Implementing industrial robots in a manufacturing setting isn’t as simple as buying the robot and plugging it in. There are many different financial and logistical considerations to take into account before a robot can productively automate anything. While industrial robots may serve a wide variety of purposes, the challenges manufacturers face when implementing them are relatively similar.
While robot hardware has become cheaper, the cost of the robot is a small fraction of the overall price tag of introducing automation to a manufacturing line. The study cited one large, well-known robotics integrator that said, “robots are now inexpensive, but integration is not.” And not only can the initial integration process be long, arduous, and expensive, even small changes to a manufacturing line often require bringing in an integrator to redesign and repurpose robot workcells to meet the specifications of new tasks.
The absence of standardization in many aspects of robotics made it difficult for some companies to exploit the full potential of promising technologies or to incorporate new types of robots into manufacturing lines. Some companies developed home-grown systems and capabilities over the years that they would prefer to continue to use. Others, often smaller companies, are designing manufacturing lines or purchasing new technologies from the ground up. Each type of robot might require knowledge of different programming languages, interfaces, or communication protocols for use. Standardization should cover all of these considerations, besides safety standards and hardware.
Extreme robustness, faster integration, and removal of technological bottlenecks related to sensing, perception, and gripping are critical to encouraging investment in and the mass adoption of automation. For example, the study said that while vision technologies are promising for ensuring the safety of robots and reducing quality check costs, they are still a long way from being optimal.
Understanding the common challenges that manufacturers experience when investing in robotics can help you prepare for the day when you invest in new robotic automation equipment. We present to you, “Top 10 Industrial Robotics Service Providers - 2021.”
