Robots are not just for factories and warehouses anymore, or things you see only in movies. The truth is that there are different types of robots already performing all kinds of tasks, some of which you might not have known about. In some years to come, it will not be uncommon to have robots as colleagues (yes, you read that right).
Robots have been around for decades and they have been used in various industries for different purposes. For example, did you know robots are already taking care of elderly people and animals in their homes? Or that they can deliver food to your doorstep, clean pools, assist in the kitchen or paint?
According to a statement made by the Vice President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), Alex Shrikant, in the Automate 2022 Show and Conference, “Every industry, including agriculture, construction, retail and hospitality, is now looking at how they can take advantage of robotics to make their companies more successful.”
What are robots and how do they function?
A robot is a programmable machine that can complete a task, while the term robotics describes the field of study focused on developing robots and automation. Each robot has a different level of autonomy. These levels range from human-controlled bots that carry out tasks to fully-autonomous bots that perform tasks without any external influences.
Robots come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, while others are so large they can barely move. But they all have one thing in common—they are machines that are programmable to do specific tasks.
Today’s robots can carry out a number of complex tasks that would have been written off as science fiction even half a century ago. Smart, intelligent robots are now collaborating with humans and helping to solve problems that looked unsolvable in the past. Artificial intelligence (AI), of course, is a key part of the conversation.
AI will reshape the capabilities of robotic technology, but that is still at least a decade in the future. Robots contain at least some level of computer programming. Without a set of code telling it what to do, a robot would just be another piece of simple machinery. Inserting a program into a robot gives it the ability to know when and how to carry out a task.
What are some types of robots?
You might have heard about different types of robots, but do you know what they are used for? Some robots are used for manufacturing, some for exploring space, and some can be used for entertainment, like the dancing robot that was unveiled by Justin Bieber at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Expo (CES).
There are industrial robots, service robots, and autonomous mobile robots. As you can probably guess, industrial robots are used in factories, service robots are used in customer service settings, and autonomous mobile robots are used for transportation or delivery.
Each robot type has its own specific set of capabilities and features, which is why it’s important to know what each one is capable of before you make a purchase.
Below are 5 major types of robots as identified by Built In.
Augmenting Robots
Augmenting Robots are robots that can be used to enhance human abilities and simplify situations like:
- Helping people with physical disabilities by providing them with an assistant, who can take care of their needs or perform tasks for them. For example, a robot arm for someone who was amputated.
- Assisting people with mental disabilities, who cannot do certain tasks themselves.
- Helping people in emergency situations, like after natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots are a type of robots that are modeled after humans or human-like creatures. There are many types of humanoid robots, such as full-body robots, bipedal robots, multi-legged robots and snake-like robots.
Currently, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot representing the forefront of human-robotics technology is Ameca, developed by Engineered Arts, UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of humanoid entertainment robots. Another example is Stanford’s OceanOneK which connects human’s sight and touch to the deep sea.
Autonomous Robots
Robots that have autonomy function without the control or supervision of human operators. They are in-built with of decision-making structures to determine the best course of action based on data and perceive their environment via sensorsl. An example of an autonomous robot is Luba which is redefining the process of lawn mowing – automated, easy and intuitive.
Pre-Programmed Robots
Robots with pre-written programs are excellent for tasks that call for accuracy. Because of this, they must be given instructions in advance, after which they just carry out the plan. They are unable to alter their behavior while at work, and don’t need to be controlled. The top industries that make use of preprogrammed robots include healthcare, agriculture, marines, manufacturing, space and security. One example is ‘Sora-Q,’ a space exploration robot created by a Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy.
What Else Can Robots Do?
Here is a list of some of the coolest and most valuable things robots can do for humans in present times.
Assist in the office:
According to a 2020 report by the World Economic Forum, 43% of businesses surveyed indicated that they werr set to reduce their workforce due to the integration of technology into their processes.
Robots cannot completely replace humans in the workplace, but because they are designed to do specific, repetitive tasks, they are less prone to make mistakes or become fatigued. This improves effectiveness while also saving time and money.
Support retail services:
Robots can collect data more succinctly on goods and consumer purchasing patterns, which can improve efficiency and accuracy in inventory management. Additionally, in retail settings like supermarkets, product recommendations can enhance customer experience.
Dig tunnels:
Tunnel digging is a slow and tiring process for humans, which is one of the reasons why San Francisco-based startup Earthgrid is developing a plasma boring robot that can dig underground tunnels 100x faster and up to 98% cheaper than existing tech.
Retrieve objects:
A new robotic system, called FuseBot, has been created by MIT researchers that can find and retrieve a target item from its environment. For precise localization and effective item extraction, the robot uses RF-Visual Extraction and Radio Frequency-Visual Mapping.
Create graffiti art:
Two graduate robotics students at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed the first graffiti-painting robot system that imitates the fluidity of human movement, according to reports from Crast Net.
The GtGraffiti program is a cable-driven robot that spray paints graffiti art using gestures created and processed using motion capture technology that records human painting motions.
Rescue people in times of danger:
When natural and man-made disasters occur, the process of rescuing victims can be upheaval, which is where robots like the EU-funded NIFTi, a robotic helicopter can lend a hand. Robots could locate people buried under debris in collapsed sites, enter burning buildings or even prevent accidents altogether, thereby saving lives and increasing the effectiveness of rescue missions.
Deliver food:
As noted by Swiss Mile, the world’s population will increase even more in the future, requiring smart solutions to make life in cities more sustainable and tackle challenges like costs, and extended delivery times. Which is why they developed an autonomous robot which triples as a car, quadrup, and humanoid.The wheeled-legged robot has excellent locomotion abilities using reinforcement learning, traveling at up to 6.2 m/s (22.32 km/h or 13.87 miles/h), avoiding obstacles, and standing on two legs.
Disadvantages of Robots
The cost of maintaining and repairing robots is a significant drawback. Additionally, they require a constant flow of electricity, so if there is a power outage, they will be unable to function. Finally, they may require human assistance to do challenging activities because they aren’t always able to adapt to changes in their surroundings.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you get a better understanding of the fascinating world of robotics!
Robots can do a lot of things and they will continue to evolve in order to better serve humans. The increasingly complex capabilities of robots will eventually eliminate some human tasks, but not all.
So what do you think? Would you be willing to use robots in your home or business?
