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This study has been written by Ernesto Gambao (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid/UPM) at the request of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) and managed by the Scientific Foresight Unit, within the Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) of the Secretariat of the European Parliament..
In recent years, collaborative robots, or ‘cobots’ have burst onto the scene. This technology allows for human-robot interaction – sometimes even with physical contact. The EU has led the development of collaborative robotics, and the growth of this technology has been spectacular. However, it is necessary to analyse the risks and opportunities of cobots, and their possible social, economic and ethical impacts.
Industrial robotics is a growing and clearly consolidated sector. The EU has led the development of this technology, as one of the keys to ‘Industry 4.0’. Although still a small subfield, collaborative robotics has been growing rapidly in recent years. Collaborative robotics have the potential to increase safety and improve working conditions in the manufacturing sector. They can also improve productivity and, particularly in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increase competitiveness by reducing production costs. However, current EU legislation limits development, compared to other countries such as the United States and China. The European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) recently published ‘Analysis exploring risks and opportunities linked to the use of collaborative industrial robots in Europe‘. This study presents the current state of collaborative robotics, and its benefits and its disadvantages, with an emphasis on aspects such as safety and ethics. It presents possible policy options to enable the EU to remain at the forefront of this technology by taking advantage of opportunities and avoiding potential risks.
The deployment of robotics is closely related to business development, as their use increases productivity and accuracy. In recent years, technology has evolved to allow direct human‑robot collaboration, sometimes even with physical contact. Europe is the second largest market in the world for industrial robots. However, it trails far behind Asia, and has significantly lower growth. It is therefore relevant to explore the robotics/business development link further, to highlight the potential gains for European companies and society that come with the use of robots and/or cobots in EU industry.
The objective of collaborative robots is to combine the precision, endurance, and power of industrial robots with the individual skills and ability inherent to humans that cannot be replicated. Cobots are designed to assist the human operator; the machine does not replace the human, but complements their capabilities and relieves the worker of arduous tasks. Compared to traditional industrial robots, collaborative robots cost less, are more flexible, easier to install and reposition, and provide improved ergonomics at workstations. Cobots relieve workers’ physical workloads and can help reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders, stress and fatigue. They can also help eliminate the physical barriers (related to strength, height, physical condition, dexterity, etc.) that effectively bar certain people from employment in the productive sector. And as they complement – rather than replace – human operators, collaborative robots can have a significant influence on maintaining employment, giving this technology a friendly image in the eyes of society.
Most collaborative robots in use today can be found in the electronics and automotive industries. They are particularly effective in increasing flexibility and reducing changeover times in those industrial sectors that are moving to high-mix low-volume production. However, increased human-robot collaboration brings increased need to guarantee workers’ safety. Although cobots have been designed to be safe (and the industry has made concerted efforts to stress this), legislators still need to make further detailed and impartial assessment.
Despite the benefits of collaborative robotics technology, many challenges remain. The security necessary in human-robot collaboration limits cobot development and their impact compared to traditional industrial robots. Advances in key aspects such as detection of humans and security are needed. Existing legislation and standards are complex and also limit development with respect to countries outside the EU. The EU continues to make a notable effort to promote lines of research and development on collaborative robotics, to improve the EU’s industrial competitiveness, create new jobs and retain existing ones.
Read the full STOA study and the Options Brief to find out more. The study was presented to the STOA Panel at its meeting on 11 May 2023.
Listen to podcast ‘Use of collaborative industrial robots in Europe‘ on YouTube.
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