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Collaborative robots, or Cobots for short, can greatly enhance productivity and employee satisfaction by taking over dull, reparative, and dirty tasks that humans would rather not perform. Because these robots are designed to work safely around people, many manufacturers are under the impression that no further safety measures are needed. This is a misconception, however. Appropriate safety measures based on comprehensive risk assessments are still very important. In fact, safety is crucial to unlocking your cobot’s full range of capabilities and maximizing its performance, as this blog post will explain.

During the safety design process for a machine or application, manufacturers must choose whether these measures will be implemented as a standalone or networked (integrated) safety solution. Basic safety solutions can work for smaller-size applications, but when people are talking about large automation production lines, for example, complexity makes these unworkable. Integrated safety isn’t just a highly effective way to mitigate risk. In fact, it’s a key element in building a high-performing, future-ready manufacturing facility since it’s capable of improving automation efficiency and boosting throughput.

Many applications in the life science, food and commodity, and other industries require small-form-factor smart cameras to be embedded within a machine. Understandably, OEMs with such needs are looking for smart camera technology that can fit in cramped spaces without sacrificing power or quality. Omron’s new F440, which is the latest offering in their smart camera product line, combines top-of-the-line mechanical design with the AutoVISION software platform’s power and ease of use. The F440 features a state-of-the-art, high resolution Sony Pregius 5 MP global shutter vision sensor with 35 frames per second.