Robots or Cobots: Which to Choose?
傳統機器人還是協作機器人：選哪個
？

Today’s plant managers are faced with a dearth of automation technologies but it’s not always obvious what will work best. There is rarely, if ever, a one-size-fits-all approach. This article discusses what manufacturers should consider when choosing which type of robot to invest in.

dangjindegongchangjinglimianlinzidonghuajishukuifadewenti，dannazhongfangfazuiyouxiaobingbuzongshixianeryijian。ruguoyoudehua，jishaoyouyizhongfangzhisihaierjiezhundefangfa。benwenzhuyaotaolunzhizaoshangzaixuanzeyaotouzidejiqirenleixingshiyingkaolvdeyinsu。

If it wasn’t already clear to manufacturers that the adoption of robots is on the rise, the numbers leave little doubt. The International Federation of Robotics predicts that by 2020, over 1.7 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories worldwide.

如果製造商尚不清楚機器人的采用是否正在增加，這一數字其實毫無疑問。國際機器人聯合會預測，到2020年
，全球工廠將新安裝超過170萬台工業機器人。

Industrial robots have long been used to replace human workers in performing tasks that are dangerous, dirty or repetitive. These robots are often large and bulky, caged machines used to do the heavy lifting in applications such as packaging and palletizing.

長期以來，工業機器人一直被用來代替人工來執行危險、肮髒或重複的任務。這些機器人通常是被隔離起來的大型笨重機器，用於包裝和碼垛等應用中的繁重工作。

Collaborative robots, otherwise known as cobots, have been designed to work safely alongside humans in a shared workspace. These robots, with their increased flexibility and dexterity, can complete more delicate tasks that conventional robots cannot, such as polishing fragile materials in the production process.

協作機器人（cobot）經(jing)過(guo)精(jing)心(xin)設(she)計(ji)
，可(ke)以(yi)與(yu)人(ren)類(lei)在(zai)同(tong)一(yi)工(gong)作(zuo)區(qu)域(yu)安(an)全(quan)地(di)工(gong)作(zuo)。這(zhe)些(xie)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)具(ju)有(you)更(geng)高(gao)的(de)靈(ling)活(huo)性(xing)和(he)靈(ling)巧(qiao)性(xing)
，可(ke)以(yi)完(wan)成(cheng)常(chang)規(gui)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)無(wu)法(fa)完(wan)成(cheng)的(de)更(geng)精(jing)細(xi)的(de)任(ren)務(wu)

，例(li)如(ru)在(zai)生(sheng)產(chan)過(guo)程(cheng)中(zhong)拋(pao)光(guang)易(yi)碎(sui)的(de)材(cai)料(liao)。

Cobots
Cobots were built to be smaller, lighter and safer than conventional industrial robots. Demand for this technology is on the rise, with the global cobot market expected to reach $9 billion by 2025.

協作機器人
與傳統的工業機器人相比，協作機器人的體積更小
、更輕、更安全。對這項技術的需求正在增長
，預計到2025年
，全球協作機器人市場將達90億美元。

Because of their flexibility, and relative ease of use compared to fully automatic robotic systems, cobots are generally considered to be an affordable and attractive choice for small and medium sized businesses. These manufacturers can benefit from the traditional value proposition of robots — namely that they can carry out repetitive or unsafe tasks, freeing up human workers to add value — but at a much lower cost of entry.

與(yu)全(quan)自(zi)動(dong)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)係(xi)統(tong)相(xiang)比(bi)，由(you)於(yu)其(qi)靈(ling)活(huo)性(xing)和(he)相(xiang)對(dui)易(yi)用(yong)性(xing)，對(dui)於(yu)中(zhong)小(xiao)型(xing)企(qi)業(ye)來(lai)說(shuo)，協(xie)作(zuo)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)通(tong)常(chang)被(bei)認(ren)為(wei)是(shi)負(fu)擔(dan)得(de)起(qi)且(qie)有(you)吸(xi)引(yin)力(li)的(de)選(xuan)擇(ze)。這(zhe)些(xie)製(zhi)造(zao)商(shang)可(ke)以(yi)從(cong)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)的(de)傳(chuan)統(tong)價(jia)值(zhi)主(zhu)張(zhang)中(zhong)受(shou)益(yi)
，即(ji)他(ta)們(men)可(ke)以(yi)執(zhi)行(xing)重(zhong)複(fu)性(xing)或(huo)不(bu)安(an)全(quan)的(de)任(ren)務(wu)，從(cong)而(er)使(shi)工(gong)人(ren)解(jie)放(fang)出(chu)來(lai)實(shi)現(xian)增(zeng)值(zhi)，而(er)且(qie)它(ta)們(men)的(de)入(ru)門(men)成(cheng)本(ben)要(yao)低(di)得(de)多(duo)。

