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quality control tests, and taking appropriate corrective actions. This, in turn, can result in significant labor savings, lower injury rates, less production downtime, a more highly-motivated workforce, and higher productivity. Pick-and-Place robots require the precise location of the unfinished assemblies and parts. Cobots are adaptable to non- precise placement, as they incorporate machine vision systems that facilitate positional feedback. A collaborative or adaptive assembly operation may involve the use of a human operator first to inspect, sort, and select a particular part, then roughly align the part onto an unfinished assembly (that is, a work-in-progress). In a subsequent assembly step, a cobot would complete the construction by fastening the part to the incomplete assembly. An operation such as this might be advantageous in situations where pieces are too small to align with unaided human vision; or where the final alignment and attachment of the part requires a great deal of dexterity or strength; or where final assembly must get performed at high temperatures, in a challenging environment, or with hazardous chemicals or adhesives. A cobot would, therefore, be useful if the location, orientation, or placement of parts onto an unfinished assembly is not accurate or repeatable. HANDLING AND LOADING Handling and loading tasks may involve the removal of products from an assembly line or conveyor belt, counting and wrapping them appropriately, applying labels, placing them into cartons, and sealing the cartons. High-speed, high-volume manufacturers can create specialized robotic machines and equipment for packaging. Cobots may be an ideal fit for such handling and loading applications. Collaborative robots can be used to augment human capabilities during manufacturing and assembly operations by assisting in the performance of menial (repetitive) tasks or tasks that require strength or extended reach. Manufacturing operations often may require lifting and positioning a substantial part, like an automobile door, onto an unfinished assembly, like an automobile body. Such a process might not lend itself to a completely automated operation if it requires fine adjustments to the part's position to ensure the part properly fits onto the unfinished assembly. In an automobile assembly operation, different vehicle styles might require varying numbers and forms of doors for installation, which may not be a suitable situation for a completely automated process. However, a cobot may be useful in this situation to lift the massive part. It could then carry out "instructions" from the human operator by responding to the operator's touch and move to position the piece on the desired location of the unfinished assembly. INSPECTION Cobots can provide careful examination or scrutiny of items and never get tired, bored, or distracted. This makes them significant assets to improve IIoT processes related to safety, quality, and productivity. Cobots may be easily programmed to recognize and count items on a conveyor belt, apply packaging materials and labels, and place them into the appropriate cartons. Human workers may still work with the cobots while performing higher-skill-level tasks such as oversight-related quality-control inspections. Programming for the cobot may get easily modified to adapt to changes in the product configuration or packaging requirements. n | 20 | CONCLUSION Cobots are more and more becoming engaged in the world of IIoT. Cobots are working alongside humans. The IIoT is fostering new relationships between man and technology that is enabling digital and robotic technologies to improve performance and satisfy human needs. The future of industrial automation does not have robots invading the workplace, but rather engaging with the workplace to make it better.

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