Collaborative Robots and Motion Control Systems Tackle New Applications

Collaborative robots are a relatively new trend in the robotics sector but are positioned for strong growth in the near future. They differ from traditional robots in that they aren’t placed behind a cage – they’re used side by side with human workers on the factory floor.

Typically featuring designs without sharp edges, collaborative robots are intentionally built to safely complement the work of manual processes. Motion control has played an important part of the emergence of collaborative robots and is helping them tackle new applications every day.

How Motion Control Helped Enable Collaborative Robots

While the safer physical design is a hallmark feature of collaborative robots, motion control capabilities have been at the heart of what makes a collaborative robot safe. Advanced control of robotic arms, along with force limitations, allow these robots to work alongside humans.

The ability to stop quickly upon contact, such as when a robot collides with a human worker, requires advanced motion control capabilities and is a key aspect of collaborative robot safety. This ability to stop and start with precision is also a major contributor to the superior performance and accuracy of collaborative robots.

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How Motion Control Continues to Improve Collaborative Robots

The precision, performance and accuracy collaborative robots feature from exceptional motion control has made them an ideal solution for a number of challenging applications, such as small parts assembly.

Material handling of small parts requires dexterity, accuracy, and repeatability, all of which can be attributed in some part to motion control capabilities. Collaborative robots in small parts assembly, enabled by motion control systems, lead to shorter product lifecycles, shorter lead times, and greater ability to customize products close to final markets.

Collaborative robots can make a big impact in applications like small parts assembly, allowing for significant improvements in the profitability of production. These robots can tackle some of the most challenging applications in today’s factory environment.

Motion control has played a major role in the safe design of collaborative robots, enabling their deployment in the first place, as well as their continued advances and adoption in challenging automation applications.