Lesson 6: Introduction to Cobot Capabilities
This lesson covers the basic knowledge related to cobot capabilities. Understanding this information is crucial to build an efficient robotic process design. Watch David Rochette, technical trainer at Robotiq, explains the main cobot capabilities that you should take into consideration:
- Payload
- Robot motion (reach, kinematics, singularities)
- Speed and acceleration
- Safety
- Accuracy and repeatability
Introduction to Cobot Capabilities
Cobot Safety and Risk Assessment
What is a risk assessment? In the robotic world, a risk assessment is used to evaluate potential risks and afterwards mitigate them to achieve acceptable levels of the potential risk of harm to a human worker during the operation of a robotic system. In the case of collaborative robots, ISO/TS 15066 was released to give further data and support for ISO 10218 that did not have a lot of information on directly relating to collaborative robots.
The risk assessment process is designed to protect workers who are using industrial machinery. In the case of robotics, it is implemented to make sure robotic cell users are safe while performing an operation with the robot and its accessories. Risk assessments are also implemented to standardize robot integration and to make sure a certain level of safety is reached by the robotic cell. Note that the risk assessment process should also be done in accordance with the laws and legislation applicable where the cell is integrated.
To learn more about How to perform a risk assessment, please refer to the Blog below:
Blog post: How to Perform a Risk Assessment for Collaborative Robots.
or Download the complete Robotiq eBook on this subject:
eBook: Collaborative Robot Risk Assessment, an Introduction
Cobot Accuracy and Repeatability
Roughly speaking, the repeatability of a robot is defined as its ability to achieve the same task repeatedly. In regard to the accuracy, it is the difference (i.e. the degree of error) between the requested task and the result. Often people will be mixed-up between accuracy and repeatability.
In most robotic applications, repeatability is way more important than accuracy. In fact, you probably want to pick an object at the very same, exact spot you picked the previous one. Even if the absolute position of the robot has a 0.5 mm offset in each axis, if you can repeat this position, your object will be grasped the way it is meant to be. This statement is especially true for collaborative robots. In fact, what you want is for the robot to repeat this position, again and again, to do the exact same routine each and every time.
Should you want more information about accuracy and repeatability in robotics, refer to the articles below.
Blog post: What are Accuracy and Repeatability in Industrial Robots?