Past Present and Future of Robotics

 

With just a few days left to say goodbye to 2022, let’s have a recap of the year 2022 and the present global business perspective.  What are the things that made headlines in the year 2022? The war between Russia and Ukraine, escalating geopolitical tensions and oil diplomacy becomes the primary hit list. fear of inflation, recession, mass layoffs, crunching tourism, etc., also were the deep concerns of the world economy. 

 

The above things had a direct impact on business sentiments across the globe, in all sectors. Cutting costs and laying off employees become the primary focal point.  According to Global Data, around 60 big companies in the technology sector announced layoffs in the year 2022. Microsoft, Twitter, Xiaomi, Nutanix, and Wix.com announced layoffs. Even China, the manufacturing hub of the world started closing many of its installations. A global slowdown has gripped every country and IMF predicts the growth rate will decline to 3.2% and further slow down to 2.7% in the year 2023.

 

So how the business will come up with the changed scenario? Surely, they can reduce manufacturing but cannot decrease the running costs of salary to the laborer. This is the reason many companies are starting the process of layoffs. But what will happen when they are getting business? Should they start to recruit workers again? The answer is NO. Robotics is going to change the entire business model.  

 

Firing the employees cannot solve the company’s problems. It will only aggregate the situation if proper solutions are not identified. It’s here the concept of robotics is becoming important. Robotics gives the businessmen unique opportunity of mixing minimum human resources with machines and thereby decrease the requirement of human labor to the maximum. Most economics is today open market. It stimulates engineers to create innovative robotics to fill the gap.

 

What is Robotics what difference is it have from a robot?

Robotics is a branch of engineering that designs and uses Robots to replace human effort. It is a programmable machine mostly a caricature of a human (not compulsorily) that can do complex tasks according to the program installed in it. 

 

                Robot Vs Robotics

            

While robotics is the study of developing robots and computer automation. They are a real mix of science, engineering, and technology.  With the advancement of technology, the scope of using robots has increased. Previously their main terrain was limited to the automobile industry mainly for welding, screwing, and painting. Now it is in almost every field of the production cycle.

 

Robotics defined

Many find both robots and robotics are the same.  But it is not like that. Robotics has two branches.  

 

1. The operational part is where robots are used.  
2. Programming or implementation section where a set of instructions are given to the robot, and it controls the functions of the robot.  

 

Robots are only a part of robotics that gives mechanical output. It may be a driller, a cutting tool, or anything. Robotics gives the instructions and the robot does it in perfection. Programming and implementation are designed with AI. Since it is program controlled, the output will be sharp, precise and 100% accurate.

 

History of robotics

 

Though the term robotics is a new concept, robot is not new. Man, always tried to use many mediums that help him to do better. They used animals first and machines next. We can trace the evolution of robots from the very ancient history of the human being.

 

·         Ancient Hebrews are said to have used an artificial person called golem to help do menial labor.  

·         Around 400 BC, Greek mathematician Archytas is believed in creating a mechanical bird to understand how birds fly with wings. 

·         The word robot was first coined by Check dramatist Karel Capek in the year 1921. The play talks about a factory that builds artificial men for assisting humans. 

·         In the year 1966, the first intelligent robot was made named Shakey the Robot. Shakey was able to perform the task of moving objects from one place to another.  

·         In 1985, the first robot-assisted surgical procedure was completed. In the same year, robots were used to repair badly damaged nuclear power plant.  

·         In 2020, robots were extensively used to perform covid tests and vaccinations.

 

Today, the evolution of robotics is rapid, accelerating in a fast-paced manner armed with technological advances in automation, engineering, and artificial intelligence. The far-reaching capabilities help the designers to create better designs that are changing the very essence of human behaviour and comfort. Already the number of robots used across the world has increased many folds. It is estimated to cross 20 million by the year 2030. Robots will start doing most of the human work.  

 

Kinds of robotics

 

·         Pre-programmed 

Pre-programmed robots work in a simple and controlled environment. They do not require any great deal of intelligent control systems or complicated software to work. It is mostly used to perform monotonous jobs in the manufacturing sector replacing a huge labor force. It can give more accurate, precise, and quality output. Ideal example Automobile industry. The mechanical hand that we see in automobile factories helps to lift, weld, paint, or screw. unlike a human, machines do not require rest in between. 

