Robotics News, Articles & Analysis | Datafloq https://datafloq.com/category/robotics/ Data and Technology Insights Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:09:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://datafloq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Robotics News, Articles & Analysis | Datafloq https://datafloq.com/category/robotics/ 32 32 How Robotics is Transforming the Healthcare Industry https://datafloq.com/read/how-robotics-transforming-healthcare-industry/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:05:32 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=1063560 Robotic surgery through the use of cutting-edge technology is bound to make a surgeon's job much easier. Moreover, it cannot replace human doctors anytime in the near future for most […]

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Robotic surgery through the use of cutting-edge technology is bound to make a surgeon's job much easier. Moreover, it cannot replace human doctors anytime in the near future for most robotic systems will enhance human capabilities and post-operative outcomes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an integral part of our everyday life as it makes our life simple and easy since it transforms our lives in many ways. Among the sectors that have witnessed this catalytic change is the healthcare sector that's transforming lives through medical treatment.

AI is a great tool in healthcare diagnostics and monitoring of patients. Integration of AI in the operating room is the next step in the implementation of AI-based systems as machine learning in medical care will be of great benefit to surgeons as well as patients.

Robotics is one of the key aspects of AI that's impacting our daily lives, as it's a combination of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science and engineering. Robots have a great deal of similarity with humans as they can perform like humans when enabled with AI.

So, let's look at how robots are transforming the healthcare sector. Robots can be used to:
1. Carry out operations in an accurate manner
2. Provide therapy to patients
3. Used as prosthetic limbs

Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare

Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare

1. Learning from large datasets

A significant number of years are invested by specialists in refining and becoming proficient in their skill sets. Physicians oversee several surgical procedures for learning different techniques and applying the best methods in their practice, however, they feel restrained due to human limitations. AI-based systems can absorb vast amounts of information within seconds. Robots in surgery can be trained with AI for maximizing their capability in utilizing information.

Several recordings of surgeries can be loaded within seconds in AI-based systems as there are no time or memory constraints. The robots are capable of remembering the first procedure with great precision right to the last. AI helps in educating physicians on various methodologies. It assists physicians in reshaping their learning and practicing skills for perfecting their surgical skills.

2. Standardized practices

AI equips surgeons with a new outlook by introducing new methods to prevailing surgical practices resulting in standardized practices. Once data analytics is collected from different parts of the world, AI can gather different images, notice microscopic changes, and bring in new trends. Gathering knowledge from various surgeries, AI-based systems can help in discovering the best surgical techniques which were never discovered.
Patterns and trends detection can help in reshaping the way some procedures are performed offering surgeons and patients quality outcomes. Hence, practices will be standardized as surgeons globally will be able to follow similar methods for reaching optimal results.

3. Relieve cognitive and physical stress

Robotic surgery can be enhanced through AI by taking away the surgeon's stress. By using tools, monitoring operations, and sending alerts, AI can ensure a guided surgical procedure using a streamlined process. Surgeons can be freed from cognitive stress and operating time by performing a vast volume of surgical procedures with a high level of favorable outcomes.

4. Improving the ergonomics of operating rooms

The outlook towards improving the ergonomics of operating rooms can be transformed using AI. AI can help in identifying and suggesting ergonomically smarter solutions for alleviating physical stress during operations. AI along with smart robotic surgery helps surgeons from losing out on their physical health and lengthen their careers.

5. Redefining surgical care

As of date, two-thirds of the world population cannot access surgical treatment. AI-based systems can be teamed up with robotics to bridge this gap and ensure that patients globally are able to receive the quality surgical care that they deserve. AI will enable more and more physicians to access learning options from the best models in their field and assist them in performing surgeries.

6. Widening reach

Irrespective of the location and resources that surgeons have access to globally, surgeons can learn and use AI-based robotics to cater to a larger patient population. Surgeons who perform only one surgical procedure can widen their impact using a new tool for addressing a wide range of sub-specialties.

Summing up

As can be seen above, AI robotics is increasingly disrupting and transforming the healthcare market. It is mainly used for tracking patients' health conditions and creating a continuous supply chain of medication and other necessary items around the hospital. It is used for designing customized health tasks for patients.

Robotics is playing a vital role in the healthcare industry as it offers robots for assistance, provides accurate diagnosis, and lends remote treatment options. Analyzing robots helps in detecting even trivial patterns in a patient's health graph.

Robots led by machine learning play an active role in hospitals for carrying out micro-surgeries like unclogging blood vessels. AI robotics plays a critical role in providing treatment in remote locations for robots can single-handedly take on many clinical tasks, for example, the bot-pill which is a discovery of AI robotics.

AI goes hand-in-hand with robotic surgery. Integration of AI-based systems with medical technology is detrimental to enhancing both surgeon and patient experiences.

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How Robots Will Change Organizations https://datafloq.com/read/how-robots-will-change-organizations/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:21:41 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=1051139 The below is a summary of the original article on how robotics will change business. Robots have rapidly evolved from science fiction concepts to tangible innovations that are revolutionizing various […]

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The below is a summary of the original article on how robotics will change business.

Robots have rapidly evolved from science fiction concepts to tangible innovations that are revolutionizing various industries. Recent advancements in robotics span industrial automation, human-robot collaboration, robotic surgeries, companionship robots for the elderly, and the development of remarkably agile humanoid robots. However, the integration of robotics raises concerns about workforce impacts, ethics, and societal challenges that require forethought and collective responsibility.

On the industry front, the use of collaborative robots is enhancing productivity and quality control while allowing human workers to focus on higher-value tasks. Medical robots are assisting professionals in complex surgeries. Robot companions show promise for improving wellbeing among older adults. Humanoid robots like Boston Dynamics' Atlas demonstrate new heights of dexterity and mobility.

However, the adoption of robotics has raised fears about job losses. While automation may displace certain roles, new job opportunities are also created through robotics. Workers can transition into creative and strategic roles with proper retraining programs. Governments and organizations need to invest in upskilling.

Additionally, ethical considerations arise regarding the use of robotics in sensitive domains like healthcare and defense. Regulations and guidelines are necessary to ensure transparency, prevent bias, and uphold human safety. Multilateral collaboration can establish frameworks for the responsible and ethical integration of robotics.

The field of robotics is evolving rapidly, bringing immense opportunities as well as challenges. While robots can enhance productivity and innovation, the wellbeing of human workers must remain a priority. With inclusive policies, appropriate regulations, and collective responsibility, we can utilize robotics ethically and equitably for the benefit of all. Ongoing dialogue and collaboration will be vital for shaping a future where robots augment human capabilities.

To read the full article, please go to TheDigitalSpeaker.com

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What is the role of agile robotics automation services in logistics? https://datafloq.com/read/what-is-the-role-of-agile-robotics-automation-services-in-logistics/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:35:13 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=1042156 Agile Robotics Automation Services In recent times, the logistics industry has undergone a significant transformation through the implementation of agile robotics automation. The logistics industry has experienced rapid growth on […]

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Agile Robotics Automation Services

In recent times, the logistics industry has undergone a significant transformation through the implementation of agile robotics automation. The logistics industry has experienced rapid growth on a global scale, with an increasing demand for transportation and delivery services that are efficient, cost-effective, and timely. The field of agile robotics automation has made notable advancements in enhancing the logistics process by increasing efficiency, speed, and accuracy. Furthermore, it has brought about a significant transformation in the manner in which organizations perceive and approach their supply chain management, enhancing its ability to promptly adapt, react, and adjust to changing circumstances. This post aims to examine the effects of agile robotics automation on the logistics sector, including its operational mechanisms, advantages, and associated difficulties. Additionally, below we will illustrate the successful integration of this technology by various companies and the consequent transformative effects on their operations.

What is meant by the term “agile supply chain”?

When discussing supply chains, the term “agile supply chain” refers to the use of responsiveness, competence, speed, and flexibility as metrics to evaluate how effective and efficient a supply chain is on a day-to-day basis. An agile supply chain is meant to be adaptive and responsive, in contrast to conventional supply networks, which are rigid and inflexible in their structure. The use of real-time data and information that has been recently updated is a good aspect of an agile supply chain.

