Editing Robot (section)

=== Collaborative robots ===
A ''collaborative robot'' or ''[[cobot]]'' is a robot that can safely and effectively interact with human workers while performing simple industrial tasks. However, end-effectors and other environmental conditions may create hazards, and as such risk assessments should be done before using any industrial motion-control application.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.controleng.com/single-article/universal-robots-collaborate-outside-enclosures/83cc537080cf25e043eb9b770fd1d62f.html |title=Universal Robots collaborate outside enclosures &#124; Control Engineering |publisher=Controleng.com |access-date=4 June 2013 |date=February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518134056/http://www.controleng.com/single-article/universal-robots-collaborate-outside-enclosures/83cc537080cf25e043eb9b770fd1d62f.html |archive-date=18 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The collaborative robots most widely used in industries today are manufactured by [[Universal Robots]] in Denmark.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering.com/AdvancedManufacturing/ArticleID/12169 |title=INFOGRAPHIC: A Brief History of Collaborative Robots |first=Kagan |last=Pittman |website=Engineering.com |date=19 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610202319/http://www.engineering.com/AdvancedManufacturing/ArticleID/12169 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Rethink Robotics]]—founded by [[Rodney Brooks]], previously with [[iRobot]]—introduced [[Baxter (robot)|Baxter]] in September 2012; as an [[industrial robot]] designed to safely interact with neighboring human workers, and be programmable for performing simple tasks.<ref name="WSJ-2012-9">{{cite news| last = Hagerty| first = James| title = Baxter Robot Heads to Work'| newspaper = [[The Wall Street Journal]]| location = New York| date = 18 September 2012| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443720204578004441732584574| access-date = 29 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150410052711/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443720204578004441732584574| archive-date = 10 April 2015| url-status = live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> Baxters stop if they detect a human in the way of their robotic arms and have prominent off switches. Intended for sale to small businesses, they are promoted as the robotic analogue of the personal computer.<ref name=NYT91812>{{cite news|title=A Robot With a Reassuring Touch|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/science/a-robot-with-a-delicate-touch.html|access-date=18 September 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=18 September 2012|first=John|last=Markoff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919015947/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/science/a-robot-with-a-delicate-touch.html|archive-date=19 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2014|May}}, 190 companies in the US have bought Baxters and they are being used commercially in the UK.<ref name="ABCau-2014-05" />