 

·         Humanoid robots

Most of the humanoid robots will have a caricature of a human being with some human behavior. It is mainly used to perform human-like activities such as running, jumping, and carrying objects. Increased use of AI has helped humanoid robots and their working. Today, it can even understand human emotions and express the same. It can answer almost all the questions that can be asked. Now work is in progress to make it more autonomous.

 

·         Autonomous robots

Autonomous Roberts works independently of human support.  

It does not require human supervision. they are mostly sensor-aided machines and ultimately their task is to identify the changes in the environment. Autonomous robots are widely used in security devices and many popular toys. One example is the robot called the Roomba vacuum cleaner that roams freely through the building and stops immediately if any object is in its way and takes a deviation. This is done with the help of censors.

 

·         Teleoperated robots

These robots are remotely controlled by the human brain mostly used in extreme geographical conditions to detect and rectify the issues where a human being cannot go or survive. They are widely used in space and underwater. It is used in the Gulf of Mexico to fix the oil leak. They are widely used in the space shuttle. 

Augmenting robots or VR robots 

These robots are connected directly to the human body. Technology helps to integrate it with the human body. Technology helps augmented robots to understand the instructions of the brain and help people to overcome their physical disabilities. Robotic prosthetic limbs are one example of augmenting robots.

 

Uses of robots 

·         Robotics in manufacturing.

Most of the robots that we use now come from this manufacturing sector. It is used in the manufacture of vehicles or industrial equipment. It is estimated that we are using more than three million robots in manufacturing alone.  

 

·         Robots in logistics

Shipping, mapping, and quality control are important aspects of the logistics business. So they use robots in warehouses to help maximize their efficiency and output. Robots help to load and unload, reload the shelves, and transport them to another part of the warehouse. Recent advancements are achieved to use the of robots to deliver the package to the doorstep. Soon you can expect a robot knocking on your door with a pizza box in hand!

 

·         Robots in home

Robotics inside the home is not a story to tell anymore.  

Many are using them to assist their daily activities like cleaning the interior and exterior cleaning the swimming pool, sending reminders, and arranging schedules, and even keeping the children happy and engaged. One such example is the vacuum cleaner Roomba which was already mentioned.  

 

·         Travel robotics

A driverless car is no more a fiction story or just a bit of imagination. AI-powered cars developed by Tesla, Ford, Volkswagen, and BMW are taking the road by storm. The reality is that these companies are eyeing the next level of technology. 

 

Rideshare companies such as Uber are also developing driverless vehicles.   

·         Robotics in healthcare

Advancement in robotics is helping the healthcare system very much. It is now widely used in surgery, rehabilitation therapy, and patient care. 

 

Though it is not meant to replace the healthcare practitioner, it is surely helping healthcare professionals to make their work easier and more precise.

 

Now keyhole surgery is becoming very common because of the advancements in robotics. Many complicated surgeries are now becoming less complicated. Operating surgeons can use very tiny instruments deep inside the patient's body and operate by viewing the inner side with a camera fitted into the tube inserted. It makes the whole procedure minimally invasive and hence less complicated. It is majorly used in performing cardiac operations, thoracic, urology, gynaecology for treating tumours, etc.  

 

Robotic devices such as exoskeletons can assist paralyzed patients during their rehabilitation. The benefit of robotics is mainly seen in healthcare. It has revolutionized the whole concept of understanding sickness and visualizing the treatment. 

 

·         Agriculture

The agriculture sector is actively using robotics to reduce human labor. This is the industry that employed maximum human labor. Farmers now have the option to use tractors fitted with GPS. Sensor technology is widely used for pruning, thinning, spraying, and weed removal. It is also used to manage pests and understand the diseases that affect crops.

 

·         Defence

Unmanned drones that are in news nowadays are the best example of robotics in warfare. The advantage is that it is very small, fast, and very precisely hit the targets with no casualty from the user side.  

AI-supported missiles that can change their direction at any time and follow the target have become a common arsenal for most countries. Robotics is widely used to understand enemy built ups and for surveillance. It provides first-hand and real-time information for the defence system to formulate a better plan of action

 

Main components of Robotics

 

·         Control system

A Control system is a set of programs that tell the robot what to do and how to do it. It is the brain of the robot. Like the brain sends signals to body parts, the control system sends the signal to the robot and makes it work according to it.