Before investing in cobots, it’s important that manufacturers carry out a complete and thorough risk assessment. Risk assessments could call for the addition of extra safety features, low operating speeds or even multiple stops for a cobot. Furthermore, these extra considerations aren’t free and add a significant amount to the integration costs.

zaitouzixiezuojiqirenzhiqian
，zhizaoshangbixujinxingwanzhengerchedidefengxianpinggu，zheyidianzhiguanzhongyao。fengxianpinggukenengxuyaozengjiaewaideanquangongneng
，diyunxingsudu，shenzhixuyaoduixiezuojiqirenjinxingduocitingzhi。ciwai
，zhexieewaidegongnengbingfeimianfeide，huidadazengjiajichengchengben。

In fact, according to TM Robotics’ Global Robotics Report 2018, 79 per cent of automation distributors don’t think that their customers fully understand the safety requirements of installing a cobot, and therefore are unlikely to budget for these additional safety features.

實際上，根據TM Robotics的《2018年全球機器人報告》，有79％的自動化分銷商認為他們的客戶不完全了解安裝協作機器人的安全要求，因此不太可能為這些額外的安全功能安排預算。

Safety First
The ISO 10218 guidelines exist to set the safety requirements for industrialized robots. However, for cobots, which will see an increased number of interactions between human and robot, these guidelines alone don’t suffice.

安全第一
目前現有的工業化機器人安全要求主要是ISO 10218指南。但對於協作機器人來說
，人與機器人之間的互動將越來越多
，僅憑這些準則還不足夠。

First introduced in 2016, the ISO/TS 15066 guidelines supplement the ISO 10218 requirements and ensure that any machines classed as collaborative meet specific safety requirements. This also includes any tools that have been adapted onto the robotic arm to perform tasks as well as any objects handled by it. For the first time, ISO/TS 15066 outlines the maximum allowed power and speed limits for cobots. It also brings increased clarity on what is necessary when carrying out risk assessments on cobot applications.

ISO / TS 15066準則於2016年首次引入，對ISO 10218zhinanjinxinglebuchong，bingquebaosuoyoufenleiweixiezuoleijiqijunmanzutedingdeanquanyaoqiu。zhehaibaokuoyishipeidaojixiebishangyizhixingrenwuderenhegongjuyijiyouqichuliderenheduixiang。ISO / TS 15066首次概述了協作機器人的最大允許功率和速度限製。它還讓人們更加清楚地了解對協作機器人應用進行風險評估時的必要條件。

The risk assessment must consider the entire collaborative workspace and look at how the operator will interact with the robot. Manufacturers must take the time to ensure they properly risk assess all foreseeable contact situations that could arise between the operator and cobot for any job that the robot is expected to complete.

fengxianpinggubixukaolvzhenggexiezuogongzuokongjian，bingyanjiucaozuorenyuanruheyujiqirenjiaohu。zhizaoshangbixuhuashijianquebaotamenzhengquedifengxianpinggucaozuozhehexiezuojiqirenzhijiankenengchuxiandesuoyoukeyujiandejiechuqingkuang，yiwanchengjiqirenderenheyuqigongzuo。

Engineers need to carefully assess every task that the robot will complete in detail — an oversimplified assessment will not accurately represent how safe the robot will be. Here, manufacturers should consider the safety concept of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable). Manufacturers must consider all the potential risks that could arise in a robot application, not just one or two of them.

