Published on: December 6th, 2024 / Update from: December 6th, 2024 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
History and development of cobots (collaborative robots) – Image: Xpert.Digital
🌟 A journey to visionary minds, innovative companies and their shared vision
🌍 Origin and vision of cobots: pioneers of collaboration
Cobots, also known as collaborative robots, have been at the center of a profound transformation in industrial automation for several years. These machines, which work side by side with humans, have their roots in the visionary developments and ideas of a handful of pioneers, scientists and entrepreneurs. From the very beginning, their common goal was to enable safe, intuitive and efficient interaction between humans and robots in order to optimize production processes, improve the ergonomic situation of workers and open up completely new fields of application. Today, cobots are no longer just an idea from laboratories and think tanks, but have long been an important part of modern manufacturing processes. Its development is closely linked to a number of names and companies that have not only invented groundbreaking technologies, but also led the industry towards the future.
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🏫 Getting started: The foundation of cobot technology
Decisive foundation stones were laid at Northwestern University in the USA as early as the 1990s. The most important minds of that time included J. Edward Colgate and Michael Peshkin. They recognized early on that conventional industrial robots were primarily characterized by their rigid programming and massive construction, which made their collaboration with people dangerous and inflexible. Colgate, who is often cited as a co-developer of the first cobots, emphasized: “From the beginning, our goal was to create robots that not only work side by side with people, but also react intuitively to human movements.” This basic idea was in contrast to the traditional one Robotics, where safe distances and massive protective devices were essential. Instead, a new generation of robots was to be created that, through sensors, lightweight construction and intelligent controls, was able not to endanger people but to support them in their work.
Michael Peshkin complemented this vision by always emphasizing the importance of direct physical interaction: “In order to make robots truly collaborative, we had to develop a system that not only recognizes a human's movements, but also acts and adapts in an almost predictive manner .” Under her leadership, the first concepts and prototypes emerged that laid the foundation for what would later become known as cobot technology. These early ideas created the foundation upon which many other researchers and companies were built.
🔍 Focus on Humanity: Visionary Approaches from Rodney Brooks
Another important figure in this field is Rodney Brooks. Long before robotics took the leap from the sterile ranks of fully automated manufacturing systems, he postulated the vision of robotics that was more flexible, more “humane” and safer. His work, first in an academic environment and later at various companies, placed emphasis on an intuitive understanding between humans and machines. Brooks is described as a pioneer because he recognized early on that robots should not simply be machines that do their work inexperienced, but rather adaptive helpers that adapt to their environment. “We need robots that understand their environment,” was his credo. In doing so, he brought sensor technology, AI and learning processes into focus. This approach opened the field to new technologies that form the basis for modern collaborative robots.
⚙️ From ideas to products: Europe and Asia's contribution to the cobot evolution
While the foundations for cobot technology were being developed in the USA, other pioneers in Europe and Asia set about transforming these ideas into market-ready products. Bernd Gombert, a German inventor and founder of Gomtec, contributed significantly to the implementation of mechatronic systems designed for safety, precision and interaction. He held over 100 patents in this area, reflecting the breadth and depth of his efforts. His work is an example of how intensive research, coupled with clever entrepreneurial spirit, can bring new technologies from the laboratory into production. Gombert once explained: “The real challenge is to design robots so that they are not only technically brilliant, but also fit harmoniously into people’s work environments.”
An important step in Europe was also taken by companies such as KUKA and Franka Emika. KUKA presented the LBR iiwa in 2014, which caused a stir worldwide with its safety and flexibility. Franka Emika, on the other hand, focused his brand on making cobots accessible to a broader user audience via intuitive platforms.
🌐 International Milestones: Universal Robots, Techman Robot and more
Universal Robots, a Danish company, set a historic milestone in 2008 with the first commercial cobot. The technology, previously found primarily in research laboratories, became available to small and medium-sized companies for the first time. At the same time, Techman Robot proved to be a pioneer in the field of AI-based cobots by successfully integrating image processing and artificial intelligence.
Well-known players such as FANUC and Kawasaki Robotics from Asia joined this trend by making cobots not only safer, but also more accessible and versatile. At the same time, Neura Robotics opened the doors to even closer collaboration between humans and machines with its cognitive cobot MAiRA by enabling proactive recognition of human intentions.
🛠️ The future of cobots: collaboration redefined
The history of cobots is a story of constant progress, driven by bright minds, ambitious companies and a clear vision: to relieve people of monotonous, dangerous and physically demanding tasks, while production becomes more efficient, flexible and sustainable. Initially, the main focus was on safety aspects. How can a robot without protective fences work together with a human without injuring them? The answer to this came from new sensors, softer materials, intelligent controls and extensive testing.
Today we are at a point where cobots are no longer just tools, but partners in the workplace. You learn, recognize patterns, react to changes and network with other systems. This opens up a new era of industrial automation in which the boundaries between humans and machines become increasingly blurred and collaboration becomes more natural.
🎯 Perspective: Cobots as a bridge to the future
The pioneering personalities and companies mentioned here have each contributed in their own way to turning the once theoretical idea of collaborative robotics into a practical, economically relevant and indispensable part of the industrial landscape for many industries. Their work forms the starting point for further innovations - in a world in which humans and machines work harmoniously together to overcome the challenges of a globalized, dynamic and technologically influenced world.
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