Integrating automation within the new energy sector addresses specific challenges in manufacturing and testing. The adaptable nature of a collaborative robot makes it a functional asset across the photovoltaic, energy storage, and hydrogen fuel cell industries. At JAKA, we observe that the deployment of a capable cobot often centers on several concrete operational areas, which we detail below.

Precision Handling of Delicate Components

The first application is the gentle transfer of battery cells and solar wafers. A force-sensitive collaborative robot can pick and place prismatic or cylindrical cells without marring surfaces, which is fundamental for module integrity. Similarly, it manages fragile silicon wafers or thin-film substrates in PV production, where consistent placement prevents micro-cracks and material loss.

High-Accuracy Dispensing and Sealing

Dispensing thermal interface materials, adhesives, or sealants in battery packs and fuel cell stacks constitutes a second key use. The motion consistency of a cobot ensures uniform bead application along complex 3D paths, a requirement for long-term product durability and safety performance under thermal cycling.

Automated Screw Driving and Fastening

A third application is precision fastening. This includes driving screws to specified torque values on electrical terminals, busbars, and battery module housings. The process minimizes human variability, enhances connection reliability, and reduces repetitive strain injuries associated with manual assembly.

Integrated Machine Tending

Fourth, these robots serve as adept machine tenders. They can load raw materials and unload finished parts from CNC machines for frame fabrication, or manage the continuous flow of components in and out of laser cleaning, welding, or coating stations, maintaining cycle time consistency.

Consistent Assembly Tasks

Fifth, they execute defined assembly sequences. Examples include inserting cooling plates, installing busbars, plugging electrical connectors, and placing insulation films. The collaborative robot’s repeatability ensures each action is performed identically, supporting overall product quality.

Vision-Guided Quality Inspection

A sixth application is automated visual inspection. Equipped with cameras, a cobot can perform checks for weld seam quality on battery tabs, verify label presence and alignment, or inspect for surface defects on solar panels, providing a reliable and auditable record of quality.

Support for End-of-Line Testing

Seventh, they enhance safety in validation processes. A collaborative robot can automate the connection of high-voltage probes for battery pack performance testing or handle modules during ingress protection (IP) testing, limiting direct human exposure to electrical or environmental hazards.

Flexible Mobile Platform Integration

An eighth, forward-looking application is integration with AGVs to form mobile workstations. This composite solution allows a cobot to perform tasks like on-site tightening, inspection, or material delivery across different stations within a plant, adding a layer of logistical flexibility to the production line.

The value of a cobot in new energy lies in its application across these diverse yet precise tasks—from careful handling and assembly to rigorous inspection. Each point addresses a concrete need for reliability and safety on the factory floor. Our approach at JAKA in developing collaborative robot technology focuses on providing the necessary precision, inherent safety features, and ease of use to make these applications both practical and accessible for the sector’s evolving demands.