Robots and Cobots can be hugely beneficial in the production environment, but the appropriate choice of technology and how well it integrates with the human workforce are critical factors in the success of any installation. The decision-making processes can be complex and the best option for any given application is not always immediately obvious.
This paper sets out definitions and expectations for collaborative robots, industrial robots and human workers while examining the various factors for consideration including: safety, production quality, production volume, data availability, costs of operation, impacts of long-term changes and how to future-proof the production strategy.