Soft Skin Turns Robots into Cobots

Airskin’s Hannes Fuhringer on safe, soft skinned cobots.

Manufacturing cells using robotic automation are traditionally guarded either physically through barriers, virtually through light curtains or proximity sensors, and frequently by a combination of these technologies. Collaborative robotics, however, allows direct human interaction with working industrial robots with complete safety. While cobots are usually purpose built, Airskin has developed a form of soft wrap for standard industrial robots that works with advanced software to make standard robots into collaborative units. Airskin sales manager Hannes Fuhringer demonstrates the system using a KUKA robot to Jim Anderton at Automate 2023.  

Access all episodes of On The Show Floor on engineering.com TV along with all of our other series.

Written by

James Anderton

Jim Anderton is the Director of Content for ENGINEERING.com. Mr. Anderton was formerly editor of Canadian Metalworking Magazine and has contributed to a wide range of print and on-line publications, including Design Engineering, Canadian Plastics, Service Station and Garage Management, Autovision, and the National Post. He also brings prior industry experience in quality and part design for a Tier One automotive supplier.