Collaborative operation is a mode of robotic system use in which a robot and one or more human operators work together within a shared workspace, as defined in ISO/TS 15066 and ISO 10218. It encompasses the specific operating conditions, safety functions, and interaction patterns that govern the coexistence of humans and robots without a fixed separating safeguard. The concept underpins cobot deployment strategies including hand guiding, speed and separation monitoring, power and force limiting, and safety-rated monitored stop.