The disparity between an agile and resilient supply chain lies in their respective characteristics and operational approaches. An agile supply chain is characterized by its ability to swiftly adapt and respond to dynamic market conditions and customer demands. It emphasizes flexibility, speed, and responsiveness to effectively navigate uncertainties and changes in the

A robust supply chain is designed to experience and mitigate the impact of disruptions and unforeseen circumstances, such as natural calamities or worldwide emergencies.

What exactly are robotics automation services in logistics?

The use of robots and artificial intelligence in the field of transportation and logistics is one of the developments that is making steady progress but is receiving less attention than other trends. This application brings with it a significant shift to the corporate world, which may have great repercussions for certain people but may also have undesirable consequences for others. Companies and manufacturers will need to familiarize themselves with robots and machine learning for this scenario to become more prevalent in the mainstream. Robotic automation services may be put to use in a broad variety of contexts, including warehouse management and control, inventory management, order fulfillment, and transportation. Automated guided vehicles, often known as AGVs, can move freely around warehouses, allowing for the rapid and accurate delivery of products. Robotic arms have the capability of being programmed to undertake delicate and difficult jobs, which not only improves overall productivity but also ensures the safety of goods.

The use of robotics automation services for industrial distribution requires the utilization of robots and equipment equipped with intelligent systems to automate activities inside a warehouse, such as product retrieval, organization, transfers, and delivery. Traditional machinery, which is often run by people, is built to carry out certain functions with a restricted degree of adaptability. To guarantee that they are operating correctly, these machines need to be manually adjusted and subjected to continual monitoring. Industrial robots, on the other hand, are extremely sophisticated pieces of machinery that can carry out difficult jobs on their own, without the assistance of a human worker.

Below are some of the benefits of robotics automation services in logistics.

Better use of resources

Data input, invoice processing, delivery tracking, and order management are just some of the time-consuming and repetitive activities that may be streamlined and automated with the help of robotic process automation. The adoption of digital solutions and the execution of plans guided by data both contribute to increased efficiency in the logistics industry. This results in enhanced efficiency and productivity in logistics operations as a result of the fact that RPA bots can operate around the clock without the need for breaks or vacations. Additionally, this helps to reduce the amount of time spent on processing mistakes manually and improves overall performance.

Reduce expense

The steadily increasing prices of various forms of labor represent yet another important obstacle. The logistics business has historically relied heavily on manual labor for a variety of tasks, including loading and unloading vehicles, sorting items, and packing them for shipment. However, the labor costs connected with these jobs have been gradually growing, making it harder for logistics businesses to retain profitability while keeping pricing reasonable. Consequently, the industry as a whole has become less competitive. In addition, the use of robotics automation in the logistics sector results in considerable cost reductions. Businesses can minimize their labor expenses and more efficiently manage resources if they reduce the amount of physical work that is required. In addition, automation makes it possible to improve inventory management, which in turn lowers the danger of stockouts or overstocking and optimizes the procedures involved in supply chain operations.

Lower error Rate

When clients get the incorrect items, it is a major setback for e-commerce businesses, and it is common for these enterprises to lose their customers' faith at this point. Automation in the warehouse may assist us in avoiding this issue by lowering the number of choices that warehouse workers are required to make, removing the possibility of pick-and-pack mistakes, and increasing the precision of orders.

Automated systems can unquestionably increase human accuracy, even though no system can ever be 100% precise. If mistakes do occur, automated systems can detect them and make corrections promptly. After all, automated systems have precision and accuracy that is very close to being ideal in the sphere of picking operations. To get a low RER, it is necessary to do thorough data preparation, feature engineering, and algorithm selection acceptably.

Increased Warehouse Productivity

Robots have unimaginable advantages over humans in terms of both speed and accuracy. But at the same time, robots will never be able to replace the cognitive ability that humans possess. They work well together to produce an efficient combination for the automation of warehouses.

The majority of the actions that need to be completed in a warehouse are often time-consuming and repetitive, and automation may assist reduce the number of touchpoints and inefficient processes that need to be completed across the warehouse. Many different approaches may be used to accomplish the goal of enhanced efficiency. The importance of planning the layout of the warehouse in a way that is both logical and methodical cannot be overstated.

Workers may spend less time moving products and re-picking since warehouse automation systems can detect the position of all items in a certain order nearly instantaneously. In addition, the use of automated warehouse robots and conveyor workstations may make order fulfillment much more efficient thanks to warehouse automation.

Improved working conditions

The machines that employees in logistics use may be relied on to carry high weights. This advantage lowers the likelihood of catastrophic incidents, which in turn lowers the danger to the worker's health and protection.

Bottom Line: Robotics revolutionizing logistics

Robotics automation services are revolutionizing the way in which companies manage their supply chains and satisfy the requirements of their customers. Many prominent corporations, such as Google, Amazon, and Intel, have begun allocating their resources toward the field of automation. This technology enables the efficient allocation of resources by automating labor-intensive tasks, resulting in significant time and cost savings. The use of these technologies enables organizations to achieve an entirely new degree of operational excellence and maintain a competitive advantage in their respective markets.

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The Future is Here: A Comprehensive Guide to Robotics https://datafloq.com/read/future-comprehensive-guide-robotics/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 10:51:29 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=985349 Robotics has long been a fascination for science fiction enthusiasts, but in recent years, it has become a reality. Today, robots are used in a variety of applications, from manufacturing […]

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Robotics has long been a fascination for science fiction enthusiasts, but in recent years, it has become a reality. Today, robots are used in a variety of applications, from manufacturing and healthcare to exploration and entertainment. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to the world of robotics, including its history, current applications, and future possibilities.

The History of Robotics

The history of robotics dates back to ancient times, with early examples of automated machines found in Greece, Egypt, and China. These early machines were used for tasks such as weaving, clockmaking, and farming.

The modern era of robotics began in the 20th century with the development of the first programmable computer. In 1954, George Devol invented the first industrial robot, the Unimate, which was used in a General Motors factory to perform repetitive tasks such as welding and painting.

Since then, robotics has advanced significantly, with the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technologies. Today, robots are used in a variety of industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to exploration and entertainment.

Types of Robots

There are several types of robots, each designed for a specific purpose. The following are some of the most common types of robots:

Industrial Robots – These robots are used in manufacturing and assembly lines to perform tasks such as welding, painting, and packaging.

Service Robots – These robots are used in healthcare, education, and hospitality to perform tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and providing assistance to people with disabilities.

Military Robots – These robots are used in military applications such as surveillance and reconnaissance, bomb disposal, and combat.

Entertainment Robots – These robots are used in entertainment applications such as theme parks and museums to provide interactive experiences for visitors.

Domestic Robots – These robots are used in homes to perform tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and providing companionship.

Applications of Robotics

Robotics is used in a variety of applications across a wide range of industries. The following are some of the most common applications of robotics:

  • Manufacturing – Robotics is used in manufacturing to perform tasks such as welding, painting, and assembly.
  • Healthcare – Robotics is used in healthcare to perform tasks such as surgery, rehabilitation, and assistance to people with disabilities.
  • Exploration – Robotics is used in exploration to perform tasks such as space exploration, deep-sea exploration, and archaeological excavation.
  • Agriculture – Robotics is used in agriculture to perform tasks such as planting, harvesting, and monitoring crops.
  • Transportation – Robotics is used in transportation to perform tasks such as autonomous driving, logistics, and delivery.

Ethical Considerations

The development of intelligent machines raises several ethical considerations, including the potential impact on employment, privacy, and safety. As robots become more intelligent and autonomous, there is a risk that they could replace human workers in certain industries, leading to job loss and economic disruption.

Additionally, there is a risk that robots could be used to invade privacy and monitor individuals without their consent. There is also a concern that robots could malfunction and cause harm to humans, leading to safety issues.

To address these ethical considerations, there needs to be a careful balance between the benefits of robotics and its potential risks. This can be achieved through regulation, ethical guidelines, and responsible development practices.

