A Look into the Future: What Will the Robotics Industry Look Like in 10 Years?
The robotics industry is changing at a rapid rate, and the future is looking bright with highly-efficient automation.
The use of robots in and beyond the industrial sector was considered science fiction just a few decades ago. Today, most of what was thought impossible is a reality. Industrial robots have become an integral part of manufacturing processes, shielding humans from dangerous processes and infusing efficiency in the sector.
More companies are continually embracing robotics, making the industry's future much brighter. But it’s not just the big names that are making the industry grow. Contrary to expectations, small companies have played a central role in giving industrial robots various applications.
Read to the end to understand what the future holds for the robotics industry.
Are robots going to take over the world?
No one can effectively have a conversation about robots without discussing whether they will take over the world.
To appreciate the need for this conversation, we must start by acknowledging that robots are all around us. There is no need to look far before noticing it. It starts with basic conversational bots like Siri and Alexa, to complex ones such as those used to assemble vehicles in more than half the time it would take by hand.
Without beating around the bush, robots will replace many human jobs, just like humans and horses were replaced by modern farming equipment. However, in a positive twist of events, humans will play a vital role in adding value to the robotic investment.
Humans and robots are meant to have a complementary relationship. As robots take away repetitive tasks, we will be freed to study and improve our skills for more mind-engaging jobs. The involvement of artificial intelligence is deemed to help us become smarter and improve our decision-making process.
Using robots for factory automation will replace some jobs and create new ones. Some of the positions that are likely to come up include:
Advanced data scientist
Design thinker
AI trainer
Privacy and trust manager
Virtual reality manager
Additionally, work would be more flexible since people have seamless access to tools and information required for collaboration. In other words, the future of robots does not involve replacing human jobs. On the contrary, the two would jointly work together.
How robots will evolve
With the evolution of robotic technology, it has become possible for robots to learn independently. For instance, the robot could be built now to pick and place items. However, it could use vision to figure out its own programming based on the data gathered.
A key trend to pay attention to is the concept of collaborative robots. These robots can safely work in the same environment as human employees in a shared workspace. The robotic industry is headed to a future where more collaborative robots will be the norm.
The idea behind collaborative robots is to use them on repetitive, menial jobs while employees take care of thought-intensive works. Human worker leverages their problem-solving skills in conjunction with the uptime and accuracy of collaborative robots to ensure top-quality results.
Working collaboratively with humans opens up more opportunities for robotic applications. Due to its potential, the market for collaborative robots will continue growing as more industries appreciate the technology's benefits.
Robot safety will continue to shape the industry's future
Safety is one of the key things that most people sourcing for used industrial robots often consider. There is emerging marketing of safety sensors dedicated to making sure humans can work with robots. Thanks to machine vision, it is gradually becoming possible for robots to "see" activities taking place in their workspace.
Machine vision will continue to play an important part in ensuring robots are involved in different manufacturing processes. Concepts such as multispectral, 3D embedded vision, and hyperspectral imaging are the future of industrial robots. When combined with deep learning and artificial intelligence, industrial robots are empowered to keep pace with human workers.
Companies like FANUC are already making robots that can learn on their own. That shows this bit of the future is more of a reality than a theoretical expectation.
Experts estimate that the robotic industry will register a 175% growth over nine years. That means innovators will continue to try to outdo each other, effectively driving the growth of modern technologies. Such developments will help make collaborative robots safer.
NRTC SUPPORTS THE FUTURE OF THE ROBOTICS INDUSTRY
At NRTC, we focus on reconditioning and refurbishing robots to enhance your production line with affordable industrial automation. We are committed to extending your robot's life while ensuring it operates at the highest level possible. We also design, build, and engineer custom work cells to handle your specific application. Contact us today to learn more about our services.