There can be no question that we live in an increasingly more automated world. Whether we are telling Alexa to put the lights on, to paying at a machine with our phone at the supermarket, automation is everywhere.
If experts are right, soon you’re no longer driving your car but it will be driving you. This rise in automation and robotics is having a profound impact on our daily lives. Already, robots are working in the public eye in some countries. In Japan, for example, there is a robot receptionist in a hotel.
Where things get really interesting is when we look at automated mobile robots in industry. Here, we find offerings from the likes of Robotnik that are shaping how industry will operate in the future. Their offerings of mobile manipulators and platforms are helping businesses improve workflow and address business problems.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the key advantages of using robots in industry.
Table of Contents
Productivity
Without question, robots increase productivity. They can operate 24/7 and don’t require breaks. With the right choice of robot, automation will streamline workflow and improve productivity. With the exception of maintenance, there is no downtime.
Productivity is improved further as robots do not require vacations or get sick.
If you factor in that using automated robots removes human error, then using a robot where you can is the obvious choice.
Costs
Every industry on the planet wants to save costs. Robots offer cost savings in several ways:
- They require no salary.
- They require no vacation pay.
- They have no time off.
- They never want a raise.
- They work all day and night.
The fact is that after initial outlay and maintenance robots are cost zero.
As industry adopts and implements automation robots are beginning to come down in price. As time goes on, robots in the workplace will be increasingly common.
They Can Take Risks
Unlike we humans, robots can work at height, in hot and cold temperatures, can patrol, lift heavy loads, and won’t have a moment where they step out in front of a company vehicle. In short, they are more robust than your average human being, and they can work in uncomfortable conditions such as the RISING robot developed by Robotnik specially designed for intervention, reconnaissance and EOD missions. Should an accident occur, the business won’t get sued and nobody is hurt.
Wide Range of Rolls
One of the reasons industry is becoming increasingly automated is the wide range of roles that a robot can fulfil. From carrying heavy loads, loading pallets, patrolling, to doing complex mobile manipulator tasks, there are fewer roles that cannot be done using robots.
It is not inconceivable that in the future, there will be more robots than humans working in industry, and they are suitable for both indoor and outdoor roles.
Adaptable
Robots are becoming increasingly more adaptable and can be used for indoor or outdoor work. With omnidirectional arms or wheels and easy user interfaces, a robot can be adapted from one role to another as the needs of industry change.
A lot of time and effort has gone into making programming robots easier and more intuitive.
The Robots Industry are Adopting
Now we’ve looked at why industry is becoming increasingly automated, let’s take a look at the kinds of robots that are available.
Mobile Robots
Mobile robots is a term that covers a broad range of products. From transporting heavy loads, conducting security and surveillance, working in dangerous areas, to a driverless car are all covered by the term mobile robots.
The range of applications include military and industrial uses, and they are often used for research and development purposes.
Mobile Manipulators
Unlike its mobile robot cousins, mobile manipulators are equipped with robotic arms such as the ones developped by Universal Robots e-Series or Kinova. This arm allows a manipulator to pick up objects, clean, screw, drill, pack, inspect, polish and anything else that springs to mind. For example the mobile manipulator XL-GEN arises from the union among 2 products: the Kinova Gen2 robot arm from Kinova Robotics and the SUMMIT-XL from Robotnik and can operate in harsh, hazardous or research environment.
Mobile manipulators are often used in laboratories for specialist applications, and it is possible to mount cameras and other pieces of useful equipment to expand their role further.
Customizable Robots
With the amount of R & D going into robotics customizable robots are inevitably a thing. In fact, many are used for R & D purposes as designers work out ways to make robots more collaborative with their human coworkers.
The purpose of customizable robots is to make them as autonomous as possible so they adapt to any work environment needed. This kind of robot tends to have a safety-first built in to protect humans. So lasers for example are internal rather than external.
An impressive feature of many robots is their mobility and omnidirectional arms.
Robots in industry are going to increase significantly in the coming years. The chances are from building your furniture to building your car, and every time you order online, a robot will have helped to construct your things, or get them shipped to you.
Robots will make industry faster, more streamlined, and more productive.
Check out this website for more information on how this company’s industrial automation and controls will enable you to harness the power of Industry 4.0.
