The term cobot comes from the combination of the words 'collaboration' and 'robot' and describes robots that are designed for direct interaction with humans. These are industrial robots that are able to work in close proximity to their human colleagues thanks to a variety of safety functions. They enable the integration of automation solutions, which in many cases are smaller and cheaper than conventional robots. This is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized companies that have so far refrained from automation for cost reasons or that have found the industrial robots used to date too inflexible for their processes.

Collaborative robotics opens up new possibilities for factory automation, for example in assembly, packaging and palletizing. Ideally, such robot applications combine the advantages of humans - flexibility, judgment, creativity, experience, intuition and overview - with the advantages of robots - endurance, precision and strength. A specially developed cobot or lightweight robot is therefore used in collaborative robotics. These robots do not replace humans, but complement them by taking over tasks that are dirty, monotonous or dangerous from their human colleagues. As collaborative robots can also be mounted on mobile platforms, they can be quickly relocated from one site to another.

What processes are involved?

Example of a robot table for assembly applications.

© Häwa

Companies in Germany and around the world are currently facing numerous challenges: In addition to exploding energy costs, there are supply chain problems, a shortage of skilled workers, sustainability requirements and advancing digitalization - all of which require coherent approaches. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular need to quickly find ways to overcome these hurdles. Companies thinking about automation and cobots should therefore first clarify which processes can be made more efficient and how, and consider various aspects in advance: How long is the service life of the product for which a cobot is to be integrated? Will a simple cabinet solution suffice as a base frame? What specifications are required - for example, a touchscreen, a monitor with mouse, a joystick or an HMI input? Does an additional drawer make sense? The worktop must also be adapted to the needs of the process for which a cobot is required. The overriding question is always: What work process is taking place and how can it be optimally supported and designed? The required electronics, pneumatics and the cobot's control system also play important roles. The stability and desired mobility of the cobot workstations are also particularly important.

Cobot applications should be as easy as possible to set up and integrate into work processes without any special expert knowledge. Based on customer requirements, Häwa has identified three housing variants for cobots to meet most market requirements.

Three frame types for cobots

Simple base frames with a simple design and low costs are, so to speak, the entry into the world of cobot workstations. They comply with protection class IP55, have doors at the front and rear and are equipped with a filter, fan and mounting plate. Thanks to the IP55 requirements, the interior can be separated. Ideally, the body is reinforced at all corners and edges. This type of frame is available in a choice of dimensions with fixed castors or adjustable feet and handles. The worktop can be made of aluminum, aluminum groove profile, wood or another type of construction. A modular cobot base frame with additional features can be extended to include a shelf, a transport segment for a pallet truck and an operating segment underneath the worktop.

Robot tables are more complex in design - for example from Häwa's 'X-frame' modular system. In the robot table variant, the structure is based on the components from the current modular system, with the dimensions resulting from the standard dimensions of the horizontal and vertical struts. These enclosures also have a mounting plate, fan and filter and are manufactured to protection class IP55. Various door systems, plug-in doors, panels and Makrolon panes are optional. Solid struts and compact struts ensure simple side assembly. The dimensions and material of the worktops can also be freely selected for these models, as can the design with either locking castors or adjustable feet.

The author: Bernd Münchinger is the owner of bm Kommunikation in Stuttgart and external press spokesman for Häwa in Wain.

© Häwa

Finally, the individually designed cobot workstation is set up according to individual customer requirements; the user can put together the optimum frame for cobot automation, with all the options of the standard frames.