New manufacturing robots are more intelligent, more agile, and take up less space than ever before. They are able to learn from their human coworkers, increasing production efficiency and saving money for factory owners. They also cost less, reducing the initial investment required to automate.
Adaptive robots use sensor technology similar to the collision detection systems in new cars to distinguish when objects are close by, making it much safer for factory workers to operate near them. The robots can also detect the objects they are supposed to manipulate, regardless of how it is oriented. More advanced arms and gripping technology enable these smart robots to pick up and handle objects in order to place them in the right position.
The new robots are more easily integrated into factory work flow, since they can work alongside human workers, even learning from their techniques. Tasks can be completed faster and more efficiently.
The old ‘stupid’ robots had to be placed in their own fenced-off part of the factory, since they could easily maim or even kill workers who got in the way. The new robots are more easily integrated into factory work flow, since they can work alongside human workers, even learning from their techniques. Tasks can be completed faster and more efficiently.
There is also more flexibility in designing the factory itself, since robots can be moved where needed. You can bring the robot to the work, instead of having to bring the work to the robot.
Read more about it in the Harvard Business Review article “Smarter, Smaller, Safer Robots”.
