Hardware

Collaborative Robot (Cobot)

A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a manipulator designed to work in direct proximity to humans without conventional safety fencing, using power and force limiting, rounded geometry, and contact detection to keep potential injuries below thresholds defined in ISO/TS 15066. Popularized by Universal Robots' UR series from 2008, cobots typically feature hand guiding for programming, torque sensing in every joint, and payloads from 3 to 30 kg.

Why it matters for physical AI

Cobots' torque sensing, backdrivability, and safe-contact design make them natural platforms for kinesthetic demonstration collection and for deploying learned skills in human-shared spaces without cage infrastructure.