The Korean shipbuilder expects the robots to reduce work preparation time by 60% and improve productivity
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) said on Monday that it developed a collaborative robot, or cobot, that welds pipes in the ship and put it into actual shipyards.
Before the collaborative robot was put into the field, workers themselves had to move the torch work table weighing more than 30kg and manually adjust the position, and weld it.
Industrial robots need the installation of safety fences to prevent collisions with workers, but collaborative robots can work together with workers at a close distance without installing fences through collision safety analysis.
The shipbuilder received a safety certification for the collaborative robot installed workplace from the Korea Robot User Association without needing any safety fences or safety sensors.
The company expects the introduction of collaborative robots to reduce work preparation time by 60% and improve productivity by reducing worker fatigue.
"We are using cooperative robots only for ship piping control work, but we will continue to develop technology so that it can be applied to general piping work," said an official of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.