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The debate around robots in the workplace often gravitates toward a false dichotomy: human versus machine.

Another example is ANYmal from Zurich-based Robotic Systems Lab (RSL).

Generative AI images created by Mark Pickavance

Their product ANYmal is a quadrupedal robot designed for autonomous operation in challenging environments like industrial inspection.

It can navigate complex terrain and carry specialized sensory equipment while weighing less than 30kg.

This approach prioritizes preserving craftsmanship while making manufacturing more inclusive and accessible to small and medium enterprises.

The psychological impact of this barrier-free collaboration is profound.

Democratizing manufacturing

What’s particularly exciting is how this collaborative approach is democratizing manufacturing.

Traditional industrial robots required extensive programming expertise and significant infrastructure changes, effectively limiting automation to large corporations.

Modern humanoid robots, designed for human collaboration, are more adaptable and user-friendly.

This means small and medium-sized enterprises can now access automation technologies.

Moreover, this collaborative approach is opening up manufacturing to a more diverse workforce.

The European model of human-robot collaboration is also addressing a critical challenge: the preservation of manufacturing expertise.

This isn’t just automationit’s an augmentation of human capability.

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The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc.