With the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry and the development of the electronics manufacturing industry, collaborative robots have become a hot topic. However, for users who are new to the field of robotics, the differences between collaborative robots and traditional industrial robots may not be well understood. This article will introduce in detail the main differences between collaborative robots and traditional industrial robots.
Collaborative robots: These are robots that work in tandem with humans on the production line, fully leveraging the efficiency of robots and the intelligence of humans. These robots are not only cost-effective but also safe and convenient, greatly promoting the development of manufacturing enterprises.
Industrial robots are multi-jointed manipulators or multi-degree-of-freedom robotic devices widely used in industrial fields. They possess a certain degree of automation and can perform various industrial processing and manufacturing functions using their own power and control capabilities. Industrial robots are widely used in various industrial sectors such as electronics, logistics, and chemicals.
There are two main differences between collaborative robots and traditional industrial robots:
First, the two types of robots target different markets. The initial research and development of collaborative robots was to improve the labor level of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness, thereby avoiding labor outsourcing (keeping job opportunities in the country). Therefore, the initial market for collaborative robots was SMEs, and the development and growth of collaborative robots is inseparable from SMEs.
Secondly, the two types of robots replace different things. Traditional robots replace machines on the production line. As an integral part of the entire production line, if a robot in one stage malfunctions, the entire production line may have to stop without a backup. In contrast, collaborative robots are flexible, replacing humans. The two types of robots can be interchanged, making the entire production process highly flexible.
Compared to traditional industrial robots, collaborative robots are characterized by safety, low cost, and ease of use. One of their main selling points is flexibility and openness. Collaborative robots offer rich scripting language extension libraries, leveraging the characteristics of scripting languages to enable greater software scalability and portability, resulting in richer and more flexible functionality.
Collaborative robots can perform many roles, typically service or industrial. Service collaborative robots are used to provide information, transport goods, or provide security in public places. Industrial collaborative robots have a variety of applications, including but not limited to picking and placing, packaging and palletizing, assembly, machine maintenance, surface finishing, and quality testing and inspection.
