Why does India need more collaborative robots?

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Pradeep David, General Manager, India Universal Robots
Pradeep David, General Manager, India Universal Robots

There is a need for a different thought process and a move away from traditional means, in terms of the applications of co-bots, as they are being explored by several industries and will enable mankind to walk into a futuristic working environment

The future of automation is Human-Robot collaboration. The outcome of this is that people and machines work in collaboration with one another, doing what they do best. The shortcomings of one, are compensated by the qualities of the other and vice versa. The basic prerequisite for this is, a safe human- robot collaboration without a protective cage and simple programming of the robot. Almost every heavy industry is relying on automation or robotics to improve its production quality and efficiency.

These robots are safe and easy to operate and require human intervention with their creativity. The automation of processes reduces the repetition of mundane tasks but does not take away the credibility of the human. These robots are called collaborative robots or co-bots and they are very different from Industrial or traditional robots.

What are collaborative robotics?
The combination of light, easily programmable, flexible, economical, safe and collaborative is extremely strong – and corresponds exactly to the needs of companies in industries like manufacturing, packaging and automobile assembly. It is crucial that the product not only benefits entrepreneurs, but also the employees. Companies benefit from the use of co-bots with flexibility, productivity, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Employees, on the other hand, are relieved of their monotonous and burdensome tasks and have a flexible tool at their hands that can support them in almost innumerable tasks.

‘Autonomation’ is a concept introduced by Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota Industries and Corp. where the machines work harmoniously, using their power and precision along with their creative and skilled operators. This technological innovation reduces the physical and mental load on the workers, thus creating more engaging opportunities for them. This is a win-win situation where work itself becomes more appealing for workers, reduces the ideal time taken, increases productivity of the product and consistently leads to lowering the cost of production without compromising on the quality.

Industrial robots are usually preferred in large manufacturing plants for activities like assembly line, dispensing, welding and even processing. For years manufacturers have been weary of implementing such robots simply because of safety concerns and also because they are space consuming, heavy and expensive, especially considering the fact that they require a safety cage or enclosure to avoid any contact while co-working with humans. Human and robot system interaction in industrial settings is now possible thanks to ISO/TS 15066, a new ISO technical specification for collaborative robot system safety. The certification legitimizes these robot systems or Co-bots and ensures that they are properly safeguarded.

UR robots were also the first on the market that enabled small and medium companies to automate. UR robots give companies of any size the flexibility for production processes of every type that are so indispensable today. Among other things, they can be operated by any employee – and not just by experts or specially trained personnel. The combination of attractive prices, simple programming, flexibility, and the shortest payback time in the industry – with an average of 195 days – makes us so successful. India has one of the lowest penetration levels by robots in the automation of manufacturing facilities, but there have been heavy investments for larger robots, especially in the automotive sector.

However, the features of lower costs, more flexibility and higher number of applications would help increase the sales of co-bots and their diversification into various industries other than automotive and packaging. UR robots were not developed to replace people, but to combine the abilities of people and machines. Therefore, the robot takes on the role of a tool which can be applied universally and supports people to accomplish high precision, repetitive or burdensome tasks. The way we see it, the current changes and shift in manufacturing must lead to a result wherein people and machines both do what they can do best. The weakness of one is compensated by the strength of the other – and vice versa. Consequently, people will still be needed on the factory floor in the future.

There is a need for a different thought process and a move away from traditional means, in terms of the applications of co-bots, as they are being explored by several industries and will enable mankind to walk into a futuristic working environment. First, we do not intend to waste creativity and talent by performing time-consuming, monotonous or potentially unsafe activities that are ought to be done manually.

Secondly, working procedures which require high accuracy and power, such as manufacturing, and other automotive industries which include activities like pick and place, injection molding, palletizing, CNC, packaging, assembly, polishing, painting, machine trending, gluing and also dispensing, process application, board handling, screw application and welding, will be directed with an accuracy and unwavering quality which could never be accomplished by a human.

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