The automation of manufacturing processes in aviation production is very difficult and subject to technological challenges and economical risks. Both safety and easy-to-use collaborative robotics solutions, where human operators and robots share their workspace, combine their advantages and work collaboratively, are becoming valid to address the challenging requirements for complex manufacturing with low cost, high efficiency, flexibility and automation. In this paper, the background of collaborative robots and four kinds of human-robot-collaboration are first presented. Then the Airbus and the BAE’s visions of the “Factory of the Future” are presented, highlighting how collaborative solutions are intended to increase quality and productivity. The main industrial application cases for aircraft assembly where collaborative robots are advantageous are also explained in detail. Moreover, a summary of human-robot collaboration technological challenges is
provided, with specific focus on robot hardware design, force sensing and control, behavior design and autonomous learning of collaborative robots. It is expected that human-robot-collaboration for safe, efficient, flexible and intelligent operations is found in wide industrial applications of the future.