The Future of Robotics

The future of robotics is full of exciting possibilities. As technology continues to advance, robots will become more intelligent, autonomous, and adaptable. This will lead to new applications and opportunities across a wide range of industries.

Some of the emerging trends in robotics include:

  • Collaborative Robots – These robots are designed to work alongside humans, enhancing their capabilities and improving productivity.
  • Swarm Robotics – These robots work together in a coordinated manner to perform complex tasks, such as search and rescue missions.
  • Soft Robotics – These robots are made from flexible materials and can adapt to their environment, making them ideal for applications such as healthcare and exploration.
  • Humanoid Robots – These robots are designed to resemble humans in appearance and behavior, with the goal of providing companionship and assistance to people.

Conclusion

Robotics is no longer just a science fiction dream; it's a reality. From its humble beginnings in ancient times to its current applications in manufacturing, healthcare, exploration, and entertainment, robotics has come a long way. As technology continues to advance, the future of robotics is full of exciting possibilities. However, it's important to consider the ethical implications of intelligent machines and to ensure responsible development practices. With careful consideration, robotics can continue to enhance our lives and improve the world around us.

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How Robotic Process Automation Helps in Risk Management? https://datafloq.com/read/how-robotic-process-automation-helps-in-risk-management-2/ Tue, 18 Apr 2023 07:40:56 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=980960 A good risk management plan has paved the path for many financial organizations. It enables firms to ensure that all workflows, financial checks, and balances comply with legal requirements. RPA […]

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A good risk management plan has paved the path for many financial organizations. It enables firms to ensure that all workflows, financial checks, and balances comply with legal requirements.

RPA (ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION) may strengthen risk management procedures by enhancing workflows, enhancing compatibility, and speeding up turnaround. According to a study, RPA is scalable and reduces risk. Most businesses that use RPA have decreased mistake rates, increased process effectiveness, and faster customer response times. And 77% of businesses believe that decisions are getting better and more consistent.

RPA substitutes automated scripts that carry out repetitive stages of an operational process for manual labor. The efficiency gains RPA's ability to work much more quickly and continuously, resulting in high throughput. Also, by removing human error, RPA improves the accuracy and consistency of the output.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a game-changing technology revolutionizing businesses' operations. It has quickly become a popular solution in risk management due to its ability to automate repetitive and rule-based tasks, reducing the risk of errors and improving efficiency. This blog post will discuss how RPA can help in risk management.

Possible Risks Associated with RPA

Yes is the stern reply to the query. Despite RPA bots' seamless operation, even RPA is subject to numerous hazards. You must, however, remain conscious of the numerous hazards associated with RPA deployment as an informed user. Only when you are conscious, you will be able to mitigate the situation and find a way around it to achieve your goals.

Literal Technology Aspects

RPA's (ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION)' most significant danger stems from their existing technology. When we refer to technology as “literal,” we mean it is programmed only to do what is instructed. In a typical human operation, labor and regulations are applied with an innate application of conscious thinking. This results in a cap on how much these bots can do.

Upskilling in RPA Can Bring Better Results

  • Using automation and AI models can assist people in finding real solutions to the challenges they face on the job. Combining the two can speed up processes, provide people with the information they need more quickly, and leave more time for original thought.
  • By granting your staff access to a platform for sharing employee-created automation and AI models, you can help them learn how to create digital assets. Your business can encourage citizen-led innovation-which will eventually serve as the driving force behind digital transformation-through skill development.

Broader Ways RPA Contributes to Risk Management

RPA contributes to risk reduction in general in three ways:

Reliability

People could mistakenly omit a step in the procedure or show inconsistent behavior. On the other hand, an RPA robot would complete jobs devoid of human flaws like biases, variances, or fatigue.

Compliance Elements

RPA bots can benefit risk management in several ways of the many compliance activities in any business operation. You can be confident that your business can stay on top of all regulations if it uses the most recent version of RPA created expressly with your sector in mind. They wouldn't have to start from zero or reinvent the wheel whenever they wanted to conduct an audit or submit a report.

Scalability

The ideal RPA automation solution would be flexible and reduce risks by empowering systems to accommodate change and handle complexity. The workforce in the digital age is evolving into one that is dynamic and open to expansion. With the aid of RPA, a streamlined framework would be developed, enabling bots to retain consistency within the existing frameworks.

Procedures Illustrating How RPA Aids in Risk Management

Identifying and mitigating risks

RPA can be used to identify and mitigate risks by automating the risk identification process. The software can scan through large amounts of data, analyze it and identify potential risks, such as fraud or compliance violations. By automating this process, businesses can quickly identify potential risks and take action to mitigate them. Businesses can reach out to RPA development services providers to develop custom rpa solutions.

Enhanced compliance

Compliance is a crucial aspect of risk management. With RPA, businesses can automate compliance tasks, such as regulatory reporting, and ensure they meet regulatory requirements. By automating compliance tasks, businesses can reduce the risk of non-compliance, which can result in hefty fines and legal implications. RPA consulting services firms like Hexaview Technologies will help you out with customized rpa solutions as per your requirement.

Improved accuracy and efficiency

RPA can help in risk management by improving accuracy and efficiency. By automating repetitive and rule-based tasks, businesses can reduce the risk of errors and improve the accuracy of their processes. RPA can also improve efficiency by completing tasks much faster than humans, allowing businesses to operate more efficiently.

Enhanced security

RPA can improve security by automating access control, threat detection, and incident response tasks. This helps businesses to stay one step ahead of cyber threats and prevent potential security breaches.

Cost savings

By automating tasks with RPA, businesses can save manual labor and human error costs. RPA can complete tasks faster and more accurately than humans, leading to cost savings in the long run.

How Hexaview Technologies will improve the overall efficiency of your business by utilizing robotic process automation?

RPA implementation enables the adoption of digital workflows to guarantee the proper utilization of available resources. Without breaks, it completes repetitive activities considerably faster and more consistently than individuals. Intelligent RPA Solutions are created as part of Hexaview Technologies' custom RPA development process to assist you in achieving exceptional operational efficiency.

Conclusion

In conclusion, RPA is a powerful tool that can help businesses manage risk by identifying and mitigating risks, enhancing compliance, improving accuracy & efficiency, enhancing security, and saving costs. By implementing RPA, businesses can improve risk management processes and gain a competitive advantage.

If you or your firm is looking to solve business challenges by implementing a robotic process automation process, then connect to the expert team of RPA consultants at Hexaview Technologies, where we assist companies with integrating AI & ML with RPA in transforming the industry. Integrating smart automation into business processes enables our clients to drastically lower operational costs, boost productivity, and deliver incredible customer experiences at scale.

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How Is Robotic Micro Fulfillment Changing Distribution? https://datafloq.com/read/how-is-robotic-micro-fulfillment-changing-distribution/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 21:55:35 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=952492 Robotic micro-fulfillment combines several key benefits to create a new approach to distribution built for today's needs and challenges. Logistics companies must balance high customer expectations with growing last-mile complexity […]

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Robotic micro-fulfillment combines several key benefits to create a new approach to distribution built for today's needs and challenges. Logistics companies must balance high customer expectations with growing last-mile complexity and labor shortages.

Combining robotics and micro-fulfillment overcomes these challenges by simplifying the last mile and leveraging automation. How is it changing distribution?

Decreased Pressure on Last-Mile Logistics

One of the most significant benefits of micro-fulfillment is its ability to simplify last-mile logistics. Moving fulfillment centers closer to customers makes the last mile less complicated. On one hand, last-mile delivery drivers simply do not have to travel as far to get orders to customers. Additionally, the agility of robotic micro-fulfillment makes the order picking and packing process so fast that there is more cushion time for last-mile travel.

Studies have shown a near 1:1 ratio between increases in robotics and productivity. Across all industries, a 1% increase in robot density in the workplace led to a 0.8% increase in productivity. When applied to order fulfillment, this clearly indicates robotics is the key to minimizing shipping times as much as possible.

