Can collaborative robots replace regular industrial robots?

Industrial robots vs collaborative robots:

Deployment costs

Collaborative robots are cheaper compared to traditional industrial robots. This is mainly because collaborative robots are better suited for small and medium-sized businesses to meet their production needs. Traditional industrial robots are relatively more expensive to deploy because they require more fixed environment setups and layouts, as well as a higher level of precision on the robot itself.

Flexibility

Collaborative robots can be deployed and used more flexibly, adapting to different production environments and production lines. Traditional industrial robots, on the other hand, usually need to be deployed on a specific production line, and adjustments to the production line may require reprogramming and layout.

Applications

Collaborative robots can work alongside human workers, improving efficiency and safety. Traditional industrial robots are often difficult to work directly with humans in the same work environment due to their construction and design. Collaborative robots are often used for hazardous, repetitive, and tedious tasks such as welding and assembly. Traditional industrial robots, on the other hand, can be used in a wider range of fields, including electronics, logistics, chemical, medical and other industries.

Overall, collaborative robots and traditional industrial robots each have their own advantages and application scenarios. In contrast, collaborative robots are more flexible, easier to use and safer, and can play an important role in different production environments. The emergence and development of collaborative robots marks a new inflection point for the robotics industry, and their ability to strengthen human-machine collaboration, improve work efficiency and quality, expand application areas, and promote human-machine integration and innovation is of great significance to the development of the robotics industry.