The Festo Cobot is the first collaborative robot powered by pneumatics. The direct drives in the articulated joints are lightweight and cost-effective because, unlike electric robots, no heavy gear units or expensive force-torque sensors are required.
The Festo Cobot makes using collaborative robots cost-effective even for small- and medium-sized companies. Due to its intuitive and simple commissioning and programming, the cobot can used for small-batch production.
Capable of carrying a maximum payload of 3 kilograms, the pneumatic cobot is less expensive than comparable electric models. The machine can be commissioned and programmed in less than an hour. Prior knowledge of robotics is not required thanks to visual programming and standardized function blocks. Pneumatic drives enable the robot arm to be easily guided by hand without any resistance, so that waypoints or paths can be taught quickly and precisely.
Simple connections allow it to be used ad hoc without long changeover times. Common bus standards enable fast connection to higher-order controllers. The cobot weighs less than 20 kilograms, so it can be quickly redeployed at other locations.
With a reach of 670 millimeters, the cobot is comparable to a human arm. Thanks to the flexibility of the pneumatic drives, the cobot moves at a speed appropriate to the situation. It is as soft to the touch as human contact. Precise pressure regulators in the articulated joints enable the robot to recognize when it is being touched and responds with appropriate safety functions.
Festo Corp.
www.festo.us
