AdvancedTopic 70 of 102Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems
Human-robot interaction and cobots
Collaborative robots work safely beside people.
In depth
Cobots are designed to work beside people using force/torque limits, speed and separation monitoring, rounded geometry, hand guiding and safety-rated sensors (ISO/TS 15066). HRI studies intuitive interfaces, intent recognition, trust and ergonomics. Risk assessment of the whole application remains necessary.
Key points
- Power and force limiting
- Teaching by demonstration
- Safety zones
ExampleA cobot hands tools to a worker and stops on unexpected contact.
What is Human-robot interaction and cobots?
Collaborative robots work safely beside people.
Why is it important to understand human-robot interaction and cobots?
Collaborative robots work beside people with safety features, which allows automation in tasks that cannot be fully fenced off.
What makes a cobot safe?
Force and power limits, rounded design, speed and separation monitoring, and emergency stops, which reduce the risk of harm in contact.
What are the limits of cobots?
Lower speed and payload than conventional robots, so they suit tasks where safety and flexibility matter more than raw throughput.
How is Human-robot interaction and cobots used in practice?
Typical applications include loading a machine tool with a cobot while an operator unloads finished parts, assisting an assembly worker with heavy fastening tasks and performing a screwing task alongside an operator on a shared bench.
What should I learn before Human-robot interaction and cobots?
Study "ROS" first (topic 69 of 102 in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Human-robot interaction and cobots?
Power and force limiting. Teaching by demonstration. Safety zones.
Can you give an example of Human-robot interaction and cobots?
A cobot hands tools to a worker and stops on unexpected contact.
What comes after Human-robot interaction and cobots?
The next topic is "Drones and UAVs", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Human-robot interaction and cobots?
It is classed as Advanced in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems (topic 70 of 102). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems.