WHEN IS A ROBOT A COBOT? MOVING BEYOND MANUFACTURING AND ARM-BASED COBOT MANIPULATORS

Abstract Collaborative robots (“cobots”) have attracted growing attention in academia and industry over the last years. Due to in-built safety features easy programming, they allow for close human-cobot collaboration support e.g. flexible manufacturing. However, lack of a common understanding what cobot is along with its traditional focus on arm-based cobots complicates further research adoption. Thus, this paper analyses variety definitions literature incl. standards practice examples derive consistent holistic definition taxonomy collaborative robot is. Aside from contributing structured overview various forms human-robot collaboration, builds an important foundation future as it systematically differentiates different types. Companies other organisations will benefit by better type need how ensure safe collaboration.