# Who Killed the Cobot Dream? The Truth About Collaborative Robots, Ep #35

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2026-02-27
- Length: 41m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35

## Summary

Hosts Nick Goellner, Eric Nekich, and David Buick investigate why collaborative robots (cobots) failed to meet the explosive growth forecasts made a decade ago, identifying five key suspects: marketing overpromise, technical limitations like speed and payload, misapplication, integration complexity, and market saturation. They explain that the industry has matured, with ISO and ANSI eliminating the term 'cobot' in 2025 in favor of 'collaborative application' to enforce application-specific risk assessments. The hosts conclude that cobots are not a universal solution but work well for specific, repetitive tasks like tending lightweight parts, citing a successful case study involving medical plastics and dedicated automation staff.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=0) Introduction: The Cobot Murder Mystery Setup
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=241) The Golden Age of Cobot Hype and Early Trade Show Buzz
- [7:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=442) Speed and Payload Limitations in Real Shop Floors
- [15:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=931) Suspects: Marketing Overpromise and Technical Constraints
- [20:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=1226) Integration Complexity and Market Saturation
- [27:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=1633) The Verdict: ISO/ANSI Standards and Collaborative Applications
- [34:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35#t=2055) Success Story: Medical Plastics and Dedicated Automation

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Universal Robots (company)
- SMW Autoblok (company)
- Fifth Axis (company)
- Light Vice (product)
- ISO (other)
- ANSI (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 142: Collaborative robot arms - Mark Gray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-01-30-episode-142-collaborative-robot-arms-mark-gray) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep. 11: What’s Next for Humanoids? Lessons from Tokyo | The Robo Success Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-06-23-ep-11-whats-next-for-humanoids-lessons-from-tokyo-the-robo-success-podcast) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [183: A Case Study in the Adoption of Robotics Featuring Rob Goldiez (CEO of Hirebotics) and Justin Montes (CEO of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-30-183-a-case-study-in-the-adoption-of-robotics-featuring-rob-goldiez-ceo-of-hirebo) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Lowering the Barrier to Robot Deployment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-09-27-lowering-the-barrier-to-robot-deployment) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Ep. 47 | Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen on Collaborative Robots for the 98%](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-06-07-ep-47-universal-robots-ceo-kim-povlsen-on-collaborative-robots-for-the-98) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-02-27-who-killed-the-cobot-dream-the-truth-about-collaborative-robots-ep-35. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Lights Out.