Name/Shutterstock.com these systems are not properly implemented. Making changes to the movements of the robot or adding a new task requires someone with a robotics or software engineering background to implement. Cobots are generally more flexible and easier to use than robots. The average cobot will operate at a lower speed with a smaller reach and lesser payload than an average robot. It will also typically have a smaller footprint and be more lightweight than a robotic system. Cobots come equipped with software that makes changes to movements and tasks easy. Anyone with basic programming experience will be able to make changes quickly and efficiently, and the learning curve to make changes to the software is much less steep than it is with the average robot. The cobot's light weight makes it easy to transport or relocate within a facility. In terms of safety, the forcecontrolling sensors greatly reduce the risk to operators or devices, and depending on the risk of the particular task, a cobot may be able to operate with no physical guarding. Lab Efficiency Most mechanical testing - particularly biomedical and medical device testing - is performed manually. A lab employee sets up the initial test and then loads and unloads individual specimens until the sample batch is completed. In this time-consuming process, many tests take between 3 and 5 minutes to complete while only requiring about 30 Custom specimen racks can be 3D printed and mounted to the workstation for the cobot to pick from. (Credit: Instron) Medical Design Briefs, September 2022 www.medicaldesignbriefs.com 13http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com