The challenge with using robotics alone to reduce fulfillment times is robots cannot take over the last mile. Strides have been made in self-driving vehicle technology over recent years, but not enough for automated order delivery. Micro-fulfillment is the perfect complement to robotics for resolving this challenge.

Logistics managers are using micro-fulfillment to take the pressure off the last mile, allowing them to maximize their gains from robotics. With a speedy, streamlined last mile and automated warehouse operations, same-day delivery is much more achievable.

The Rising Online Grocery Boom

Over the past few years, there has been a rising interest in “dark stores” – businesses whose physical operations are entirely automated. While a dark store might have a physical store location in a public place, it is not meant for customers to come in and shop. Instead, customers place an order online, which is filled and shipped out by the dark store. Unlike a warehouse, though, dark stores are built for same-day deliveries.

These dark stores – run by robots – are particularly effective for fulfilling online grocery orders. Customers place their orders and robots at the nearest micro-fulfillment center pick, pack and process the order in a matter of hours. Online grocery experienced a surge in consumer interest during the COVID-19 pandemic but has remained popular for its speed and convenience.

Robotic micro-fulfillment is changing distribution for food and beverage e-commerce businesses. It addresses a few main challenges and goals associated with the distribution of perishable items like groceries.

Research shows the three most significant challenges facing food and beverage logistics are labor, consumer expectations and SKU proliferation. Robotic micro-fulfillment addresses these challenges by fully automating order fulfillment, reducing reliance on manual labor.

The speed and agility of automated logistics and micro-fulfillment allow orders to be delivered in line with customers' shipping preferences. This is critical to success when handling goods like ice cream or vegetables, which require rapid delivery to stay fresh. Grocery items often have short shelf lives, making conventional warehouses a poor fit for grocery distribution. The smaller-scale inventory sizes in micro-fulfillment centers are much easier to manage.

Plus, micro-fulfillment centers help keep SKU proliferation under control by using many small inventory hubs rather than one big one. All these factors create a better experience for food and beverage e-commerce customers and raise the bar for online grocery order fulfillment.

Adapting to Distribution Industry Changes

The supply chain, distribution and logistics have changed significantly over the past few years. Shortages, delays and customers' shipping expectations have driven the industry to change and adapt, often with the help of technology. Robotic micro-fulfillment is a crucial example of this change.

Robots are one of the most common solutions to labor shortages in any industry, but combining them with micro-fulfillment can be particularly advantageous. It scales down individual robotics strategies to operate in smaller spaces. This can make it more manageable for programmers and logistics managers to roll out warehouse automation successfully.

The smaller scale of micro-fulfillment centers can make the many benefits of digital transformation more accessible for logistics businesses. Micro-fulfillment lends itself to warehouse automation, which reduces the need for employees and helps organizations save money. With enough automation, micro-fulfillment centers can operate 24/7, even with minimal staff.

The combination of easy automation, low staffing needs and simplified last-mile logistics can be a major competitive advantage today. Customers' expectations for fast, free shipping grow every year while labor shortages remain a persistent challenge. Robotic micro-fulfillment gives the supply chain new distribution solutions to adapt to these changes.

Resolving Warehouse Real Estate Challenges

One unfortunate side effect of the e-commerce boom is a need for more warehouse real estate. The supply of new warehouses cannot keep up with demand as more and more businesses shift away from brick-and-mortar storefronts. As warehouse availability continues to decrease, rents continue to increase.

Micro-fulfillment can help e-commerce businesses reduce their distribution costs by shifting away from traditional warehouse real estate. With robotics, they do more with less space. For example, racks can pack tightly together with space underneath for courier robots to move them around as necessary without any aisles. Micro-fulfillment centers are also typically in dense urban areas, which are not ideal for conventional warehouses.

Businesses that adopt robotic micro-fulfillment can spend less on their warehouse space by opting for non-traditional options outside the traditional warehouse market. While rents in the middle of city spaces may be higher than in suburban areas, there will likely be less competition from other buyers.

Transforming Distribution With Robotic Micro-Fulfillment

Robotic micro-fulfillment streamlines the last mile, allowing companies to maximize efficiency gains from warehouse automation. By shifting to smaller spaces in dense urban areas, logistics companies can also avoid expensive, scarce suburban warehouse real estate. Micro-fulfillment is particularly well suited for the food and beverage industry. It offers a level of agility and efficiency perfect for quickly getting fresh food to customers.

Logistics providers face many distribution challenges today, but micro-fulfillment offers a way to adapt. By adding robotics into the mix, micro-fulfillment centers can fully automate, reducing reliance on labor and maximizing productivity.

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Will Robotics Replace Electricians? https://datafloq.com/read/will-robotics-replace-electricians/ Tue, 28 Feb 2023 01:55:33 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=933987 As automation technology advances, the question of whether robotics will eventually replace electricians has become an increasingly common topic of discussion. While some may argue that robots can perform many […]

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As automation technology advances, the question of whether robotics will eventually replace electricians has become an increasingly common topic of discussion. While some may argue that robots can perform many of the tasks traditionally done by electricians, it is essential to consider the unique skills and expertise that electricians bring to the job.

Robots are already being used in various industries to automate tasks that humans once performed. In the electrical sector, robots are developed to perform tasks such as wiring and installation and some can even carry out maintenance on electrical systems.

Electricians and Robotics in the Electrical Industry

While it is true that robots can do many of the tasks traditionally performed by electricians, there are several reasons why it is unlikely that robots will completely replace humans soon. One of the primary reasons is that electricians bring expertise and experience to the job that robots cannot replicate.

For example, a machine that tightens nuts on engines can only perform that one task. Simple awareness of the bolt's required tightness is all that is necessary for repetitive manufacturing-related jobs. But can the robot imagine how the engine works, devise solutions to improve it, or spot and correct issues? No – its sole purpose is to screw in a bolt.

Electricians train to install and repair electrical systems, as well as design and plan safe and efficient techniques. They are familiar with the National Electric Code, which sets the standards for electrical safety in the U.S. Electricians also learn to identify potential safety hazards and take measures to mitigate the risks.

In the manufacturing industry, robots work in predictable indoor environments while doing repetitive activities on an assembly line. Amazon, a major retailer of consumer products, has already introduced equipment that fully automates the process of packaging orders. Thousands of boxes can be packaged daily by these machines, which can run nonstop.

However, the case is different in the electronics industry. Electricians operate in complex conditions. They work in settings that can change hourly, including underground, high above the ground, in severe rain, scorching heat, enclosed rooms and open spaces with lots of humans around. While robots can carry out repetitive jobs, they need stable settings that are simple to navigate – which the typical job site does not have.

Electricians also bring a level of interpersonal skills that is vital to the electronic industry. They work closely with customers, contractors and other tradespeople, which means effective communication is necessary to ensure everyone is on the same page. They must also be able to work under pressure and in diverse environments, from residential homes to large commercial buildings.

Another factor to consider is the cost of robotics technology. While the cost has decreased over the years, it is still prohibitively expensive for many small and medium-sized businesses. While large corporations may be able to afford to invest in the technology, smaller businesses may not be able to justify the cost.

Even if the cost of robotics technology shrinks in the future, there will always be a need for human oversight and maintenance. Robots can malfunction – if no one is around to repair or maintain them, the entire system could break down. Even as smart machines take a larger role in the electronic industry, human electricians are necessary to oversee and manage them.

The Future of Robotics in the Electronic Industry

Electricians' interpersonal skills and their ability to work in diverse environments are essential to perform several jobs in the industry. While the use of robotics may increase, there will be a need for human electricians to manage the technology.

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The Impact of Robotic Process Automation on Accounting https://datafloq.com/read/the-impact-of-robotic-process-automation-on-accounting/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 11:58:02 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=795656 Robotic process automation has become a rapidly growing concept in a world where the global economy and market climate change in the blink of an eye. Thus, the increasing popularity […]

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Robotic process automation has become a rapidly growing concept in a world where the global economy and market climate change in the blink of an eye. Thus, the increasing popularity of RPA technology is considerably impacting the accounting profession. RPA is a new – approach to automation in which the business users like accounting managers are empowered to push automation of daily activities.

