adaptation.

 

1. Safety is key: go for cobots with support and service

Cobots must be able to work safely and efficiently alongside human workers.
They should be ISO10218 certified, whilst providing investment security. It is important that they can be put into service within a day or two. Software tools can facilitate the settings for implementing the ISO / TS15066 safety requirements during commissioning. Omron also recommends comprehensive feasibility studies, with safety and support services as part of the overall package from a single source.

2. Make sure the cobot solution is scalable and has optimized data insight via integrated vision technology

In applications where flexibility is more important than speed, cobots are an ideal solution with user-friendly software tools and built-in sensor capabilities. These include, for example, machine vision systems with localization options. Businesses need intelligent, easy-to-use camera and image processing systems to detect patterns, perform quality control, place objects, and read bar codes. Additional AI functions at the machine level (“AI at the edge”) further expand the possibilities. Omron offers unique integrated cobot solutions to interactively support employees and optimize production processes. An integrated vision system helps companies cost-effectively improve reliability, consistency and precision. Flexible scalability is also essential: for example, it should be possible to start with a simple integrated system and expand as needed.

3. Ensure flexibility with cobots and mobile robots as a team

A lack of skilled technical specialists is one of the future hurdles in manufacturing that cobots can help overcome. They are simple and safe to program, install and integrate with other systems – for an intelligent production environment in which people and machines work in harmony. The combination of collaborative and mobile robots gives companies more flexibility by enabling them to quickly and cost-effectively adapt their production lines to new requirements and changing business needs.

Manufacturing companies that integrate cobots into flexible, ever-evolving production environments gain in efficiency with minimal programming and installation effort. Cooperation with a vendor such as Omron, through scalable system integrators, can ensure successful cobot deployment from planning to implementation and support, minimizing risks, errors and complexity, whilst supporting growth.

 

forrás: omron.com 2019.11.04.