Beyond the Bot Ep.6: Cobot Capable Robots

Steven and Tony for Beyond the Bot episode 6

In this episode of Beyond the Bot, hosts Tony DeHart and Steven King dive into the fascinating and fast-evolving world of collaborative robots, or cobot capable robots (cobots). From differences between cobots and traditional industrial robots to the latest advancements in AI, machine vision, and usability, Tony and Steven explore how cobots are reshaping industries. They also unpack how small and medium-sized businesses can adopt these technologies efficiently and affordably—while retaining and repurposing human talent. With insights from real-world use cases, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of automation, workplace collaboration, and robotic integration.

Transcript

Tony DeHart: Hello, and welcome to another exciting episode of Beyond the Bot, where we bring you the latest in AI and robotics—and how to put it to work in your business today. I'm Tony.

Steven King: And I'm Steven.

Tony: We're here in the Blue Sky Lab, and today we're going to be talking to you about cobots. Now Steven, just for our listeners before we jump into it—can you give us a little bit of insight into what a cobot actually is, for folks who might not be familiar with the term?

Steven: Well, historically we've had industrial robots, which worked behind a fenced-in, protected area. They were very strong and required strict safety protocols. Cobots, on the other hand, are designed to work alongside people. The idea is that a human and a robot can collaborate, which allows for much more flexibility in the tasks we can tackle.

Tony: So why might some folks be interested in using a cobot instead of an industrial robot? What are some of the benefits and tradeoffs?

Steven: For one, they're less expensive. You can deploy them in more environments—offices, labs, small manufacturing lines—places where industrial robots typically aren't feasible. Cobots are safer and more accessible, which opens up a lot of opportunities for repetitive tasks in tabletop environments, for example. Plus, because they’re built with safety in mind, you don’t have to invest as heavily in safety cages or large protective infrastructure.

Tony: And with less safety equipment required, I imagine the deployment cost is also significantly lower?

Steven: Exactly. Even if the robot itself isn't cheaper, the total cost of the project usually is, since we don’t need as much hard automation infrastructure. We're not putting in as many fences or interlocks, which saves both time and money.

Tony: Without those hard automation pieces, do you get any ancillary benefits—like added flexibility?

Steven: Definitely. You can program a cobot to do one task today, switch modes, and have it do something else tomorrow. That ability to pivot makes cobots highly adaptable to shifting business needs. We call them missions—customized sequences the robot performs. It’s easy to switch between missions as needs change.

Tony: Cobots are clearly having a moment right now. Their capabilities are expanding rapidly. What's driving that?

Steven: We get to solve a wide range of problems across different industries. We're seeing cobots being used not just on assembly lines and in warehouses, but also in labs and offices. These robots now offer 0.1 millimeter repeatability—very precise work, which is ideal for tasks that are hard for human hands to do consistently. And that precision opens doors for things like small electronics assembly or lab automation. Plus, the cost has come down, which is making them accessible to more people.

Tony: And how does AI, along with sensor technology and cameras, fit into all of this?

Steven: Robots have been around since the 1960s. Traditionally, they moved from point A to point B, doing the same thing over and over. With AI—especially computer vision and machine learning—we now teach robots to identify and interact with objects. That adaptability reduces errors and simplifies programming. Instead of saying “go to coordinate X,” we now say “find the object”—and the robot figures out where it is, even if it’s moved slightly.

Tony: So if you're not locked into precise positioning, you can work more easily alongside humans. And humans, like me, don't always put things back in the exact same place.

Steven: Exactly. Think about a kitchen—no chef puts the spatula in the exact same place every time. Vision-enabled cobots can handle that variability. That’s what makes them so ideal for collaborative environments—they tolerate real-world messiness.

Tony: How does all this affect how we program and operate these robots?

Steven: At Blue Sky, we design interfaces that make cobots as easy to use as a power tool. We leverage AI and solid UI design to allow operators with basic training to run them. With just a bit more training, they can create new missions and customize tasks without needing a roboticist on staff. You don’t need to write code—we use drag-and-drop and intuitive workflows.

Tony: We've got industrial robots, cobots, and now humanoids entering the scene. How do you choose the right one?

Steven: It depends on your end goal. If you're doing highly variable tasks, a humanoid might be best. But if it's repetitive—like moving boxes from A to B—a cobot or industrial robot is more efficient. Humanoids are often overkill and less energy-efficient for those tasks. They’re built to do everything, but most jobs don’t need that. Instead, you want the right tool for the job.

Tony: Within the cobot space, there are tons of options. How do you decide which ones to focus on—and how much to spend?

Steven: We’ve tested many, and the landscape has shifted a lot in just the last few years. Universal Robots (UR) has long been a leader, but now there are great alternatives at a third of the cost. One we like is the UFactory xArm 6. It’s easy to work with, has a great SDK, and fits most of our needs—good payload, precision, and affordability. And it integrates easily with our existing platforms.

Tony: So as a buyer, I’m looking at payload, SDK support, and maybe also service and support?

Steven: Exactly. We guide our clients through uptime requirements, number of shifts, and what kind of support they'll need. Many small businesses don’t have roboticists, so we ensure strong support options—both onsite and remote. We even offer remote diagnostics and mission updates.

Tony: It’s not just about the robot, right? What about all the other hardware and tools?

Steven: The cobot is just the base. You also need the right software and the right end-of-arm tooling. Sometimes that's suction; sometimes it’s a traditional claw or even a custom-built tool for specific tasks. We've 3D printed some that can pick up something as delicate as an egg without breaking it. Others are rigid and allow for tasks like pushing or spraying adhesives.

Tony: So who's the quarterback pulling all of this together? The robot manufacturer? The tooling provider?

Steven: Usually, it’s an integrator. Manufacturers provide the base robot, but most clients need help with customization—whether in software or end tooling. We support clients through the setup and give them tools to continue adapting on their own. And we always make sure they have the training to tweak and evolve their setups over time.

Tony: As we look to the future with more and more of these actually in the workforce being productive—we often talk about managers for people. But what’s the corollary for robots? Who oversees them?

Steven: Yeah, it was interesting—we were talking to a client the other day about HR, Human Resources. And we joked that now we have RR, right? Robotic Resources. I don't know what we’re going to call it, but ultimately it’s people who have a basic level of training and can make sure the robots are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. That might mean just using a user interface—something as simple as a web browser—to edit, change, update, and make new missions. Other times, it might mean having someone with a screwdriver who can disconnect two cables, take out six screws, replace the arm, and ship it back.

Tony: Do you give them names? Put googly eyes on them?

Steven: Human-computer interaction is something that’s really important to us. We want to make sure that people feel comfortable with the robot, both in terms of safety and in how they interact with it. It’s a coworker—it’s a cobot. So yeah, we sometimes have given them names and even googly eyes. It just depends on the client and how creative they want to be. But we’re very clear that we want them to have real, specific names—not just numbers. And part of our work is making sure our clients can communicate clearly with their teams, so people understand what the cobot is actually going to do—not what they fear it might do.

Tony: So the future really is man plus machine—not man versus machine.

Steven: Exactly. In most cases, these cobots come in and work alongside humans. And then businesses repurpose those people to do different tasks. Almost all of our clients do that. Some have even opened new businesses or launched new opportunities because they could redeploy their people to more meaningful or growth-oriented work.

Tony: Steven, it’s always exciting to catch up with you on the fast-changing world of robotics and AI. Thanks for joining us on Beyond the Bot.

Steven: Thanks for having me.

Tony: We’ll be back next week with another exciting topic!