Despite the benefits that RPA in accounting offers, some accountants still hesitate to embrace it and fear its replacement. But, in reality, the RPA is seen as an enhancement to the profession, not a threat. With the proper usage and training, this digital transformation in accounting improves their productivity and efficiency while still maintaining their role in the organization.

What is Robotic Process Automation?

Robotic process automation is a broad set of tools for replicating any manual, repetitive process at scale, often by automation of manual work performed on spreadsheets, homegrown, outdated applications, and other systems. Usually, the developers use low- or no-code workflow builders to create steps that constitute manual tasks.

Along with this, they use a screen recorder to record keyboard strokes and mouse movements and cannot write or edit detailed step-by-step scripts that manage the automation logic. Through this automation, the RPA can help the accounting departments improve efficiency and accuracy while relieving staff's stress to focus on higher-value work.

For example, the RPA program generates automatic invoices based on data entered into companies accounting system. Also, it helps in reconcile differences between two sets of financial data. In both these situations, it helps in minimizing the error and improves efficiency.

Why is Robotic Process Automation Significant in Accounting?

The value of RPA in accounting does not mean replacing humans with robots. Regardless of this, it enables the employee to focus on strategic operations. However, a high level of accounting management is a complex task; whether it is investigating anomalies, determining financial reports, or preparing corporate taxes, all this requires nuance.

Robotic process automation helps the company to complete unskilled tasks without wasting employees' precious time. The main goal is to foster continuous employee improvement to enhance their knowledge and skills. Accounting offers the perfect environment for deploying an RPA bot to manage this entire task easily.

The Benefit of RPA in Accounting

Instead of the fact that there may be some risk of deploying technology in the business, there are more benefits of RPA in finance and accounting. Let's see:

1. Value Creation

Robotic accounting enables accountants to focus on productive, value-laden work tasks rather than routine tasks. By adopting this technology, your organization team can master this art and provide high-level finance and accounting solutions to clients and relieve their burden of doing time-consuming tasks.

Proving an excellent service to clients will create a brand image, and on the other hand, employees get an opportunity to learn and develop their skills. Ultimately, this skill upgradation is helpful for both. Like, the employee called the chance to enhance their skill, and the organization can provide value-added services to clients.

2. Intercompany Reconciliations

Intercompany Reconciliation is a significant part of the accounting process, but it can be time-consuming and error-prone. But implementing RPA technology helps automate the process and makes them more efficient and accurate. The Intercompany Hub is a configurable tool that automates intercompany reconciliations based on tolerance levels and identifying exceptions.

Ultimately, it helps in reducing the risk of financial errors, compliance issues, and fines. Additionally, the intercompany hub will help manage growing intercompany transaction volumes and make the accounting process effective and efficient.

3. Competitive Advantage

The value of providing competitive advantage will never be overstated, given how diverse and ever-changing the business culture is. A minor change in cost or creativity will determine whether a business enjoys long-term success or struggle to keep its door open. Due to low integration cost, higher precision, and simple scalability, RPA automation in accounting directly translates to this subtle yet essential benefit.

4. Save Time and Money

It saves a lot of time and labor as robots manage manual tasks. For instance, if an employee manually manages invoices in different formats and layouts, it is a tedious task. But, if you have a digital employee, it will identify and process various invoice

formats using the software. It leads to the quick scanning of documents for clearance and secured payment invoices to suppliers.

Moreover, the RPA enables you to move from a time-consuming to an efficient value-an added job for the customer. Using RPA in conjunction with professionals who have adapted to the technology will provide value to the customers.

Conclusion

Robotic process automation is a rapidly growing technology for good reasons. It has the power to automate a wide variety of accounting and financial tasks and make the process efficient and accurate. Thus, taking steps towards an accounting and finance career will be rewarding for you. Undoubtedly, robotic process automation is the accounting industry's future.

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RPA in HR – What it is and Why it Matters https://datafloq.com/read/rpa-hr-why-it-matters/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:41:35 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=746831 Today, many businesses are making a shift from old and obsolete technologies to emerging ones to boost productivity, improve efficiency, and increase agility. This may be one of the reasons […]

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Today, many businesses are making a shift from old and obsolete technologies to emerging ones to boost productivity, improve efficiency, and increase agility. This may be one of the reasons why the demand for emerging technologies is growing at a great pace, and the enterprises that want to stay competitive must adapt to this change, or else they will become laggards and be thrown out of the competition.

Robotic Process Automation, popular known as RPA, is one such emerging technology that enterprises across verticals are vouching for. According to a report by Computer Economics, a leading IT research firm, 20% of all organizations have adopted Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as of June 2021, an uptick from the 13% adoption rate back in 2020. Furthermore, the global Robotic Process Automation (RPA) market size is estimated to grow from 9.2 billion USD in 2022 to 26.0 billion USD by 2027, at a CAGR of 23.1%. From the statistics, it is clear that RPA is making positive strides by disrupting a slew of business processes.

Robotic Process Automation in HR – What it is

Robotic Process Automation is a proven solution to improve the data management capabilities of HR professionals. When it comes to RPA implementation, businesses consider HR as the first department for automation due to the high volume of rule-based tasks that are manual, recurring, and time-intensive in nature and require little or no human intervention. With RPA in HR, enterprises can automate more than 50% of standard business operations performed by HR professionals including recruitment and onboarding, employee induction and training, payroll processing, compensation modifications, compliance management & reporting, data management, exit management, and more.

By offloading day-to-day administrative and operational tasks to digital workers (intelligent bots), enterprises can free HR professionals from wasting their efforts on manual processes and assign them more strategic and decision-making roles. Now, let's dive deep into the key reasons why businesses should embrace RPA in HR.

4 Strong Reasons to Adopt Robotic Process Automation in HR

HR is a cost-centric field and RPA can play a critical role in lowering the overall HR-related costs. For a second, imagine the level of expenses that enterprises can save by offloading manual and repetitive tasks to digital workers (bots). Besides cost savings, Robotic Process Automation implementation can help HR professionals in many other ways. Let's find it out.

1) Increased Productivity

One of the key reasons why enterprises should consider RPA implementation in HR is that it drives the overall productivity of the HR department. The day-to-day administrative and operational tasks that used to take hours of HR professionals can now be done in a few minutes with the help of Robotic Process Automation.

In a research report by EY, 93% of the time spent by HR employees is on mundane and repetitive tasks. With RPA implementation in HR, over 50% of tasks performed by HR experts can be automated right from CV screening & shortlisting candidates, employee data management, and expense management to calculation of shift allowance, attendance tracking, background verification for new hires, and more. According to UiPath, RPA in HR can increase HR professionals' capacity by 40%.

2) Improved Accuracy

Many enterprises are going through digital transformation, and as a result, an overwhelming amount of digital records are being produced that need to be maintained by HR professionals. With the sheer volume of records being processed manually, HR professionals are likely to make mistakes, irrespective of how careful they are.

Robotic Process Automation in HR can help enterprises cut down on human errors by automating all the manual and repetitive tasks performed by HR professionals. The pre-coded technology used by RPA enables digital workers to deliver precise output and decisions, which far outperforms its human equivalents. In other words, RPA makes records management error-free and compliant with the standard business laws without hiring a dedicated specialist to double-check every field. According to UiPath, RPA delivers 100% data accuracy with zero errors when implemented correctly.

3) Better Talent Acquistion

The talent shortage is one of the biggest challenges faced by employers these days. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, nearly 75% of companies globally reported talent shortages and faced difficulty in finding the talent they are looking for. The same report indicates that the global talent shortage reaches a 16-year high. Fortunately, recruiters can overcome this challenge and choose the right talent with the help of Robotic Process Automation. By leveraging the potential of RPA, HR professionals can not only fill gaps between different departments but also streamline the entire talent acquisition process. According to UiPath, RPA can help recruiters acquire talent 10 times faster.

