Robotics & Services

Robotics & Services

In the chapter “Robotics Industry”, I described the history of modern robotics focusing on the 20th century. But what does the 21st century hold for us? The impact of artificrobotics on our lives will be huge, specially referring to the impact of automation on employment which has amplified concerns about the loss of jobs in advanced economies. According to Klaus Schwab in his book “the Fourth Industrial Revolution”: “Robotics is beginning to influence many jobs, from manufacturing to agriculture, and retail to services. According to the International Federation of Robotics, the world now includes 1.1 million working robots, and machines account for 80% of the work in manufacturing a car. Robots are streamlining supply chains to deliver more efficient and predictable business results”.      

Consider the following example regarding robotic process automation: 1 minute of work for the robot is equal to approximately 15 minutes of work for a person. This IT solution lends itself to quick implementations, lasting only weeks. Consider the following example: 1. Email attachment collection: this process uses a robot to pull PDF attachments from an email inbox. 2. PDF Data Saved in Excel Document: the data in each PDF is then transposed to a row in a master Excel document, which is saved on the machine. 3. Access Web System and Generate Reports: the data in each PDF is then transposed to a row in a master Excel document, which is saved on the machine. 4. Confirm Process Completion via Email: finally, designated user(s) are notified that the process is complete. The robot will carry data from each PDF document to the Excel sheet, each respective batch of data will be saved as a row. Next the robot will authenticate it’s credentials in the enterprise system, and enter each row as an invoice entry through a web form. The robot transfers PDF data to master Excel document. .msg (email file containing attachments) is scanned, .pdf attachment is extracted and moved to new folder. Robot log into enterprise system and generates invoice reports. The robot now fills web forms to create invoices in the enterprise system. The robot generates invoices and sends emails to confirm task completion.

As useful helpers’ robots are in use also outside the factory environment. They are available in all imaginable shapes, designed to carry out a wide range of tasks. Robots that perform services for humans are called service robots. Service robotics has been a growing market for years and at the present time it shows a strong momentum since big players are entering the market. As a result many investors and component manufacturers are also becoming aware of the industry.

Lightweight robotics has the advantage that it of course allows the robot to carry out tasks that have not yet been possible in industrial robotics, such as building, cleaning, intralogistics or inspection applications and repairs. With these applications it is absolutely necessary to have a weight reduction. In principle, there are no limits to service robotics thanks to state of the art technology. Light-weight robotics has the advantage that it allows the robot to carry out tasks that perhaps have not yet been possible in industrial robotics, such as building, cleaning, intra-logistics or inspection applications and repairs. And for these applications it is absolutely necessary to have a weight reduction. There are no limits to service robotics thanks to state of the art technology, innovative sensor technique, fast camara systems and image processing. Service robots can perceive their environment, meaning see, feel and hear. They can even feel out surfaces and analyze odors. In research, first series of test and domestic helpers are carried out. Robots are already capable of carrying drinks and ensure for example that the elderly will not forget the drink and get enough liquid. On request the service robot could also carry medication. The medical sector is already one of the major fields for service robotics, since precision and reliability are important. Service robots will take the pressure off and support people with everyday things. For example, by taking over logistics and provide support with care, and enabling handicap people to regain mobility. 

Robotics is now on the verge of an age of massive disruption that puts stress on society and also on the economy and the central idea is of course that smart machines, algorithms and robots are increasingly going to substitute workers and are going to take over more and more jobs that are now being done by human beings. According to Martin Ford, author of “Rise of the Robots”, this revolution is different to those of the past. This obeys 3 factors: 1. Exponential: the previous industrial revolutions were linear, whereas this one is exponential. Computing power for ex, has been doubling every 2 years or so. 2. Cognitive capability: machines are beginning to think in a limited capacity. For ex, with smart algorithms that can make decisions and solve problems, learn and make predictions. 3. Information Technology is a general purpose technology which involves every sector of the economy.

One of the areas that is and will continue to be disrupted by robotics is medicine. Medical robots are turning alongside robots saving time, making scars smaller. With a pre-step program, computers map out the best route to removing parasites, and it helps to reduce normal hand tremors from surgeons. It has higher precision than the computer and the doctor’s hand movement is captive within one millimeter. When there are smaller incisions, operations by the robots tend to install faster healing and fewer post-op loads. But they have more areas to conquer, for example by using a sensor that transmits orders from the user, people with leg problems have the opportunity to walk normally. The technology could even make up an army in the battlefields of the future. The mechanical equipments offer dynamic power which reduce the physical stress of soldiers and enhance their sustained ability, fighting capability, and could be a part of the iron soldiers in the future. Scientists have also been researching robots that closer resemble human beings. I will cover that in our NeXT chapter: Artificial Intelligence.