The Advantages of a Collaborative Robot in the Lab Environment
Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are a relatively new incarnation of manufacturing bot designed to work safely alongside humans rather than in their own space without the need for elaborate safety enclosures such as traditional robots. Cobots can improve work efficiency in the lab environment alongside human efforts to enhance the workflow. This characteristic is handy, especially in laboratories that might have limited floor space
Although they are not appropriate to fully replace laboratory workers, the use of this lab automation equipment can make physical work in the lab much easier. Several repetitive and mundane tasks need to be completed in the lab every day, making it the perfect environment for robotic automation. These tasks include pipetting, mixing solutions, and centrifuging tissue and cell samples.
Cobots have a two-link flexible robotic arm that mimics the movements of a human arm. They can retract and extend, making them useful for tasks that require reaching inside enclosures or picking up items to move them from one place to another.
The flexible robotic arm is easy to set up and takes very little time to program. Generally, it takes just a few hours to set them up, even for an inexperienced operator. This reduces deployment time and allows lab workers to spend more time performing more complex procedures in the lab, which enhances productivity in the lab environment.
This automation equipment can perform iterative tasks with higher speed and with higher accuracy. This increases the rate at which many daily lab tasks are completed, boosting efficiency and workflow.
Robots can be programmed to automatically perform repetitive tasks for hours on end with little need for human input. Lab workers are, therefore, free to leave the workspace and allow the flexible robotic arm to run automatically. In turn, this reduces time, cost, and floor space in the lab.
Every business is looking to improve its ROI. The use of a flexible robotic arm in the lab environment can boost ROI almost immediately. Cobots are used alongside humans to reduce barriers to work and decrease error rates, both of which lead to increased ROI. With fewer human hours required to perform essential tasks, labor costs decrease while profits increase.
Lab automation equipment allows for greater flexibility in the workplace. Modern-day cobots can be programmed to perform various tasks, unlike traditional robots that are limited to just one action. New robotic machines can accelerate new processes within the lab environment, helping your business stay updated with the latest scientific tools and techniques.
Some laboratory tasks come with small safety risks. Automating a number of these tasks makes the lab a much safer place for your workers. Many cobots come with built-in safety mechanisms to enhance security, so humans and cobots can work in the same space.
Contact Retisoft to learn more about how your business can use automation equipment in the lab.
