The green collaborative robot family welcomes new members from FANUC
It is not surprising that in the world of automation currently the most examined trend is the development of new collaborative robots and their integration in those production areas where robotic automation was unimaginable before. This market niche today represents a 2 billion dollar worth of market for those suppliers who can offer efficient, productive and reliable solutions to the production sites.
One of the leading factory automation suppliers, FANUC pioneering solutions for this specific industry offering new perspectives for factories. Based on the announcement of the Japanese company in February, 3 additional models join their collaborative robot offer, including the CR4iA, CR7iA and CR7iA/L models. These robots contribute to the existing CR35iA model which has the largest payload capacity in the industry within its category with 35kg payload. These new models are targeted to the light-weight segment, with 4-7kg payloads. Thanks to their small and compact size, they are easily integrated in existing work environments. The green models inherited the proven sensory technology which ensures that these robots can work closely to human workforce without a safety fence and stop in case of unexpected impacts.
The technology however offers more than simply eliminating the safety fences: collaborative robots can bring closer to humans the industry-wise used FANUC intelligent features, providing plug and play options for vision and force sensing applications. This opens up a whole new perspective for robots to support human workforce in a variety of production applications with the vision systems, independently recognising workpieces, checking bar codes, quality checking processes, while also gives solution for precise assembly with the help of the force sensors. Additionally, given the small and compact size, the robots can be easily mounted to the wall or ceiling, freeing up floor space in the factory and make room for the human workforce.
According to the vice-president of Dr. Yoshiharu Inaba the industrial usage of collaborative robots will arrive to a breakthrough in 5-10 years, and will reach a stage when every second robot sold would be collaborative. With the introduction of the new models FANUC prepares for this future scenario. (http://www.fanuc.eu/ro/ro/cine-suntem-noi/news-and-events/small-collaborative-robots)
FANUC collaborative robots assist human workforce with payloads between 4 to 35 kg
Safe, reliable, and helpful. The small, green collaborative robots from FANUC are ready to work with humans.
The “big brother”, CR35iA has the highest payload within the industry in its category.