 

·         Sensors

Sensors are the eye of the robot to visualize. It is stimulated with electric signals controlled by the control system. Common sensors are video cameras, photoresistors, and microphones. Microphones operate like ears. It allows the robot to understand its surroundings and create a logical conclusion based on the data stored inside the control panel.

 

·         Actuators

Actuators give the robot mobility. These components are made up of motors controlled by the control system. It moves in tandem to carry out the task assigned. It can be metal, elastic, or small wheels. It is operated using compressed air (pneumatic actuators) or hydraulic actuators.

 

·         Power supply

These machines require a power supply to function. If the robots are stationary, they can use the AC power supply direct from the factory. 

 

A battery is fitted if the robot is moving. Most robots use lead-acid batteries that give them long shelf life. They may also use solar, hydraulic, or flywheel energy storage or even nuclear energy if the robot is working very far from the control system and is working in hazardous conditions.  

 

Benefits of Robotics

 

·         High performance

Robotics help to improve efficiency. It can work for long hours without any break time.  They will not tire and hence the output will be identical and can handle multitasking. 

 

·         High accuracy

Accuracy and precision are the important plus point of robotics. They do not tremble or shake like a human hand. The moving parts of robots are small and versatile. It helps it in performing a task more accurately.

 

·         Reduced operating cost

When machines replace manpower, the running cost will start to decline drastically. This is particularly important in developed countries where skilled labor is very expensive.  

 

·    The best option for the dangerous work environment.

Since robots are life-less, they can be used in dangerous work environments, such as war zone, spaces, underwater, extreme heat, or weather condition, etc. it is ideal where human safety is a big concern. It is used in mining and chemical industries to avoid inhalation of poisonous gas.

 

Immediate results of going to robotics

The immediate result of going robotics is job loss. It is replacing man that makes many jobless. 

It affects unskilled laborers the most. 

 

Though robotics cannot replace human skills, it can drastically reduce the number of job options available. The impact is already there in the labor market as more and more companies are starting layoffs to reduce human labor.

 

Future of robotics

·         Future of the robotics depends on the advancements made in the study of Artificial Intelligence.  

Today robotics is designed for less human intervention and innovations are leading to reducing even this minimal to no human intervention.   That means robotics will no longer require humans to support.

 

Congested traffic?, ride your bike over the road!  The new flying bike can change the very concept of riding on the roads.

·        It may impact the job market and at the same time create opportunities for highly skilled professionals in AI and virtual reality.  Opportunities for unskilled laborers will start shrinking.

 

·        Advancements in Artificial Intelligence help robots to mimic human behaviour and emotions to the maximum. They are no longer a machine now. They will act and think as a human being comes to a logical conclusion a human can take.

 

·        Advancements are already made and one such example is the humanoid robot called AMECA built and developed by Engineered Arts.

 

Ameca can perform a wide spectrum of jobs and facial expressions such as winking, pursing its lips to show the emotions of disapproval, sadness, and disgust, and scrunching its nose, just like a real person does. It also has automated speech recognition that helps it to capable of understanding different languages and giving the answers in the same language. Are these answers are scripted? No says the manufacturer; it is pure technology and AI.

 

·       Robotics will also be used in search engine navigation. With its amazing capability to recognize and remember millions of objects, it will be a great tool to navigate effectively by avoiding unwanted item flushing into the search engine and wasting your time.

 

·        Robotics will define future healthcare of how surgeries are performed.   It will be useful in understanding complex genetic diseases and the functioning of DNA. As it can handle and analyse data of vast quantity, there is a possibility of understanding the part of DNA that is responsible for these genetic and rare diseases helping the experts to find a solution. it will make the surgeries minimally invasive, more precise, and high-quality patient care.

 

·       Robotics will determine the e-commerce industry as well. 

AI-powered systems can help distribution centers. So when you are placing an order, the orders will be delivered to your doorstep within a few minutes.

 

The future of robotics does not end here as it is growing beyond our imagination and the same can be expected in the future. Let’s be future-ready where the world will become a theatre of characters played by robots and we become a silent spectator, not knowing what next, or what to do but still will have many reasons to smile and rejoice, finding time to praise the robots for the good things it has created for the humanity.