4) Improve Employee Satisfaction and Lower Attrition Rate

Did you know? More than 47 million Americans quit their jobs voluntarily in 2021, as per the report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, 40% of workers in the United States are considering quitting their jobs. This clearly indicates that the dawn of ‘The Great Resignation' has just begun and it is showing no signs of slowing down.

Employers were already struggling with the talent shortage and now ‘The Great Resignation' has further increased their problems. If reports were to be believed more than 85 million jobs globally could go unfilled by 2030, due to talent shortages, resulting in a loss of 8.5 trillion USD in unrealized annual revenues. The good news is that enterprises can effectively deal with this problem by introducing Robotic Process Automation in HR. As stated above, RPA can automate mundane and repetitive tasks in the HR department, which in turn, opens up more room for high-value decision-based tasks such as employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, which contributes to the company's overall growth.


Summing Up

Robotic Process Automation in HR comes with a host of benefits from increased productivity to improved efficiency, better accuracy, great scalability, and cost savings. The scope of RPA in HR is growing with every passing year and is not just limited to rule-based tasks that are repetitive and time-intensive in nature.

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Welcome to the Jetsons: How Robots Will Change Society https://datafloq.com/read/welcome-to-the-jetsons-how-robots-will-change-society/ Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:02:12 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=743487 Our lives are heavily influenced by technology. With each new piece of technology that comes out, we are finding it easier and easier to manage our daily lives. One trend […]

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Our lives are heavily influenced by technology. With each new piece of technology that comes out, we are finding it easier and easier to manage our daily lives. One trend that I have been keeping my eye on is how robotics is evolving. We are on the precipice of an exciting time in history in which robots and other advanced forms of automation will be commonplace.

In this article, I will examine how robotics is already changing society and speculate about what changes may come in the next few years and what that means for business.

Overview and Current Advancements

Robots, by definition, are programmable machines that can carry out both simple and complex series of actions automatically. This flexibility and tireless devotion to the task at hand makes them a game changer in certain industries-especially those where manual labour is key.

It is easy to see why people are worried that robots will take over the world and make life more difficult. But this fear does not reflect how these machines have made our lives easier in the past – and it certainly will not affect their continued usefulness in the future.

Although it's difficult to declare any technology as the first, one robot, in particular, is widely accepted as the very first modern industrial robot: Unimate.

It was created to lift hot pieces of metal from die-casting machines and transport them to a different spot – a task that humans had previously done by hand. Due to the inherent danger of moving hot metal objects and the importance of this work, it made sense for an unfeeling machine rather than a human worker to perform these operations.

George Devol spent a decade attempting to build and operate such a robot; it was the late 1960s efforts of Joseph Engleberger, however-including his ability to obtain funding and attract interest among industry leaders in this innovation-that got robotics off the ground. For this reason, he is often called “the Father of Robotics.”

Unimate demonstrated the potential of industrial robots. Computer scientists, however, believed that robotics could be used for far more than just moving hot objects around a factory floor.

Shakey the Robot, created by SRI International from 1966 to 1970, was a groundbreaking achievement: It was the first robot capable of performing tasks independently without human instruction. Shakey helped develop techniques that are now used in artificial intelligence programs. These include visual analysis (for example, seeing what's around you at any given time), route finding (“How do I get to where I want to go?”), and object manipulation, to name a few.

In 1970, researchers at Waseda University in Japan developed the first full-scale anthropomorphic robot. Although it may seem inferior compared to other robots currently on the market, WABOT-1 represented an enormous leap forward in humanity's understanding of androids. This machine is seen as a step toward what many people consider the future: personal robots that can perform all sorts of tasks.

Building on this, the scientists who created WABOT-1 wanted to develop a robot capable of creative endeavours. In 1980, WABOT-2 was unveiled-a musical prodigy capable of playing the keys on an electric organ, reading sheet music, and talking with someone to accompany someone singing.

This machine has been considered an essential step in creating personal robots.

Fast forward, the P2 robot created by Honda was the first two-legged humanoid. Weighing 210 kilograms (462 pounds) and standing one meter eighty-two centimetres tall (5'9″), the machine was roughly human-sized.

One of the significant advancements of the P2 system was that it ran on a battery and had a wireless radio connection. This allowed users to make commands with greater freedom than they would have with other robots. This robotic machine could perform many of the same tasks a human would be able to do, such as walking at 2 km/h (1.24 mph) and pushing a cart upstairs.

Since the arrival of the new millennium, advances in robotics have spanned many fields and industries. A Canadian robotic arm was launched in 2001 and attached to the International Space Station. The Canadarm 2, as it is called, plays a crucial role in maintaining the station-one that no other machine has ever been able to do before.

In addition, the unmanned aerial vehicle Global Hawk made a 22-hour nonstop flight in 2001, from California across the Pacific Ocean and Eurasia to land in Edinburgh, Scotland-setting an endurance record for a robotic aircraft.

Later in 2017, Sophia, a robot created by Hanson Robotics and granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, is now the first to be recognized with gender identity and nationality. The news has raised many ethical concerns about how such developments in artificial intelligence might one day impact human rights issues – such as whether murder laws would apply if Sophia were turned off. In my personal experience being in contact with Sophia in 2017, I could realize that its development is a foretaste of what the future will look like when we are surrounded by robots, although it definitely still requires many technological advances to reach this point.


The Impact of the Pandemic

More recently, when the coronavirus crisis took hold in early 2020, many roboticists saw an opportunity: robots could be programmed to work with minimal supervision and continue working even when their human coworkers fell ill.

In a 2020 report, Robotics & COVID-19: How Robotic Technologies are Critical in Getting America Up and Running in The Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic, created by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), experts argued that the crisis should be used to supercharge medical robot development: Robots never get sick and can do dull, dangerous work that puts human workers at risk. Robots could administer medicine and take patients' vitals, freeing up doctors and nurses to do what they do best: interact with patients on a human level.

The British company, Engineered Arts, unveiled Ameca at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2022, making headlines worldwide. Ameca is a humanoid robot that has movable arms and a hyper-realistic face, making it “the perfect humanoid robot platform with which to interact in human-like ways”, according to its creators. In addition, Ameca's creators say they created a user-friendly platform for testing artificial intelligence and machine learning, making it ideal for developing human/computer interaction in any digital realm.

Replacing humans with robots might not always be the best choice-some jobs require a personal touch. Although there is widespread recognition that we have created a new species of intelligent machines, how we will respond when confronted with the consequences of what we have done remains to be seen.

Robots Will Create Jobs, Not Destroy Them

The World Economic Forum projected in 2020 that by 2025, technology would create at least 96 million jobs more than it destroys-a sign that automation will likely be a net positive for society in the long run.

The concern over machines replacing humans in the workplace has been a topic of discussion since the Industrial Revolution and continues to be so as automation becomes increasingly widespread. While there has been much hype about how automation-particularly robots, which do not need humans to operate them – would affect employment and wages, less attention has been paid to evidence-based research on the subject.

According to Acemoglu and Restrepo, workers often experience adverse effects, such as losing their jobs or being forced to take lower-paying positions in other industries, when automation technologies replace them.

Acemoglu and Restrepo argue that robots are likely to take jobs from workers in routine manual occupations-such as machinists, assemblers, material handlers, or welders.

According to the same study, both men and women are affected by adopting robots, though men are more likely to be displaced than women. For men, impacts were seen most in manufacturing jobs-where automation has been readily adopted. For non-manufacturing jobs, it is a different story: for both genders in these fields impacted by technological advances (such as radiology or policy writing), the effects on employment have proved mixed.

The researchers found that the adoption of industrial robots does not seem to improve the employment situation of workers with advanced degrees, which could indicate that, unlike other forms of technology, robotics does little to directly augment the work performed by high-skill labourers. Overall, the impact of robots is mixed. While they replace many jobs formerly performed by relatively low-paid workers, they also make firms more efficient and productive than ever before.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acemoglu noted that economic crises tend to exacerbate both positive and negative implications brought about by technology. Without the use of advanced digital technologies like Zoom or other software, it would be impossible for people to teach and teleconference in various locations around the world. Factories would not be able to keep running-as many have not fully recovered from these circumstances but are slowly getting back up on their feet-if workers could not work remotely using these same types of advances.

