Removing the barriers to success: KUKA robots work collaboratively with humans

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In a Ford Motor Company factory in Cologne, Germany, KUKA's LBR iiwa robot is helping to transform their production line into Industry 4.0 – the 4th industrial revolution – in which humans work hand-in-hand with robots and factories become smarter.

26 August, 2016

The robotic factory of the future can be found in Cologne

The LBR iiwa on Ford's production line help to install heavy shock absorbers into the popular Ford Fiesta, a task that was very difficult to implement with traditional automation. This left the human workers on the line to do repetitive, ergonomically difficult and technically challenging work in a fast paced environment all on their own.

Humans and robots augmenting each other's strengths

Now, with the LBR iiwa, the human workers can focus on ensuring the production is running smoothly, while leaving the heavy and straining tasks to the robot – each augmenting the other's efficiency and particular set of skills. This is one of the key tenets of Industry 4.0 and LBR iiwa is the perfect robot to do it safely and flexibly thanks to its unique set of integrated sensors that make it extremely touch sensitive and dexterous. Not to mention it's pretty fun to be able to get a backrub from, and have a coffee with, the LBR iiwa. The workplace of the future is here today!