Steve Jobs once said, “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology – not the other way around.” That quote seems fitting for the topic of conversation for this blog – Tomorrow’s Robotics. At ESCO Automation, we pride ourselves on working with our clients to understand what their application is, what the requirements and constraints are, and what business outcome our clients are looking to achieve. Then, we work back toward the technology that fits the bill to set our clients up with a solution that provides long-term, lasting value.
There’s a lot of flashy new technology in the robotics space, in addition to the traditional industrial robot arms that come to mind when you imagine robots on the manufacturing floor. There are also SCARA robots, collaborative robots (cobots), humanoid robots, and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). It’s tough to keep up with all the different flavors in the marketplace. Today, I’m going to explain what’s what—where these options are appropriate and where they may not be. My goal for this blog is to simply provide some exposure to this topic. If you’re interested, I encourage you to exercise your curiosity and dive deeper.
Overview of Robot Applications:
- Industrial Robots: Traditional industrial robot arms are highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of heavy-duty tasks in environments that require high precision and speed. They are most often found in large-scale manufacturing, automotive assembly lines, welding, material handling, and packaging. These robots excel in repetitive tasks where large payloads, high speed, and precision are needed. They should be safeguarded with an appropriately designed safety system to prevent human injury.
Cobots (Collaborative Robots): Cobots are designed to work alongside humans in a shared workspace, making them ideal for environments where flexibility, human interaction, and collaboration are needed. They are commonly used in light assembly, vision inspection/quality control, packaging/palletizing, welding, and machine tending. Cobots are well-suited for small to medium-sized production runs with low production rates because they operate much slower than traditional industrial robots. They have sensors in their joints to detect collisions and will stop themselves when one is detected, which is why they don’t require machine guarding and can safely work alongside humans. Cobots are also great when flexibility in tasks and the ability to quickly adapt to different products is a priority.
SCARA Robots: SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) robots are designed with a unique arm configuration that excels in high-speed, precise assembly tasks. These robots typically have three axes and are used in applications such as pick-and-place, packaging, and light assembly in industries like electronics, consumer goods, and lifesciences. SCARA robots are a great choice when horizontal movement and repeatability are critical, particularly in applications requiring smaller parts and high throughput.
AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots): Autonomous Mobile Robots are typically used for material handling and transportation within factories, warehouses, and distribution centers. AMRs are great for tasks like moving parts between workstations, delivering supplies, or transporting pallets. They are most effective in environments where items need to be moved over longer distances or when traditional conveyor belts or human labor would be inefficient. AMRs can operate alongside humans without the need for guarding, thanks to their navigation systems that avoid obstacles and adapt to dynamic environments.
Humanoid Robots: These are the ones that look like they’re from the movie iRobot. While still in the early stages of commercial application, humanoid robots are designed to mimic human movement and are typically used in applications requiring more complex tasks. I have yet to see one of these anywhere except at a trade show, where vendors display shiny new objects to attract attention. Humanoid robots are mainly in research and development settings. Their ability to mimic human actions makes them a potential fit for environments that require adaptability and human-like dexterity, but they’re generally not used in high-volume industrial manufacturing due to their complexity and cost.
In the ever-evolving world of robotics, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The key to selecting the right technology lies in understanding the strengths and limitations of each type of robot and matching them to the specific needs of the application. Whether you’re considering the speed and precision of traditional industrial robots, the flexibility and collaborative nature of cobots, the mobility of AMRs, or the specialized tasks that SCARA robots excel at—each has its place in modern manufacturing and automation.
As the robotics landscape continues to expand, it’s important to stay informed about these technologies and their potential. Understanding the basics of each type of robot can provide valuable insights and help guide conversations with clients or colleagues. And remember: start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology – not the other way around.
Written by: Neal Bunt
Client Success Manager, ESCO Automation