Page 42 - Are You Future Ready?

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/ Collaborative robots /

Previously, when I was at the laboratory for the
Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong
Kong, I saw two robotic arms of adult height working
flexibly and gently. The entire robotic arm was
wrapped with soft materials, so that people next to it
need not be afraid of being hit.

These robots, collaborating with people, called
cobots (collaborative + robot), are expected to
become popular in the next few years. In 2018,
040
these collaborative robots accounted for only 3%
of global robot sales, but by 2025, the proportion
is expected to increase to 34% since they are
inexpensive and versatile.

Compared with the robot equipment priced
USD100,000 (about HK$780,000), cobots are
under USD45,000 (about HK$350,000), they can
be used for various tasks, such as packaging,
quality inspection, operating machines, assembly,
welding, etc. Cobots operate 24 hours a day,
thus, they are popular in small and medium-sized
factories. How to collaborate with cobots instead
of being replaced is a question for the millennials
to ponder.