工程師需要仔細評估機器人將完成的每一項任務——過於簡化的評估不能準確地代表機器人的安全性。在這裏，製造商應考慮ALARA（合理可行盡量低）的安全概念。製造商必須考慮機器人應用中可能發生的所有潛在風險，而不僅僅是其中的一兩個風險。

Industrial Robots
Manufacturers also need to consider the production speed and volume that they are looking to achieve when deciding between cobots and traditional industrial robots. To run efficiently, an assembly line comprised of both humans and cobots must run at the speed of human operators to avoid bottlenecks on the production line.

工業機器人
zaixuanzexiezuojiqirenhaishichuantonggongyejiqirenshi，zhizaoshanghaixuyaokaolvtamenxiwangdadaodeshengchansuduhechanliang。weileyouxiaoyunxing，yourenhexiezuojiqirenzuchengdezhuangpeixianbixuyirengongcaozuodesuduyunxing，yibimianshengchanxianshangchuxianpingjing。

Manufacturers in sectors such as bottling or packaging, that need a much higher production speed or volume, can benefit from purchasing conventional robots. The logic is simple. Fewer human operators means there is less chance to slow the system down and production will increase. Multiple industrial robots can be integrated for a fully automated production line.

zhuangpinghuobaozhuangdengxingyedezhizaoshangxuyaogenggaodeshengchansuduhuochanliang，tamenkeyiconggoumaichuantongjiqirenzhonghuoyi。luojihenjiandan。gengshaoderengongcaozuoyiweizhejiangdixitongsududejihuigengshao
，chanliangjianghuizengjia。duogegongyejiqirenkeyijichengweiyitiaoquanzidongshengchanxian。

Industrial robots are automatically controlled and are programmable in three or more axes and they can automate an extremely broad range of processes unattended. Crucially, programming of these machines is easy, so operators don’t need to have advanced programming skills to use them. These robots can make use of AI software and machine learning to pickup processes and improve on them – self-coding their programmes when necessary.

gongyejiqirenshizidongkongzhide
，kezaisangehuogengduozhoushangjinxingbiancheng
，bingqietamenkeyizaiwurenzhishoudeqingkuangxiazidongwanchengfeichangguangfandeguocheng。zhiguanzhongyaodeshi，zhexiejiqidebianchenghenrongyi
，suoyicaozuoyuanbuxuyaoyougaojibianchengjinenglaishiyongtamen。zhexiejiqirenkeyiliyongrengongzhinengruanjianhejiqixuexilaigaijinliucheng，bingzaibiyaoshiduiqichengxujinxingziwobianma。

Upgrading a factory to make use of cobots alongside existing legacy equipment and the human workforce is an attractive proposition for many businesses but it is one that requires selective investments and careful obsolescence management.

對許多企業來說
，升級工廠以利用現有舊設備和人力資源是一個頗有吸引力的提議，但這需要有選擇的投資和謹慎的淘汰管理。

The widespread growth in the cobot market illustrates the fact that cobots are an ideal first step towards automated manufacturing processes. The initial investment is low in applications that don’t require guarding to be installed. However, for large, complex manufacturing setups, full size industrial robots may still offer better economies of scale.

協(xie)作(zuo)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)市(shi)場(chang)的(de)廣(guang)泛(fan)增(zeng)長(chang)表(biao)明(ming)，協(xie)作(zuo)機(ji)器(qi)人(ren)是(shi)邁(mai)向(xiang)自(zi)動(dong)化(hua)製(zhi)造(zao)流(liu)程(cheng)較(jiao)為(wei)理(li)想(xiang)的(de)第(di)一(yi)步(bu)。在(zai)不(bu)需(xu)要(yao)安(an)裝(zhuang)防(fang)護(hu)裝(zhuang)置(zhi)的(de)應(ying)用(yong)中(zhong)，初(chu)始(shi)投(tou)資(zi)很(hen)低(di)。但(dan)是(shi)

，對(dui)於(yu)大(da)型(xing)
、複雜的製造設置
，全尺寸工業機器人可能仍會提供更好的規模經濟。