Co-Manipulation of long parts using a collaborative mobile manipulator

Robots are often part of cells where high precision tasks may be performed, such as assembly, welding, pick and place that are often complex and repetitive. Being an integral part of the Industry 4.0 new paradigm, collaborative robots have started to be integrated in smart manufacturing eco-systems. These robots can work together with human operators in close proximity and can support operators in performing a series of tasks, while reducing the workload of the operator.

Typically, collaborative robotic arms are fixed in a specific location, for instance, mounted on a table. They can handle objects within their reach and their workspace is limited by the robot configuration and characteristics. Therefore, collaborative robots mounted on mobile platforms, also called collaborative mobile robots, can provide additional capabilities, such as transferring parts from one place to another, or more degrees of freedom in terms of the overall movement capabilities. In recent years, both industrial and research communities are investigating various areas and applications where collaborative manipulators can be effectively used in order to solve real-world problems.