What is a cobot?
By definition, a cobot is a collaborative or collaborating robot that works in close proximity to human employees. The alternative designations of corobots, collaborative robotics or cobotics are also used.
Cobots: Your entry into automation with collaborative robots
KUKA developed the world’s first collaborative robot back in 2014 and is setting new standards with current innovations. The very good price/performance ratio and the ease of commissioning KUKA cobots enable even small and medium-sized companies to enter the world of automation quickly and successfully.
Cobot vs. robot: How does it differ from a industrial robot?
Unlike traditional industrial robots, the collaborative robot may work with human workers in a shared workspace without a safety fence. Sensors ensure that the robot never injures its co-workers. Conventional industrial robots, on the other hand, require a physical safeguard for the safety of human workers, which prevents them from working together.
What can a collaborative robot do?
Use cases highlight the effective collaboration of cobots side-by-side with humans in both industry and medicine
What are the advantages of collaborative robots?
Collaborative industrial robots work safely and interactively. The robot systems can be moved easily from one station to another. They perform work steps that are laborious, monotonous or dangerous for humans, e.g. strenuous overhead tasks and meticulously detailed work. In this way, the machines optimize the processes and increase productivity for your production system by automating repetitive tasks. KUKA cobot systems at the plants of numerous users have already demonstrated that they can be put into operation very easily and that they pay for themselves quickly. Collaborative robots are also perfect for craftsmen and SMEs.
Enjoy the advantages of cooperation with KUKA collaborative robots
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Flexibility & ease of use:
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Optimal cost-benefit ratio:
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Extensive KUKA Support:
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Accessible self-help:
How much does a collaborative robot cost?
Opting for and investing in automation is generally less expensive now than it was in the early days. The procurement costs usually pay for themselves after a short time due to the efficient application possibilities making the cobot a very cost effective option for the automation of your production. Our robot systems are characterized by low maintenance costs, and they run smoothly and can be checked regularly by experts.
Check prices in the product catalog now:
How do I find the right collaborative robot?
The purchase decision depends on a number of factors, e.g. application requirements such as payload, reach, speed and accuracy, as well as the degree of integration and scalability. The KUKA Robot Guide gives you just the right results for your individual robotic requirements. Furthermore, the use of 3D simulation as a planning aid supports the rapid implementation of a collaborative robot application.
How do I integrate the collaborative robot into production processes?
The iiQKA.OS operating system is designed for intuitive and fast start-up. Moreover, the KUKA TechCenter is available to help you with the successful integration of the new machine into your production system. Together with certified system integrators, our experts use feasibility studies and simulations to test and put together the right components for your applications. On top of this, we examine possible software additions. Users can also share suggestions and find support via the User Forum.
From delivery to the finished cobot application:
Ready for use in next to no time
The preconfigured iiQKA robot systems come with hardware and software components: The compact KR C5 / KR C5 micro controller, powerful iiQKA.OS operating system, smartPAD pro teach pendant, end effectors and LBR iisy cobot are optimally coordinated with one other. Within a few minutes they are unpacked, set up and ready for use.
Intuitive operation
The graphical user interface of iiQKA.OS is designed to be self-explanatory and user-friendly enabling simple operation – with all functions and without compromises.
Create customized automation sequences yourself
With the intuitive iiQKA.OS operating system and compatible components from the Robotic Republic, the KUKA ecosystem, users can easily create their own robot applications. In this way, even beginners can automate production steps by themselves.
The number of guaranteed compatible partner products, including vision systems, grippers, and various types of End-of-Arm Tooling, in the Robotic Republic is growing steadily, opening up ever more new applications for KUKA cobots.
Configure inputs and outputs
Create I/Os, assign them and use them in software – easily and quickly via the user interface on the teach pendant.
Expand programming and receive help
Simply implement advanced programming such as inserting if/else commands: You will find all the necessary information and instructions on how to use and create commands in the help function of the user interface. In case of difficulties, detailed tutorials on my.KUKA and our experts in the User Forum will help you.
KUKA cobots: industrial applications
Dangerous overhead applications, monotonous and repetitive processes, or meticulously detailed work: cobots perform these work steps, relieve employees and deliver consistently high quality. With their integrated sensors, the collaborative robots enable assembly tasks featuring small parts to be automated – they assemble automotive transmissions, insert rubber plugs or process non-rigid parts.
Their human colleagues can thus concentrate on other segments of their work. While the cobot is processing a part, the worker can already prepare the next production step. The sensitive robots respond intelligently to their environment and move independently. This is referred to as human-robot collaboration (HRC) or collaborative robotics. Intelligent cobots are opening up new areas of automation: they load machines or logistics systems, build industrial robots themselves and much more besides.
Stationary applications:
- Assembly (screw fastening, precise adhesive bonding, loading of parts, insertion of rubber plugs, processing of non-rigid parts)
- Machine tending (CNC machines, injection molding, machine tools)
- Material handling & palletizing (palletizing and depalletizing, pick-and-place tasks, packaging)
- Quality control (e.g. testing for functionality and completeness)
Mobile solutions for logistics and intralogistics:
- Order picking (transportation of goods to the staging area, clearing the empty containers)
- Material transport
- Palletizing applications (loading and unloading of pallets and conveyor belts, transportation of products to the palletizing station)
- Workpiece transfer (transfer of components to different stations, transportation of the robot to different application stations)
