The hot topic in industrial robotics these days is collaborative robots. Over the past couple of years, cobots have become the fastest-growing type of robot for all industrial applications. As food manufacturers look for ways to cope with the changing dynamics of the labor force and adapt to the proliferation of multiple SKUs the idea of robots that can work closely with line personnel is very attractive.
If you are not already familiar with collaborative robots, they are designed to operate harmoniously alongside humans – complementing their efforts, speeding up production processes, and increasing overall productivity. MWES wrote a white paper about their growing popularity.
Why Cobots are Getting Attention
One of the things that makes cobots so attractive is that they can be deployed without having to use fixed cages or perimeter guarding found in more traditional robot deployments. Advancements in sensor technology eliminate the need for perimeter guarding, which allows food companies to put automation in smaller spaces. Some systems can be portable, giving the processor tremendous versatility to deploy the cobot in different areas to maximize the return on the capital investment. In addition, reducing or eliminating physical guards enhances food safety by eliminating the potential nooks and crannies that can harbor pathogens, while saving money for the time and cost of cleaning and sanitizing the guarding.
Most cobots have tablet-based interfaces which are designed for ease of use. Some also allow you to “teach” the robot what to do simply by guiding the arm by hand and using the tablet to register the waypoints in the flightpath and issue instructions to the end-of-arm tool (EOAT). This simplified user interface allows someone with little or no programming background to quickly get up to speed using the equipment.
Considerations that Impact Cobot Performance
The advantages of collaboration do come with some strings attached. Because cobots are designed to work near humans they must be limited to ensure that the technology stays safe. In general, cobots operate at slower speeds, have less reach, and are limited in the amount of weight they can handle compared to traditional robots. While simple movements are easy to program with the standard user interface, more complex applications may require specialized programming from third parties.
Just because the robotic arm can work safely in a collaborative environment does not mean that it can be deployed in every application. The end-of-arm tool needs to be safe – free of pinch points or actions that can injure a person. Using a cobot for meat trimming, cutting blocks of cheese, or portioning cakes can injure personnel despite the sensors built into the robotic arms.
Balancing Payload, Reach and Safely
The weight of the product and the range of motion for the arm are factors when considering cobot performance. Often, to handle heavier loads or operate close to the reach limits of the arm the speed of the arm must be reduced. So, it is fairly common that even though a cobot may be rated to handle a certain payload at a certain reach, it may not be able to do so at full speed.
This is where things get tricky. In these applications, it is possible to add more sensors – such as area scanners – to detect human presence earlier and dynamically adjust the robot’s speed. In some cases, physical guarding is needed to get maximum throughput.
The trade-off is that adding more sensors typically increases the purchase price of the equipment, and it also increases the operating envelope. In some cases, cobots with area scanners have a larger practical operating footprint than traditional robots that have fixed guarding. So, you could end up paying a premium for the collaborative features of the arm without being able to take full advantage of them.
Cleaning and Sanitation
For food plants, the rigors of cleaning and sanitation cycles bring additional considerations. Standard collaborative robots are not designed for use in wet environments. Depending on which cleaning methods you use and the types of cleaning and sanitizing agents you use, the construction materials may not hold up over time. Often cobots use aluminum as a core construction material and guard the joints with high-impact plastic that can deteriorate when exposed to different chemicals.
Purpose-built food-grade cobots are the ideal solution for harsh food production environments. They are made with a fully enclosed body with internal cable routing, which makes them water-resistant and easy to clean. When considering cobots in your food plan make sure you share the cleaning and sanitization details from your food safety plan with the equipment provider to make sure the equipment will deliver the longest life and highest uptime.
Like all forms of technology and automation, collaborative robots can be deployed wisely or poorly. When considering if the technology is right for you make sure you work with integrators who have the experience, knowledge, and resources to support a system that works best for what you need.
Here at MWES, we provide cobot solutions as well as other forms of automation. But our focus is not on promoting a specific technology. Our goal is to provide our customers with the right solution for their specific needs and help you grow your business. Talk to us about finding the right tools for the outcomes you need.
