| Primary operating concept |
Designed for programmed, repeatable industrial automation, normally used with a safeguarded work cell. |
Designed to support applications where people and the robot may work in close proximity, subject to a documented risk assessment. |
Choose the architecture based on the required speed, safeguarding method, operator interaction, and process risk. |
| 2022 installation context |
Part of the wider industrial robot market, which recorded approximately 553,000 new installations globally in 2022. |
More than 55,000 collaborative robots were installed globally in 2022, representing approximately 10% of total industrial robot installations. |
Cobots were a significant and growing segment, but conventional industrial robots still represented the larger share of installations. |
| Typical production speed |
Generally better suited to high-speed, continuous-cycle production when the cell is properly engineered and safeguarded. |
Often operated at reduced speeds when people are nearby; actual limits depend on payload, tooling, application hazards, and the safety assessment. |
For high-volume production, a safeguarded industrial cell may provide greater throughput. For flexible, lower-volume work, a cobot may reduce integration complexity. |
| Payload range |
Available across a broad range, from small assembly loads to heavy material-handling and process loads. |
Commonly focused on light- to medium-duty handling, assembly, packaging, inspection, and machine-tending tasks. |
Include the weight of the end effector, workpiece, cables, and dynamic forces when calculating the required payload. |
| Reach and workspace |
Can be selected for compact workstations or extended reach across large production areas. |
Typically optimized for human-scale workspaces, although available reach varies by model and application. |
Measure the full required envelope, including approach angles, tooling clearance, fixtures, and access for operators. |
| Safety approach |
Usually relies on physical guarding, interlocked access, safety scanners, light curtains, or a combination of measures. |
May use power-and-force limiting, speed-and-separation monitoring, safety-rated monitored stop, or other validated protective measures. |
“Collaborative” does not automatically mean safe for every task. A risk assessment and validation are required for both robot types. |
| Human interaction |
Best suited to applications where people remain outside the active robot workspace during automatic operation. |
Can support shared workstations, such as presenting parts, loading fixtures, or performing manual finishing beside the robot. |
Use close human interaction only when the combined robot, tool, workpiece, process, and layout have been assessed as acceptable. |
| Programming and deployment |
Often requires structured programming, cell design, safety integration, and commissioning by trained automation personnel. |
Frequently emphasizes graphical programming, hand-guiding, reusable routines, and relatively quick setup for small or changing batches. |
Ease of programming can lower deployment time, but complex vision, welding, force control, and multi-machine integration may still require specialist skills. |
| Changeover flexibility |
Highly flexible when paired with modular tooling, vision, quick-change fixtures, and suitable software. |
Strong advantage
Often practical for frequent product changes, variable product mixes, and tasks that alternate between manual and automated work. |
For high product variety, evaluate not only robot programming time but also fixture changes, gripper changes, calibration, and operator training. |
| Floor-space considerations |
May require a larger protected cell, safety fencing, access doors, and material-flow space. |
Can often be deployed in a smaller shared workstation, but safety equipment and separation distances may still be necessary. |
Compare the complete footprint, not only the robot base: include guarding, conveyors, pallets, maintenance access, and operator movement. |
| Best-fit applications |
High-speed assembly, welding, painting, heavy handling, palletizing, machine tending, and other repetitive processes. |
Light assembly, packaging, inspection, screwdriving, dispensing, machine tending, material presentation, and ergonomic assistance. |
Match the robot to the process requirements rather than selecting solely on purchase price or the presence of collaborative features. |
| Key advantages |
High throughput, broad payload options, repeatability, mature cell architectures, and suitability for demanding duty cycles. |
Flexible deployment, easier operator interaction, potentially lower space requirements, and practical automation for smaller production runs. |
A universal robot arm is attractive when performance and scalability dominate; a cobot is attractive when flexibility and shared workspace are priorities. |
| Main limitations |
Cell guarding and integration can increase installation time, footprint, and upfront engineering requirements. |
Speed, payload, tooling hazards, and process forces can limit collaborative operation; safeguarding may still be required. |
Estimate total cost of ownership, including integration, safety validation, tooling, maintenance, training, and production downtime. |
| Recommended selection criteria |
Cycle time, payload, reach, repeatability, duty cycle, environmental conditions, safety-cell design, and future expansion. |
Human interaction, product variation, ease of redeployment, operator training, payload, reach, safety functions, and cycle-time tolerance. |
Run a proof-of-concept using the real workpiece and tooling before making a final selection. |
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