Collaborative Robot

A multidisciplinary, collaborative project known as SecondHands is focused on advancing robotics for the industrial market. They recently presented their first robot prototype – a collaborative robot (cobot) called ARMAR-6, whose job it will be to support maintenance technicians at a highly automated customer fulfillment center.

The ultimate goal is for ARMAR-6 to supplement human capabilities by handling tasks that require a higher degree of strength or precision than their human counterparts are capable of doing. The cobot will observe and learn through interaction, using advanced perception and an evolving knowledge base to function autonomously in a dynamic environment.

As robots evolve from performing repetitive tasks to more complex, interactive systems, the field of collaborative robotics is expected to become the fastest-growing market segment in industrial robotics. According to the International Federation of Robotics, installations are expected to increase by 15 percent in 2018 alone.