The integration of collaborative robots (cobots) into modern manufacturing environments has become one of the key components of Industry 4.0. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are designed to operate safely alongside human workers within shared workspaces. This study investigates the principles of human-robot collaboration, analyzes safety mechanisms, and evaluates the impact of collaborative robotic systems on manufacturing productivity and operational flexibility. A comparative analysis of traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots was conducted based on productivity, safety, deployment cost, and adaptability indicators. The obtained results demonstrate that cobots significantly improve production efficiency, reduce operator workload, and increase workplace safety. The study also discusses future developments involving artificial intelligence, machine vision, and adaptive control systems in collaborative robotics.
Collaborative Robots (Cobots): Human-Robot Collaboration in Smart Manufacturing Systems
DOI:
Abstract
References
Siciliano B., Khatib O. Springer Handbook of Robotics. Springer, 2016.
Haddadin S., Croft E. Physical Human-Robot Interaction. Springer, 2016.
Villani V., Pini F., Leali F., Secchi C. Survey on Human-Robot Collaboration in Industrial Settings. Mechatronics, 2018.
ISO/TS 15066:2016. Robots and Robotic Devices – Collaborative Robots.
Krüger J., Lien T.K., Verl A. Cooperation of Human and Machines in Assembly Lines. CIRP Annals, 2009.
Matthias B. et al. Safety of Collaborative Industrial Robots. Robotics and CIM, 2011.
Bauer A., Wollherr D., Buss M. Human-Robot Collaboration: A Survey. International Journal of Humanoid Robotics, 2008.
Lasota P.A., Fong T., Shah J. Survey of Methods for Safe Human-Robot Interaction. Foundations and Trends in Robotics, 2017.
Ajoudani A. et al. Progress and Prospects of Human-Robot Collaboration. Autonomous Robots, 2018.
Wang L., Wang X.V. Cloud-Based Cyber-Physical Systems in Manufacturing. Springer, 2018.
Nahavandi S. Industry 5.0—A Human-Centric Solution. Sustainability, 2019.
Longo F., Padovano A., Umbrello S. Value-Oriented and Ethical Technology Engineering in Industry 5.0. Applied Sciences, 2020.
Javaid M., Haleem A. Industry 4.0 Applications in Manufacturing. Journal of Industrial Integration and Management, 2020.
Malik A.A., Bilberg A. Human-Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing. Procedia Manufacturing, 2019.
Zhang T. et al. Artificial Intelligence in Collaborative Robotics. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 2021.
De Luca A., Flacco F. Integrated Control for Safe Human-Robot Interaction. IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 2012.
Michalos G. et al. Human-Robot Cooperation in Assembly. CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, 2015.
Behrens R. Collaborative Robotics and Smart Factories. Robotics Today, 2022.
Universal Robots. Collaborative Robotics Report, 2024.
International Federation of Robotics (IFR). World Robotics Report, 2024.