Type:

Year:

Editor:

Author:

Guertler, Matthias (1); Tomidei, Laura (1); Sick, Nathalie (1); Carmichael, Marc (2); Paul, Gavin (2); Wambsganss, Annika (1); Hernandez Moreno, Victor (1); Hussain, Sazzad (3)

Series:

Institution:

Section:

Page(s):

DOI number:

Abstract:

Collaborative robots ("cobots") have attracted growing attention in academia and industry over the last years. Due to in-built safety features and easy programming, they allow for close human-cobot collaboration and support e.g. flexible manufacturing. However, the lack of a common understanding what a cobot is along with its traditional focus on arm-based cobots complicates further research and industry adoption. Thus, this paper analyses the variety of definitions in literature incl. standards and practice examples to derive a consistent and holistic definition and taxonomy of what a collaborative robot is. Aside from contributing a structured overview of various forms of human-robot collaboration, this builds an important foundation for future research as it systematically differentiates different cobot types. Companies and other organisations will benefit by a better understanding of what type of cobot they need and how to ensure safe collaboration.

Keywords:

Technology, Design engineering, Industry 4.0, Collaborative Robotic