The International Federation of Robotics projects that more than 3 million industrial robots will be in use worldwide by 2020. That may seem like a relatively tiny figure in the context of the global human population of over 7.6 billion. However, this is a testament to just how efficient industrial robots are.
This small number of robots has completely revolutionized some industries while making significant inroads in others. Robots have had a bigger impact in certain sectors. We look at 5 of these below.
Manufacturing is by far the industry that has benefited the most from robots. Thanks to the need to raise efficiency in mass production, manufacturers realized early that robots were the future. Robots are used in numerous aspects of the production process to increase efficiency while lowering operational costs.
When most people think about manufacturing robots, what often comes to mind is robots in automobile manufacturing and assembly lines (such as the welding cells from Lincoln Electrics robotic division) that are programmed to work largely autonomously. In reality, though, most manufacturing robots function under the guidance and control of a factory worker.
Given the potentially life-threatening hazards on the factory floor, manufacturing robots must be equipped with sensors, cameras, and automatic shutoff when a situation that may endanger worker safety occurs.
Robots used in healthcare have so far not been designed to replace healthcare professionals but make work easier. So far, robotics has been applied to surgery, therapy, rehabilitation, patient companionship, and a wide range of medical practices.
For example, remote-controlled surgery robots can be operated by a surgeon to make precise, tiny movements and incisions within a patient’s body. This comes in handy in minimally invasive surgical procedures such as gynecological, colorectal, urologic, thoracic. and cardiac.
For persons paralyzed due to spinal injuries or strokes, robotic exoskeletons can assist the rehabilitation process. Robotic lifting equipment enables nurses to lift immobile or elderly patients. Therapeutic and companion robots use a system of microphones, sensors, and cameras to calm mental health patients.
Due to rising food demand, growing input costs, and the scarcity of arable land, the agricultural industry has always sought ways to increase productivity. It’s, therefore, not surprising that it’s actively worked to adopt a wide range of robotic technologies.
Large-scale farms already rely on autonomous or semi-autonomous GPS-guided harvesters and tractors. Some of these are configured to act on data relayed to them by autonomous drones that survey the farm and determine which sections are ready for harvest or tilling.
More recently, there’s been a number of robot experiments meant to automate spraying, mowing, thinning, pruning, and weed removal. Sensor technology is often deployed to manage diseases and pests that affect crops.
The diversity, nuances, and multiple phases of food preparation have so far seen this area stay off the radar of robotics technology. That is, however, starting to change. Intelligent and automated robots are now available that are designed to cook and prepare hundreds of meals in the home. While most are not fully autonomous, they greatly reduce the need for human intervention.
The robot can be controlled via a smartphone app. Once the owner selects a recipe and proceeds to arrange containers or cut ingredients, the robot proceeds to quickly and efficiently cook the meal. One robotics firm is developing a more advanced robot chef that even includes a built-in refrigerator and dishwasher.
Robotic technology has been applied to many aspects of the war theater for years. The 1991 Gulf War dramatically introduced to the world the Tomahawk missile that relied on GPS to strike a remote target with remarkable precision. The Global War on Terror has also demonstrated the capacity of unmanned drones in launching missile strikes, surveilling enemy movement, and providing technical support to ground troops.
The drones are often operated from a control room that’s thousands of miles away and can relay real-time information to front-line troops, hostage rescue teams, and first-time responders. Drones can access dangerous areas without placing the lives of soldiers and responders in danger.
It’s clear that robots are playing an important role in a wide range of commercial industries. As the cost of industrial robots continues to fall, they’ll eventually make their way to the consumer space as well as transforming everyday life in countless ways.