Meet the ‘cobots’ that could lower the cost of building submarines

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.—Could “collaborative robots” get Navy submarine projects back on cost and schedule? General Dynamics Electric Boat is seeing results using programmable devices that cut and weld steel. “You’re about to see a show!” a supervisor said, shouting over a soundtrack of whirs and clanging on a manufacturing floor almost the width of a football field. Moments later, bright white sparks flew overhead. A white-and-black robotic arm, assis