Mark Lewandowski, P&G's director of robotics innovation, said that some of these events may accelerate because there are potential business interruptions that you need to be prepared for, and COVID-19 just highlighted these issues.

More than ever, companies are re-examining their production processes and looking for ways to keep costs down even as labour shortages or trade disputes drive up the price of key inputs. This has encouraged the acquisition of robots to automate workflows on an ongoing basis. According to predictions made in 2020 by the World Economic Forum, automation and new divisions of labour between humans and machines will disrupt 85 million jobs globally in medium-to-large businesses across 15 industries by 2025.

How Robots Can Deliver Real World Benefits Now

Today, robots are most commonly associated with a variety of situations involving military or commercial aircraft and vehicles. But the time has come when we must expand our concept of robots beyond those of a mechanical nature. Here is how robots are poised to be that extra support we all need now and then.

Teams freed from the work of implementing business processes will be able to focus on higher-level activities

I have written in the past that robots can free humans from performing basic, low-level tasks-not by replacing us at work but by doing those mundane jobs, so we don't have to.

A study titled The Augmented Human Enterprise, conducted by the University of London and sponsored by robotic automation company Automation Anywhere, found that organizations augmented with automation technologies are 33% more likely to be “human-friendly” workplaces.

AI can perform routine work such as updating employee payroll lists and transferring data from files.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that automates unswerving tasks, such as those performed by bookkeepers and customer service representatives. Employees who no longer have to perform simple, repetitive tasks can now focus on more challenging and creative work that will benefit the company.

Robots can perform tasks that humans do not want to take on

Labour shortages in agriculture are common worldwide, and farmers have trouble hiring enough people to plant or reap their crops.

In response to this demand, some farms are using robots to eliminate the need for human workers-that is, they are using them to perform simple but tedious tasks like picking berries, packaging salads, and weeding fields.

In the United States, there is 52% of reported labour shortages on farms, and produce is often wasted due to underuse or lack of knowledge about preservation methods; new farming technologies are necessary for ensuring that crops are not lost, and robots could be the answer.

They make goods or services that were once out of reach more accessible

There is no debate that robots are more efficient at manufacturing goods than humans. Robots can work with greater accuracy, which reduces wasted materials and labour-and they can keep going when human workers need rest.

Lower manufacturing costs have made goods cheaper, making them more accessible to a larger number of people – regardless of their income level or employment status. The cost of a latte could decrease, for example, if coffee shops rely less on labour and more on automated machines to make the coffee. Check out this incredible robotic coffee bar, CafeX, located in San Francisco and Dubai, with great customer reviews.

For another example of the value of AI, a translation device allows people to travel anywhere and interact with other cultures as they please. However, rather than being confined by typical tourist routes or language barriers.

This is the case of the Greek National Technology and Research Foundation when created Persephone, a polyglot tourist guide robot that can speak 33 languages with visitors of the Alistrati Cave.

They will improve work-life balance

As mentioned in the first statement: people will have more leisure time available to them once robots can perform at least some of their daily job functions. There is also a question about whether adequate measures can be implemented to help workers who lose their jobs because of automation and whether employers will continue to recognize human employees' value.

Rather than seeing robots as a threat to workers, imagining the benefits they will bring is more fruitful. The impact of this new technology will be incredibly transformative as it will give people access to goods and services that have only been available to the wealthy, thereby increasing their quality of life and helping them find work they enjoy more.

What Industries Will Be Most Impacted By Robotics Advancements?

Robotic advancements will profoundly impact many industries. These include healthcare, education, manufacturing, and other industries that require a lot of manual labour. We are witnessing how robots created with the latest developments in AI have been able to automate complex human jobs in these industries and will continue to do so in the next few years.

In some cases, they are helping to overcome physical limitations by scientific development in the medical field or assisting humans with dangerous tasks (or simply doing them for us). The advancements in robotics technology will most likely impact the following industries.

Healthcare

Robotic technologies are being developed for many areas of patient care. In the hospital, they can be used to disinfect rooms and operating suites, reducing the risk that infectious diseases will spread among patients and medical personnel; in laboratories, they work to process samples-taking them from wherever they were collected and moving them through different stages of testing.

A great example is the Xenex-Germ Zapping Solutions created to eliminate pathogens missed during manual cleaning and assist infection control programs' efforts to reduce environmental contamination. Its primary customers are top hospitals in the U.S.

It is particularly good news for anyone who has ever had blood drawn by someone whose stick-to-itiveness was less than legendary-the robotic lab assistant can find the vein and draw blood with minimal discomfort.

In some facilities, robots deliver linens and meals to patients' rooms. In others, they prepare medications in the lab on their own and carry them-as well as food trays with patient-ready plates of food-from floor to floor through automatic doors without human intervention. In addition to robotic walkers, some mechanical assistants help paraplegics move – and can administer physical therapy.

Such is the case of ReWalk. The ReWalk exoskeleton is a wearable robotic device that provides powered hip and knee motion to enable individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/d) to stand upright, walk, and turn around corners-in essence, it allows them to regain their mobility. ReWalk is the world's first FDA-approved exoskeleton.

Manufacturing and Logistics

As a result of increasing demand for efficiency and cost-savings, logistics robots are an increasingly common sight in today's warehouses. To meet the ever-increasing demands for efficient and agile operations, companies have invested in automating movements as well as different areas within their facilities with automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).

As part of their strategy for improved competitiveness, companies are increasingly turning to logistics robots. In a conventional warehouse, humans often do order picking, making it more expensive to operate around the clock. Logistics robots ensure that goods can flow quickly through an industrial plant or distribution centre – allowing for round-the-clock operations and maximum protection of people, merchandise, and other assets involved in the transaction.

Depending on the job, robots may perform one of many tasks.

  • Goods receipts and shipments can be carried out by logistics robots, like automatic truck loading and unloading systems, which makes it possible to insert/remove pallets from trucks autonomously with minimal operator intervention. Automated conveyor systems can be used to speed up goods receipt and dispatch, two key warehouse processes with the highest number of daily movements.
  • Storage robots are a type of industrial robot designed to move products from one location or bin to another. Stackers, for example, have been built to store boxes and pallets on racks at distribution centres by moving them from station to station until they're shipped out again.

    Stacker cranes come in three main varieties: single-mast, twin-mast, and trilateral. These logistics robots travel horizontally along storage aisles to lift pallets out of or lower them onto the racks as needed-all without any human intervention required. Businesses with high volumes of goods entering and leaving the facility can also utilize an automated storage solution called a pallet shuttle. Electric shuttles glide through channels to expedite loading and unloading processes with this system.

  • Order picking is one-way logistics robots can be used in order preparation. A single storage solution may include both a stacker crane for boxes and a conveyor for boxes. In this configuration, the operators remain at their pick stations preparing orders according to the goods-to-person method: an order is filled when it reaches its destination-the customer's box or hand.

    Industrial robotic arms can perform pick and place-removing products from one location, organizing them in another – to streamline the picking process.

  • Warehouse robots. Box and pallet conveyor systems are one of the most effective solutions for facilitating internal goods movements in a warehouse because they make it possible to build varied configurations connecting various zones within the facility.

    Warehouses may use electrified monorails to link different areas. An electric motor drives these automatic trolleys, and they move along rails suspended from the ceiling or fixed at floor level.

Finally, companies turn to automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) or autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to transport goods between departments.

  • Drones have taken over the logistics industry. Their technology enables them to transport and deliver customer orders by air – a method of delivery that has not been used before, but now there are many companies taking advantage of drone technologies like Amazon, which is focusing on delivering their products via drones directly home deliveries with no human involvement at all.

The use of drones would produce several benefits, including lower costs, faster delivery times (compared to conventional shipping methods), less congestion on the nation's highways – and, therefore, a significant reduction in pollution.

Delivery by drone has great potential in densely populated areas. However, it could also be useful for delivering medicines or supplies to people living in rural communities and isolated villages.

