Cobots may still outperform cobots in terms of speed, but they are designed with production output in mind, not human safety. Even if they come into contact with an employee and cause harm, the robot will only stop when it receives an appropriate command. To prevent workers from accidentally getting caught in moving parts, these robots are placed behind fences or cages.

Human safety is a major concern in the design of cobots, which have built-in safety mechanisms that meet established safety requirements for human collaboration. If a cobot detects a human nearby, it may move more slowly, or stop if the human is close enough. If something gets in its way during an operation, it stops immediately and waits for a command. As a result, cobots may not even need a safety cage, although this ultimately depends on a formal risk assessment based on their designated functions.

Another difference between robots and cobots is the skills required for programming. To give instructions to a robot, an employee must have advanced computer coding skills. Also, most robot manufacturers have their own programming language that employees must learn to get anything done. While learning BASIC/Pascal makes most of these languages ​easier to use, the sheer number of individual languages has been a problem for assembly lines that use numerous machines from different manufacturers.

On the other hand, an employee giving instructions to a cobot may not need any stock coding knowledge at all. Cobots, such as the collaborative robot series, offer a simple, easy-to-use interface that doesn’t require any coding. More machines are even able to share the information they gain with other cobots. In the future, they may just have to learn new functions by watching an operator.

This also means that cobots will be easier to reprogram in the future. A single cobot can be reprogrammed and redeployed as many times as the production chain needs.

Robots are usually bolted to the floor. Once they are operational, they usually do not need to be moved around the factory. This can also be considered a safety need, keeping the robot in place regardless of the speed and power required for its task.

Cobots are usually light enough for a single worker to carry. Employees can also move them easily using a mobile base. Most cobots can also be mounted on a wall or ceiling. There are also a variety of end effectors available, including grippers and drills, which increase the flexibility of cobots.

Due to their speed and full automation, robots are still best for tasks with high quotas or hazardous environments (such as exposure to lead or heat). Cobots can also work without assistance, but they are still ideal for jobs that require the cooperation of a human operator. They are useful for small and medium-sized enterprises, helping these companies take a step towards automation and improve their competitiveness. This does not mean that cobots do not have a place in large factories, where they can fill the skills gap between humans and industrial robots.

Robots may be better for handling heavier operations, but cobots are easier to set up, more flexible, and better suited for jobs that require high precision. Neither is necessarily better than the other by default, as it can still depend on the needs of the assembly line. But in the case of cobots, they are undoubtedly ideal for businesses that still prefer human supervision but need to improve production efficiency.