The Contemporary Cobot: A Mixed Record
"Cobot": between innovation and technological illusion

The competition surrounding new robotic solutions has resulted in a clear victory for the American-Danish manufacturer Universal Robots, whose robots are now considered the quintessential cobots. Universal Robots continues to dominate the cobotics market and inspires many competitors, particularly those in Asia. These new brands—including Doosan Robotics, Han’s Robot, Aubo Robotics, and Jaka Robotics—market products whose design is reminiscent of Universal Robots’ iconic models.

Thus, the term “cobot” now refers to a mass-produced robotic arm with 6 or 7 degrees of freedom, featuring a relatively compact size compared to traditional industrial robots—with which it shares its kinematics—while boasting smooth, rounded contours. The technical legacy of Northeastern’s cobot is completely outdated and forgotten. The commercial failure of this robot—and of IADs more broadly—cleared the way for the...