Collaborative Robots: Enhancing Productivity by Increasing Industrial Automation

智能工厂和“互联劳动力”（人类和机器人一起工作）正在彻底改变世界各地的生产流程。协作机器人（cobots）是这种转变不可或缺的一部分，因为它们可以与人类并肩工作，而不需要笨重、昂贵的安全笼子。与传统机器人相比，协作机器人价格实惠，适应性强，使用方便，使中小型企业（sme）能够实现自动化。然而，加拿大制造商在采用先进机器人技术方面落后于国际竞争对手。采用协作机器人的障碍包括对其用途和好处的不确定性，以及缺乏熟练工人来管理它们。亨伯是机电一体化和机器人领域的全球领导者，凭借其强大的编程实力、专业知识和创新能力（2017年机电一体化奥运会铜牌、20项技能金奖），培养人才，并为企业提供指导，使企业能够利用协作机器人实现现代化生产。我们建议购买3种具有不同功能和能力的协作机器人模型，以1)通过提高对可用协作机器人模型和应用的多样性的认识和提供培训来解决当前的技能差距2)扩大我们的应用研究能力3)帮助公司创新单个和多个协作机器人应用，从而降低成本，提高生产力，提高安全性，产生新的收入并提供竞争优势。这些协作机器人将被整合到亨伯的世界级技术创新中心（CTI），该中心专注于体验式学习、应用研究和创新。**它们还将被纳入至少6个项目，以确保学生的学习保持相关性。我们的合作机器人培训项目最初将使近1000名学生、教师和企业受益，并在2018年CTI大楼开放时提供更多的培训。我们已经在使用协作机器人为麦格纳（Magna）、希金斯（Higgins）和416 Automation等公司创建自动化解决方案，并有几个新项目正在开发中。随着我们获得更多的协作机器人和完善我们的专业知识，我们将在新的行业领域建立更多的合作伙伴关系。

Smart Factories and the "connected workforce" (humans and robots working together) are revolutionizing**production processes around the world. Collaborative robots (cobots) are integral to this transformation**because they can work side-by-side with humans without bulky, expensive safety cages. Affordable, adaptable**and easier to use than traditional robots, cobots are making automation accessible for small and medium-sized**companies (SMEs). Yet Canadian manufacturers are lagging behind international competitors in adopting**advanced robotics. Obstacles to adoption include uncertainty about the uses and benefits of cobots and a lack of**skilled workers to manage them. Humber is a global leader in mechatronics and robotics, with the**programming strength, faculty expertise and innovation capacity (bronze medal in 2017 Mechatronic**Olympics, 20 gold skill awards) to train the talent and provide the guidance companies need to modernize**production with cobots. We are proposing to purchase 3 cobot models, each with different functions and**capabilities, to 1) address current skills gaps by raising awareness and providing training in the diversity of**cobot models and applications available 2) expand our applied research capacity 3) help companies innovate**single and multi-cobot applications that will reduce costs, increase productivity, improve safety, generate new**revenue and deliver competitive advantage. The cobots will be integrated into Humber's world-class Centre for**Technology Innovation (CTI), focused exclusively on experiential learning, applied research and innovation.**They will also be incorporated into at least 6 programs to ensure student learning remains relevant. Our cobot**training programs will benefit nearly 1,000 students, faculty and businesses initially, with expanded training**available when the CTI building opens in 2018. We are already using cobots to create automated solutions for**companies such as Magna, Higgins and 416 Automation, with several new projects in development, and will**establish more partnerships in new industry sectors as we acquire more cobots and refine our expertise.