Ikea robot

In-Depth

The robot, once the preserve of large industry, could be coming to the shopfloors of SMEs to perform light tasks alongside staff via 'intuitive' programming. Samantha Pears reports.

Some of

's leading research institutes, universities and automation technology companies are planning to bring industrial robotics to the masses. The masses in this case are

's 200,000-plus smaller manufacturing firms, who will have access to intuitive, affordable self-assembly 'light' robots if the EU's

within the 6th Framework Programme project is successful.

Industrial robots are commonplace in high-volume manufacturers. Almost a million are in service worldwide, and their numbers are on the increase. However, robots are scarce in SMEs due to their cost and complexity. The SMErobot project aims to rectify this.

The term light relates to the construction of the robot. It will weigh around 20kg as opposed to an industrial robot that weighs nearer two tonnes. Light robots are aimed at lightweight jobs, such as arc welding and machining, where an employee now uses a hand tool. However, the robot will not be limited to one or two uses within an application. When woodworking, for example, it might be employed to trim, dress, mill, glue or shape.

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of premium content. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our premium content, as well as the latest technology news, industry opinion and special reports. 

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address