Collaborative robot technology allows humans and robots to safely work together. It has applications in manufacturing where robots can assist with repetitive tasks. Collaborative robots have sensors and controls that allow them to safely interact with and react to humans in a shared workspace. They are gaining popularity due to their flexibility and ability to improve productivity and ergonomics. Standards are in place to ensure safety, and risk assessments must always be conducted before implementing collaborative applications.
Collaborative robot technology allows humans and robots to safely work together. It has applications in manufacturing where robots can assist with repetitive tasks. Collaborative robots have sensors and controls that allow them to safely interact with and react to humans in a shared workspace. They are gaining popularity due to their flexibility and ability to improve productivity and ergonomics. Standards are in place to ensure safety, and risk assessments must always be conducted before implementing collaborative applications.
Collaborative robot technology allows humans and robots to safely work together. It has applications in manufacturing where robots can assist with repetitive tasks. Collaborative robots have sensors and controls that allow them to safely interact with and react to humans in a shared workspace. They are gaining popularity due to their flexibility and ability to improve productivity and ergonomics. Standards are in place to ensure safety, and risk assessments must always be conducted before implementing collaborative applications.
Collaborative robot technology allows humans and robots to safely work together. It has applications in manufacturing where robots can assist with repetitive tasks. Collaborative robots have sensors and controls that allow them to safely interact with and react to humans in a shared workspace. They are gaining popularity due to their flexibility and ability to improve productivity and ergonomics. Standards are in place to ensure safety, and risk assessments must always be conducted before implementing collaborative applications.
Mike Beaupre KUKA Robotics Collaborative Robots Introduction What is Collaboration? Definition of collaboration:
Collaboration noun Syllabification: col·lab·o·ra·tion Pronunciation: [kuh-lab-uh-rey-shuhn] • The action of working with someone to produce or create something • Working with others to do a task and to achieve shared goals. • Flexibility is an essential element of collaboration.
Source: Wikipedia Early Collaboration Ideas
1966 - Unimate robot demonstrated on the Tonight Show
Source: Robot Magazine
www.botmag.com Early Collaboration Ideas
1967 - Unimate robot on display at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles
Source: Photo by Frank Q. Brown /
Los Angeles Times Archive, UCLA Definitions & Terms Collaborative Robot – a robot specifically designed for direct interaction with a human within a defined collaborative workspace
Collaborative Workspace - safeguarded space where the robot and a
human can perform tasks simultaneously during automatic operation
Collaborative Operation (Human-Robot Interaction) - state in which
purpose designed robots can safety work in direct cooperation with a human within a defined workspace
Intelligent Assist Device (IAD) is a Smart lift assist device, generally not incorporating an autonomous operation mode
Cobot - an abbreviation of Collaborative Robot and also synonymous
with Intelligent Assist Device Benefits of HRC • Robots excel at simple, repetitive handling tasks. • Humans, on the other hand, have unique cognitive skills for understanding and adapting to any changes in the task. • The combination of humans and robots can greatly improve performance, as long as the work is optimally shared. • Human-robot collaboration allows for various levels of automation and human intervention. Tasks can be partially automated if a fully automated solution is not economical or too complex. • Non-ergonomic workstations can be greatly improved with the help of robots. Safety of the human is an absolute prerequisite Key Robot Features Collaborative Robots also incorporate one or more of the following features:
• Safety-rated Stop Monitoring
• Hand Guiding – Teaching by Demonstration • Speed and Separation Monitoring • Power and Force Limiting Key Robot Functions • Operation in Automatic Mode with a Person in the Collaborative Workspace - When the person acts - the robot reacts
• Incorporating Specific Safety Design Features to Protect the
Person from Injury - The robot‘s behavior can be easily programmed through software
• Can Have Both Autonomous and Collaborative Phases in an
Automatic Work Cycle - Flexible adaption of the robot’s characteristics to an individual task - Tasks are solved through compliance, rather than programmed positions Robot Safety Features Relevant safety features to minimize risk of a HRC application in accordance with applicable standards (ISO 10218-1:2011) • Safe velocity monitoring • Safe workspaces and safeguarded zones • Safe collision detection (free collisions possible) • Safe force monitoring (avoidance of pinching or crushing) • Safe tool detection • Safe switching of states (i.e. safe protection zones)
The current standard EN ISO 10218-1:2011 states that the robot is
only one component in a robot system and that it is in itself insufficient for safe collaborative operation. Forms of human-robot collaboration No fixed guard, virtual safety fence contact not desired, unlikely (e.g. photo-electric barrier)
Shared workspace contact desired, simultaneous motion (e.g. manual guidance) Fixed safety fence Shared contact not possible workspace Shared workspace contact not Robot desired, but possible workspace
Shared workspace, but
exclusive motion contact Operator possible, but only with workspace stationary robot e.g. in the case of industrial robot as handling assistant Video – Best Fit Joining Video – Adaptive Assembly Other Enhancement Features
• Sensitivity – integral force & torque sensors
• Distance sensing – vision or radar sensors
• Voice interpretation – verbal command functions
Evolution of Enablers
1) Advancements in Robot and Sensor
Technologies Standstill Monitoring Safe Protection Zones One method for Speed and Separation Monitoring Intelligent Manipulators Robot being used as an Intelligent and Safe Manipulator Evolution of Enablers
2) Advancements in Safe Robot
Applications Radiation Surgery
TREATMENT: Tumors are
treated using a robot-guided LINAC (high energy X-ray radiation source) FLEXIBILITY: The robot and patient positioner allows extremely flexible positioning of the LINAC around the patient providing optimal delivery angles.
Angiography RANGE: allows full coverage of the patients body from head to toe. PRECISION: 0.7mm positioning accuracy ensures high imaging quality. SPEED: C-arc can be rotated quickly enabling a complete volume scan and stable image. VERSATILE: allows for rapid switch from interventional to surgical use.
Source: Siemens Medical
“Artis Zeego” Hippotherapy • Neurorehabilitation directly at the hospital through hippotherapy. • The motion equipment is manipulated, which stimulates neuroplasticity and thus promotes neuronal rehabilitation. • Specially suited for neurological patients, e.g. after a stroke, craniocerebral injury, multiple sclerosis or children with cerebral palsy.
Six degrees of freedom provided
by the robot gives simulation of horseback riding motions.
Source: Hirob, Austria
www.intelligentmotion.at Entertainment Ride Systems
Lightweight Mobile Platforms Collaboration through autonomous mobile navigation systems Video - Mobile Navigation Research & Education - YouBot
• 5-DOF manipulator with two-finger gripper
• omnidirectional mobile platform • real-time EtherCAT communication • open interfaces A standard platform which • freely programmable enables researchers • open source software library to focus on their research Service Robotics
“Emma” Humanoid Robots DLR “Jason”
Source: DLR Germany
Wearable Robotics Exoskeleton
Supernumerary Robotic Limbs
Source: Daewoo Shipbuilding
MIT d'Arbeloff Laboratory Mobile Military Applications
“LS3”
Source: Boston Dynamics
Safety References Current Robot Safety Standards: • ISO 10218 Part 1 & Part 2 (2011) • ANSI/RIA R15.06 2012
should be implemented without completing a risk assessment. • The overall application and system must always be considered, not only the robot (i.e. process, part -holding, tool or gripper, etc.) • Risk Assessment = Safety! Contact Information
