The Future Trends of Industrial Robotics Including Ram Applications

Since their initial deployment throughout the 1970s industrial robotics have led the future of manufacturing within both the automotive and the electronics industries. However with the growth in the cost-effective robot combined with increased sensory capability their future looks certain to evolve beyond pure manufacturing. Successful developments of AI (Artificial Intelligence) have led to increased applications in many fields of automated tasks. The future will produce cheaper, more intelligent robotics with augmented capability.

Increased sensor capabilities, in the format of Hybrid sensors, will allow for greater flexibility as well as increased sensitivity. The hybrid sensor involves several different types of sensor producing observations of the real world through different sensory fields. Currently hybrid sensors focus around three main information streams. These include vision, infrared or laser, and photoelectric applications. However future sensor technology will certainly include other sources of sensory information adding to the array of current hybrid sensors.

Bone (linkages), brawn (motive power) and brain (intelligence) remain the fundamentals of industrial robots. The first two remain standards with not much room for development beyond their full capabilities as seen today however the third gives a true potential of their applications. Potentially the development of ground-breaking AI (Artificial Intelligence) looks set to give industrial robotic application a far greater diversity than today’s current standards. The increase in AI gives greater flexibility to the variations of industrial work. This work will take an increasingly complex routines moving away from the largely denser machines seen today.

As industrial robotics increase in manufacturing competence so the momentum of creating a digital factory of the future looks realistic. It remains perfectly feasible that industrial robotics could build highly complex military systems in a bizarre reminder of the Terminator films. It’s not however merely science-fiction, but rather science-fact.

Vision guidance improvements, in synchronisation with AI growth, provides an increased complexity of tasks the industrial robot will successfully resolve. As vision devices allow robots to literally “see” there working environment, the integration of vision and intelligence will prove highly beneficial to advanced industrial robotics. Reduced manufacturing costs, combined with decreased bug-solving within the controlling computer systems, promotes a cost effective application for the digital factory of the future.

Decreased costs will result in the ability of businesses to purchase readymade industrial robots literally “off the shelf”. Simple changes to programming via a PC interface will allow for full adaptability of the purchased robot to complete a multitude of tasks. In similar fashion the “plug and play” capability of futuristic robotics will lead to wider use within the modern workplace. Tasks which once required human interaction will become phased out through the implementation of cheap, yet highly efficient industrial robots.

With the growth of the robotics industry steadily increasing the future certainly looks stable. Lower costs combined with greater adaptability will lead to increased availability of cheaper units for a multitude of user defined roles. Advances in hybrid sensor technology combined with advances in AI will produce far more advanced industrial robotics in the future. Commercial changes, as markets contract and expand, will ensure a flexible, highly intelligent robot’s able to cope with any changes to the demands of future business.

When we think of Industrial Robotics it is necessary to understand the commonly used abbreviation RAM. Robotics and Automated Manufacturing revolves around the concept of robots essentially producing goods for human use. However it is also feasible that RAM Applications will allow a robot to produce items for its own use and longevity. Imagine the scenario where a robot is able to produce manufactured items and applications that enable it to complete new challenges and overcome unforeseen events during its productivity cycle.

If any of the below applications can produce tools the enhancement of a robot goes beyond perhaps anything conceived of today:

• Humanoid robotics,
• Bipedal walking robots,
• Multi-legged robots,
• Animaloids,
• Swimming robots,
• Prosthetics,
• Exoskeletons and active orthoses for motion assistance and rehabilitation.

By being able to operate either independently or side-by-side with humans, the future of self-functional (as well as essentially self-repairing) robotic life leads to dramatic technological leaps beyond robot manufacturing currently seen as of today.

Robot Technology and RAM Applications set look to be a real game changer for the advancing human world as well as the inhabitants. The advent of breaking technology in terms of manufacturing and advancement of robotic engineering, as well as developments in AI and drone applications looks set to radically change the relationship between man and machine. Please feel free to comment on this article.