In the near future, humans powered with robotic components could be the norm on the manufacturing floor. New robot technologies coming to market continue to make lifting, gripping, seeing and moving easier than ever. These components, which range from mechanical gloves and smart glasses to mechanized exoskeleton suits, can make workers more efficient and reduce the risk of injury. Simon Jacobson, vice president of research at Gartner, told the Wall Street Journal that robotic components offer the benefits of both humans and robots. Whereas automation offers a high level of efficiency, machines can’t often think on the fly, perform special requests or engage in problem-solving. This new breed of technology isn’t designed to replace humans, but to augment and work with them. “The trick is to automate with the human, not automate the human, or automate the human out of the job,” says Jacobson. An article in the Financial Times calls these new collaborative machines “cobots.” They include robotic arms, gloves with superhuman gripping power, and futuristic helmets that enable infrared vision. Unlike large industrial robots that need to be in cages and cannot safely operate near humans, these machines can be used on and in conjunction with workers. The Times article highlights Stenner Pump, a manufacturer in Jacksonville, Fla., that employees 90 people. Stenner manufacturing engineer Jesse Rochelle said the company recently purchased Baxter, a two-armed cobot from Rethink Robotics . The device allows them to feed parts directly from manufacturing into packaging and reduce human handling by 75%. Rochelle said collaborative robots like Baxter can help small and medium-sized companies compete with rivals. “We have significantly reduced the cycle time from raw material to finished product,” he said. Workers at Siemens and Boeing are also using the DAQRI Smart Helmet, which integrates cameras, audio, digital screens and […]
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