Collaborative Robots (Cobots): An Overview
Collaborative robots, commonly known as cobots, are a class of industrial robots designed to work safely alongside humans within a shared workspace. Unlike traditional industrial robots that typically operate in isolated environments with safety cages, cobots are built with advanced sensors, control systems, and safety mechanisms that allow direct human–robot interaction. Their flexibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness have made them increasingly popular across a wide range of industries.
Key Characteristics of Collaborative Robots
Cobots are distinguished by several defining features that enable safe and efficient collaboration with human workers. These include force and torque sensing, speed and separation monitoring, and power-limited joints that reduce the risk of injury during contact. Many cobots are lightweight and compact, allowing them to be easily deployed in existing production environments without major infrastructure changes. Additionally, they are often designed with intuitive programming interfaces, such as hand-guiding or graphical software, reducing the need for specialized robotics expertise.