To keep up with the rapid expansion of high-tech businesses in Silicon Valley, RK Logistics recently expanded its site in Livermore by 300,000 square feet. The facility now handles considerably more volume than before. But RK Logistics‘ clients were demanding more throughput, and the company's facility was nearing its capacity limits.

To increase the productivity of its workers and improve the throughput of its facilities, RK Logistics evaluated the use of robotics. The company decided to use Fetch Robotics' VirtualConveyor solution.

The VirtualConveyor solution integrates Freight series robots, charging stations, and the Fetchcore fleet management system. By combining these components into a single cohesive whole – rather than operating them independently-the entire process has become more efficient and is better able to handle fluctuations in demand, representing a successful case study within the logistics industry.

Foodservice and consumer goods

While COVID may have accelerated the push for contactless food prep and service, it is part of a larger trend that has been in place for some time. Food service companies that combine food robots and full-service automation platforms will be able to minimize unnecessary contact between workers and the food, ensuring both its safety for consumers (and the health of employees).

Robot-assisted solutions help food managers ensure that a broad range of safety protocols are met, ensuring that high standards for quality and customer satisfaction are maintained.

Robotic systems can automatically perform functions such as cleaning, timing, and monitoring important aspects of the food storage/preparation process and eliminate cross-contamination risks while optimizing food quality and shelf-life. Robots can be deployed to better monitor food safety and logistics around the clock, a feat that would otherwise prove difficult given staffing limitations at most restaurants.

During the pandemic, countless entry-level food service workers moved on to other positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the next decade, about 45,000 jobs for food service managers are projected each year. Many of these openings will result from workers transferring to different occupations or exiting the labour force (such as retiring).

Unstaffed positions are slowing economic recovery for food services managers who depend upon these employees to keep their establishments flourishing during hard times.

Robots can help restaurant owners add consistency to their food service and reduce the headaches of finding, hiring, training, and retaining human staff.

Food automation platforms are the future of fast food, using robots to deliver on the promise of personalized, healthy, fresh, and delicious food while reducing overhead costs-all with a push of a button.

Food automation solutions digitize the ordering process, allowing customers to use their smartphones or tablets at an eatery to easily choose items, make customizations, and schedule delivery times. The robotic kiosks should be able to prepare the customer's order and store it safely until they arrive at the kiosk to pick it up.

An example of robots used in the food service industry includes Picnic. This robot's pizza-making process can be automated using this modular, customizable system. First, spread the sauce on a sheet of dough; then top it with cheese and pepperoni. Add your three favourite ingredients, bake-and you're done!

Picnic can produce hundreds of pizzas per hour, which allows the rest of the staff time to focus on other food items.

Another excellent example of food automation is Flippy. This robot is a hamburger-cooking machine that replaces human labour in restaurant kitchens. Last year, Miso Robotics, the company that created this robot, announced Flippy 2, a new version of its hamburger-cooking robotic arm. The upgrade is designed to further automate simple cooking tasks for fast food establishments.

Finally, Cecilia.ai is a smart, interactive bartender that can be placed almost anywhere-from home to busy bars and restaurants. It serves mixed drinks in less than 30 seconds and gives customers guidance about menu options using AI/speech recognition technology. It can be easily installed in hotels, casinos, and cruise ships as the primary or backup bartender.

Automotive

Automotive assembly lines are subject to a variety of problems, including worker injuries, slow production times, and defective products. Using robots can help solve these problems.

Ford uses UR10 cobots in Romania to grease camshafts, fill engines with oil and perform quality inspections. Ford's Romanian factory has sped up its process, freed employees from repetitive tasks, and improved product quality by deploying these cobots.

Robots can be programmed to perform almost any physical task involved in vehicle construction. There are many ways that robots can assist in making decisions. For example, robots may perform quality inspections on the final product-pass/fail style – to ensure it meets a certain standard of quality before being shipped off for sale.

The automotive industry relies on a variety of workers to complete essential tasks: assembly, painting, welding (including robots), material removal, and polishing.

Between 2017 and 2019, Tesla was near bankruptcy. The company had invested billions of dollars in a new factory filled with robots-but the machines couldn't meet production quotas and often didn't work correctly. Today, Tesla is one of the world's most valuable companies in the automotive industry. Its automated production process has allowed it to leap ahead of competitors.

Although humans are involved in manufacturing, most processes require little or no human intervention. Tesla uses over 1,000 robots. Some robots on the manufacturing floor are big enough to lift an entire car, while others are small enough only to pick up smaller objects. Some have complex programming, and some rely on simple instructions or proximity sensors to guide their actions.

The large-scale use of automated systems within Tesla's factories helps reduce costs and improve the speed with which goods are moved around. As you can see, Tesla's goal is to rely on automation in its manufacturing process as much as possible.

To address production problems, other automobile manufacturers rely primarily on robots for heavy lifting or extremely fast processes. Tesla's goal is to use the most state-of-the-art robotics and other technologies it can get its hands on – in innovative ways that are both efficient and cost – effective.

Robots do not replace humans in the auto industry. In many sectors, like final touches and quality control, human workers are needed to perform tasks that robots cannot yet accomplish. When robotic precision is coupled with human creativity and flexibility-as it inevitably must be if advances in automotive technology are to continue – both fields will benefit from a creative synergy between man – made machinery and biological lifeforms that no one before us had ever been able to imagine or create in a roundabout way.

The Good and Bad of Robotics Developments

The expansion of the artificial intelligence and robotics industry is one significant factor that impacts and transforms various aspects of everyday life-a transformation fostered by rapid technological change.

Personal service robots, engineered to help people with everyday tasks, have become more common. For example, the robot assistant named Alexa in many homes and the nurse-assistive robots used by hospitals worldwide.

It is predicted that these service robots will become more integrated into people's everyday lives-transforming sectors such as agriculture, logistics, and retail in particular. As a result of their increased presence, businesses must adapt their operations to changes in social constructs.

As robots become more intelligent and pervasive in industry and society, they will help solve some of humanity's greatest challenges. At the same time, new job opportunities-hundreds of new professions-will be created by these advances.

However, each coin has two sides, and so do robots. While they have many advantages – such as the ability to perform repetitive tasks with precision – they can also have major drawbacks, such as being able to replace humans in certain jobs, which would leave those people unemployed.

Robots have two major downsides. First, they replace humans in the workforce, increasing unemployment rates. Second, robots are very expensive to produce and use (depending on your point of view). Robots are made after extensive research and development, which requires high technology with extensive investments that most people do not have. In essence, robots can be expensive to purchase, maintain or rent. Their high price tags raise the cost of manufacturing goods and merchandise.

Although robots are manufactured and used primarily for production purposes in an organization, they often increase the costs of production due to their expensive nature. At the same time, however, they reduce overall costs by replacing human labour. While they reduce costs due to lower levels of wastage, the initial investment is still high.

Additionally, operating robots requires specific expertise from the employee to program and interact with them. This is also one of the disadvantages of robots, as they cannot perform many scientific tasks independently and thus require considerable human interaction.

We are witnessing a revolutionary transformation in how people, businesses and societies interact. In the long run, it may turn out that we underestimated both the positive and negative effects of this disruption. However, we need to start preparing for them as soon as possible.

Governments and C-Level executives should create a working environment that will enable everyone to benefit from the shifts brought about by innovation. This includes education and training for human workers, support for research activities-and investment in innovations.

Final Thoughts

Technological advances move at an ever-increasing pace, and there is no sign of slowing down. How we interact with technology is shifting, as well as how intrinsically we rely on it. From our iPhones to being greeted by customer service chatbots, our lives are being shaped and changed by the machines that man was initially meant to control. There is still a long way to go before robots become a part of our everyday lives.

As the Jetsons so aptly illustrated in the 20th century, robots may not be a typical sight in society today. However, the trend toward automation and technology will only continue to grow more widespread, transforming our traditional means of doing work into entirely new systems.

The post Welcome to the Jetsons: How Robots Will Change Society appeared first on Datafloq.

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