Types Of Robotic Technology That Are Helping Today’s World

Robotics technology is shaping the world today, from the manufacturing sector to agriculture. While humans can do many jobs nowadays, in some cases, it is risky and may face workforce limitations. 

All these problems are manageable with the arrival of robotic technology. With this innovation, we can now do risky tasks and save human lives. In this article, let’s explore the different robots that are shaping the world. We can also discuss the 10 uses of robotics, the advantages of robotics, and real-life robotics examples.

What Is Robotic Technology?

Robots are machines that can complete specific tasks in different industries. This robotic technology combines mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and artificial intelligence (AI) and finally turns into fine machines that assist humans in healthcare, manufacturing, space exploration, and more.

The idea of robotics first came in ancient times, and it was called Hero of Alexandria (1st century AD). After that, in the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci sketched a humanoid robot. Karel Čapek was the first person to introduce the term “robot” in 1921, but the first industrial robot (Unimate) came into use in 1956. NASA, the US space agency, used robotic space rovers in the 1960s, and Honda’s ASIMO became a reality in 2000. 

The 21st century is a golden year of robotic technology. Many companies have introduced AI-powered robots like Boston Dynamics Atlas and Tesla’s Optimus to the market. Today, robotic technology is in many areas and helping people to do automation work and impossible and possible tasks.

Need more clarity on this? Watch this Youtube video to learn more. 

Several types of robotics are effectively used for task completion. The following sections will tell you seven types of robotics that are making changes in different industries.

7 Types Of Robots In Use Today

Today’s world employs several robotics technologies to do different jobs. They all do their work and help human beings to complete the task easily without risking lives. The seven major types of robots are:

1. Industrial Robots

Industrial robot technology is helpful in manufacturing, assembly lines, and production facilities. This type of robotic technology can automate boring repetition and do so where high precision is essential.

• Examples: A robotic arm in car manufacturing companies and welding robots are the best examples of this type.
• Benefits: Companies that use robotic tech can increase productivity and precision when compared to the manual process.

2. Service Robots

This is a kind of robot that is useful in non-industrial areas, such as homes, businesses, and customer service.

• Examples: Robotic vacuum cleaners like Roomba and restaurant-serving robot Peanut are some of the main robots you can see in use today.
• Benefits:  These types of robots do not take breaks but give a better customer experience and do repeated jobs without any hesitation.

3. Medical Robots

Doing surgery, rehabilitation, and patient care is better than before with medical robots. Performing a surgery now with such innovation can improve precision and efficiency.

• Examples: The Da Vinci Surgical System is one such type that assists surgeons in complex surgeries.
• Benefits: Such robotics technology improves accuracy and recovery times and gives better patient support.

4. Military Robots

Many militaries in the world are adding robots to do surveillance and combat. They help save human lives in dangerous missions.

• Examples: Defence forces like the US use drones for reconnaissance and autonomous military vehicles in special missions.
• Benefits: The armies use military robots to collect real-time data and increase combat capabilities.

5. Humanoid Robots

The advancement of robotics technology in humanoid robots is the next level of innovation and technology. These robots resemble humans and interact when necessary.

• Examples: Sophia robot, Pepper, and Optimus are part of these humanoid robots.
• Benefits: Humanoid robots can interact with humans, automate social tasks, and provide a better experience.

6. Autonomous Robots

Automation is reaching its next level, and robotics technology is making this possible now. Autonomous robots do repetitive jobs without human intervention, making decisions based on sensors and AI. You can see these types of technology are useful in transportation and exploration.

• Examples: Self-driving cars, warehouse robots (Amazon Kiva), and robotic lawnmowers.
• Benefits:  Bringing such automations robots can reduce your effort, increase efficiency, and improve safety in the working areas.

7. Swarm Robots

Robots like this (e.g., ants and bees) are inspired by biological systems. The swarm robots work in large groups to complete tasks.

• Examples:Some companies are using drone swarms for surveillance, nanorobots in medicine, and collaborative warehouse robots.
• Benefits: Swarm robots are useful in high efficiency in complex environments and give cost-effective automation for your needs.

Interested in knowing about autonomous cars? Read: Self-Driving Cars: A New Technology To Empower Transportation

Knowing the types of robotics is not enough. Let’s look at 10 examples of robotics in the real world.

Application Of Robotics: 10 Uses Of Robot Technology

Robotic technology is an essential part of modern life as it makes our lives simple and better. It is a technology that can improve your efficiency and precision and provide safety across various sectors. Let’s find out the ten uses of robotic technology and applications in everyday life and industry:

1. Medical Surgeries

Getting the support of robots in surgeries is essential for high precision. Using robotic help also faster patient recovery.

• Method In Use: Da Vinci Surgical System (Robotic orthopedic surgery)

2. Warehouse Automation

Inventory management and order fulfillment in warehouses are easy with the deployment of the warehouse automation system. This automation system can reduce human effort and errors.

