Almost half of the world’s automation technology is being used by the automotive industry. With an increase in consumer demand, the automation technology has expanded its scope and applicability. The automated production processes help manufacturers increase their profit potential and meet market expectations. Robotics improve the overall efficiency of a manufacturing process by creating efficient means of completing production tasks. Unlike humans, robots do not get tired and can work for days while meeting the quality and quantity requirements simultaneously. Modern industrial robots have the ability to adapt and take critical decisions during operations.

There are various emerging trends in the world of industrial robotics. Below are outline some of the main themes:

Collaboration – most current robots are static and perform functions separate to humans. However, some predict that collaboration between the two will be the key to a successful and competitive manufacturing process in the future. Robots will become ‘cobots’.

Robot learning – robot learning is essentially machine learning (which is already employed by companies such as Google in their search algorithms) but in relation to robotics. Currently, robots perform pre-programmed tasks, but with robot learning they could learn how to perform tasks differently and acquire new skills by developing new algorithms. Learning can happen through self-exploration or guidance from a teacher. One of the most exciting technologies currently being developed where a device learns about its environment is SLAM.

Social networks – the ability of manufacturing machinery to communicate and adapt with each other as a social network to create an optimum process (as opposed to a collection of optimally tuned individual robots, which may not benefit efficiencies in the manufacturing process as a whole).

Flexibility & adaptability – with current trends in ‘mass-personalisation’, manufacturing companies are having to adapt. Robotics working on a production line may need to become a lot more flexible in terms of their output than they currently are. This links with the trend in 3D printing and the ability to create different products with the same machinery.

Advanced sensing – touch, sight, smell, and even taste. Current robots are usually static and can’t adapt to a change in their known environment (for example a box that comes out uneven on a conveyor belt) and thus have limited applications. However, imagine a robot that can see the wonky box and changes its protocols to match the change in circumstance in a second. Perception is something that could be a highly valued commodity in the future and is exemplified in Amazon’s recent picking contest winner.

Dr zahid

your point 'Unlike humans, robots do not get tired and can work for days while meeting the quality and quantity requirements simultaneously. Modern industrial robots have the ability to adapt and take critical decisions during operations' is interesting to note apart other things.

Thanks Dr. Ajit.