Why is it not so easy to program cobots?
ABAGY Robotic Systems
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You can often hear that cobot programming is simple. Indeed, it is easier than the traditional approach to programming industrial robots. Let's see where the difference is. Also, let's understand why ABAGY radically changes programming in both cases.
Differences between welding industrial robots and cobots
Before talking about programming, it is worth describing the differences between these types of robots
Safety
Safety is a crucial factor. Industrial robots require a safety system
Repeatability
When it comes to repeatability, both industrial robots and cobots exhibit a typical repeatability of ± 0.03mm, providing consistent precision
Accuracy
However, in terms of accuracy for linear and circular trajectories, industrial robots take the lead with high accuracy, while cobots have slightly lower accuracy.
Speed
Industrial robots are faster, around 2.5 times faster, but cobots intentionally operate at a slower pace to prioritize human safety.
Reachability
Industrial robots have a greater reach, typically spanning 10 to 15 feet, while cobots offer a range of up to 6.5 feet.
Load Capacity
When it comes to load capacity, industrial robots can handle hefty loads, ranging from 10 to 2000 kilograms. Cobots, on the other hand, are limited to lighter loads, up to 20 kilograms.
Weight and Size
Industrial robots tend to be heavy, allowing for additional equipment installation, while cobots are lightweight, compact, and lack the capacity to support heavy add-ons.
Design
Industrial robots may feature a hollow robot arm, which is particularly useful for efficient welding and avoiding the problem with cables. Cobots don't have this feature.?Also, cobots are often made of aluminum and incorporate plastic parts, requiring protective cases.
Ease of Use
Traditional industrial robot programming necessitates a programmer and a highly skilled robotic operator
The primary applications for cobots include handling, palletizing, loading/unloading, and inspection. They excel in being light, compact, and safe. However, if speed and accuracy are your priorities, industrial robots are the way to go, especially for welding tasks.
Programming differences
Three Levels of programming freedom
Industrial Robot Online Programming vs Cobot Online Programming
Both types of robots have a teach pendant and the principle of online programming is very similar. It is necessary to program each coordinate of the robot's trajectory.
The cobot has a simpler teach pendant with 4-6 buttons (on/off commands, speed control). An industrial robot has 30-60 buttons, and it is necessary to remember dozens or even hundreds of their combinations.
The key difference: in the case of a cobot, you can pull the torch with your hands to the desired position and then press OK. The robot will remember the point. An industrial robot will have to be brought to the desired point using the teach pendant and buttons on it.
But in any case, the number of points and the need to program them will be similar. It's just a little more intuitive for a human, and it's easier to learn.
In both cases, production will also have to be stopped for the duration of the programming.
If the task changes, then in both cases it will be necessary to make changes in the program with the teach pendant.
5 minutes of programming a cobot are valid only for simple straight welds. Programming complex geometry or a circular weld will be equally long and difficult on both types of robots.
When a cobot is guided manually, the trajectory may not be accurate. The system can correct it. But at the same time, it does not calculate collisions and does not offer optimal options. The human will have to decide and show the robot what each trajectory should be.
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Industrial Robot Offline System vs Cobot Block Programming
The idea of offline programming is to remove the need to program inside of the cell, moving the process to a virtual environment instead. The programmer still creates trajectories for robots and writes the code, but all of this happens inside of a virtual twin of the cell (with the computer interface).
Industrial Robot Offline Systems and Cobot Block Programming also work on similar principles. But Block programming is a bit more intuitive and simple than programming industrial robots.
There are several brands of cobots that are produced with technical vision (for example, Techman Robots, Taiwan, and Jaka Robots, China). It allows us to avoid problems with the integration of vision.
In general, both in the case of cobots and industrial robots, technical vision allows the use of parametric programming. That is, the trajectory can be shifted, but without recalculating the trajectories and taking into account the newly emerging collisions. This means that the ability to adapt to changes in the robot task is extremely limited, which is not the case when you use Abagy.
ABAGY technology
ABAGY is suitable for both industrial robots and cobots. This software drastically simplifies programming in both cases. Programming time is reduced to minutes instead of hours/days.
No programming
The system automatically generates a robot path
Adaptation to deviations
Abagy recalculates the robot trajectories on the fly, using technical vision and taking into account the part position or the deviations of the part that occurred during preassembly. It automatically suggests the most optimal robot path, taking into account possible collisions.
Fixtures
Abagy is able to recognize fixtures/jigs and generate a robot path to prevent collisions. No programming is required.
Let's compare the programming time on the part example.
There are 18 welds including circle welds, curved path welds, and welds with complicated reachability.
Industrial robots:
Cobots:
ABAGY:
Industrial robots and cobots have a fundamental difference in safety. Cobots were created to work with humans. Therefore, they are more mobile, and compact, with a more intuitive control interface. However, if your priorities are speed and accuracy, opt for industrial robots. They also have greater load capacity and reachability.
In both cases, programming works on similar principles: it is required to program each point of the robot's trajectory.
ABAGY allows you to use the advantages of both robot types while making it possible not to program at all.
Please feel free to comment on this article: Do you use cobots? How difficult do you think they are to program? Do you agree with your opinion??
Best wishes,
ABAGY Team