Cobots:
Robots for collaboration
with human operators
A cobot is
a robot for direct physical interaction with a human operator, within
a shared workspace.
Cobots were invented
by Professors Edward
Colgate and Michael
Peshkin. Cobot research is carried out in the Laboratory for Intelligent
Mechanical Systems (LIMS),
Northwestern University, with the support of the General Motors Foundation,
the National Science Foundation, and Ford Motor Company.
Cobots, when used in
material handling, have become part of a broader class of robot-like devices
known as Intelligent Assist Devices (IADs). "Cobot" refers to
the use of computer-controlled steering of wheels or CVTs, in order to produce
high quality virtual surfaces. IADs may or may not use computer-controlled
steering. Cobotics,
Inc. was formed to develop, manufacture, and license cobotic
technology, and IADs generally. In 2002 Cobotics was acquired by Stanley
Assembly Technologies, Inc.
For information about
the new safety standard for IADs, see the
RIA
page on IADs or search the RIA
site for "T15"
This
page is getting a bit old (2002). To see what's going on with cobots
and other human-interactive robotics recently , check out research in
the Laboratory for Intelligent Mechanical Systems (LIMS)
Non-technical
reports & publicity
Photo
gallery, pictures of cobots
Cobot:
a Kinder, Gentler Robot, press release, Nov. 1996
Worth
Watching: Robots to provide help in a tight spot, Financial Times
(London), May 1, 1997
Mechanical
Advantage Chicago Tribune, Business, p.1, 12/11/96
Definitions
of the word "cobot"
Cobots
learn to guide people, WIRED News, 12/19/96
People
push while machine directs, Inside R&D 25:50, 12/11/96
Worker-Friedly
Robots, Popular Mechanics, Tech Update, April 1997
Domo
Arigato Mr. Coboto, Canadian Business Magazine, "technology", Spring
1997
NU
inventors make assembly line safer, Northwestern Daily, April 8,
1997
Cobots:
La Última Tecnologia Industrial, Listin Diario, 4 de Mayo
de 1997, Dominican News
Discover
Magazine Awards for Technological Innovation, 1997, Discover Magazine,
July 1997
Robot
helps humans in the factory, Advanced Manufacturing Technology,
Nov. 15, 1997
Smarter
than ever, The Inside Line, Sept. 1998
Manufacturing in
the 21st Century: A Revolution in Technology Is on the March, Managing
Automation, October 1999
Somewhat
technical
Cobots
work with people, IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine, Dec. 1996
Cobots
for the assembly line, Mechanical Engineering Magazine, Nov. 1997
Cobots:
A new generation of assembly tools for the line worker, SPIE Robotics
and Machine Perception International Technical Working Group Newsletter,
April 1997
Technical
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Please
see cobot publications here
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