• Robot In Use: Amazon Kiva robots

3. Customer Service (Chatbots & Humanoid Robots)

The role of AI robots in customer service is increasing. A robot can handle customer queries, provide assistance, and provide a better user experience.

• Robot In Use: SoftBank’s Pepper and AI chatbots in banking and e-commerce)

4. Autonomous Vehicles

Self-driving cars and delivery robots are changing transportation and logistics. They make the road safer and give driving accessibility to those who cannot drive.

• Robot In Use: Tesla Autopilot, Waymo self-driving taxis, and delivery drones.

5. Military Defense

Robots are now taking part in the defense sector to dispose of bombs and surveillance to enhance military operations.

• Robot In Use: Boston Dynamics’ robotic dogs, drone surveillance, and autonomous military vehicles.

6. Space Exploration

Space exploration is critical and including humans in this job is risky in the initial stages. In this condition, space agencies use robotic technologies that help them in deep-space missions.

• Robot In Use: NASA’s Perseverance Rover and Canadarm2 (ISS robotic arm).

7. Disaster Response

At the time of any natural disasters, robots are useful for search-and-rescue missions. In some cases, humans find it difficult to reach isolated areas. When such cases come, drones can deliver aid or dive into hazardous places to assess the situation.

• Robot In Use: Robotic fire extinguishers and drones for earthquake rescue operations.

8. Agriculture Automation

This is another area where robots can now do more to make effective work. The farmers worldwide use robotic equipment to plant and harvest crops. Such use of machinery can improve productivity in planting, irrigation, and harvesting.

• Robot In Use: Agricultural drones, autonomous tractors, and robotic fruit pickers.

9. Industrial Manufacturing

Manufacturing areas mostly benefit from robotic technology. Automated robots in sectors like car production will increase productivity and do complex jobs. Utilizing the advantages of robotics is really beneficial to meet the customer’s demand, and reduce costs.

• Robot In Use: Robotic arms in car assembly lines and 3D printing robots.

10. Home Assistance (Robot Vacuums & AI Companions)

This is another area where robots can do more. Smart home robots do various jobs like cleaning, security, and companionship.

• Robot In Use: Roomba vacuum cleaners and Amazon Alexa are a few of the home assistant robots in use today.

In this next section, let’s see the benefits of robotic technology and how it helps companies around the world.

Advantages Of Robotics Technology

Companies around the world are moving into robotic technology to improve their efficiency, precision, and safety. Here are some of the advantages that assist you with the application of robots.

• Improve Operational Efficiency: Robots do not become tired like humans and work faster to improve operational efficiency. Including automation in manufacturing and logistics can speed up production and delivery processes.
• High Precision & Speed: Humans can do work with more precision but needs time to complete that. When robots are handling this work, they can do it faster with more precision. This is one of the reasons people use them in robotic-assisted surgeries, semiconductor manufacturing, and space exploration.
• Mitigate Errors: Distractions are less common than in humans, and this helps robots to make fewer mistakes. This is vital for quality control, laboratory research, and automated assembly lines.
• Increase Safety In Hazardous Jobs: Safety is a high priority in sectors like mining and nuclear plant inspections. These dangerous jobs are easy with robots and can protect several human lives.
• Long term Cost Saving: The initial investment in robotic technology is high but in the long run, this is helpful for you to reduce the cost.  Automated warehouses, AI-powered customer service, and robotic process automation (RPA) in offices are essential for cost reductions.

Everything has its problems, and You need to learn them before adoption.

Challenges In Robotics

The advantages of robotics are exciting, but there are some problems when you take such technology to work or perform any other tasks. Some of the disadvantages of robotic technology are:

• A company that needs to design, test, and deploy robots needs huge investment in the beginning.
• The companies need to purchase costly hardware and software integration to use robotic technology in their daily work.
• Losing jobs is another problem with automation, particularly in industries like manufacturing and customer service.
• AI-powered robots are now implemented in surveillance, healthcare, and personal assistance. This type of use is raising concerns about data security.
• The use of AI in military robots is another problem with this technology. It can save lives but raises ethical concerns about the accountability of the use in combat situations.
• The global regulations are still pending work, and there are many problems with accountability and other related issues. The regulatory framework for robotics and AI is still evolving.

Conclusion

Robotic technology is useful for several industries and shaping the future workforce. From agriculture to defense, this technology improves productivity, precision, and safety. Advantages of robotics are many like accuracy and reduced cost in the long term but there are ethical concerns that need to be taken care of.

The application of robotics in several sectors is increasing, making our work easy and fast. With artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration, robotics technology is improving its precision. 

Additionally, experts believe that robotic technology will greatly assist in sustainability by reducing waste and optimizing resources. This means that this technology still grows and helps humanity to do what was impossible once.

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