Future Robotics Technology and Applications

- Overview

Robotics is an interdisciplinary research area at the interface of computer science and engineering. The goal of robotics is to design intelligent machines that can help and assist humans in their day-to-day lives and keep everyone safe. 

Robotics draws on the achievement of information engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and others. 

The main difference between robots and robotics is that robots are machines that perform tasks, while robotics is a field of research focused on developing robots. 

A robot is a programmable machine that can perform tasks, usually with little or no human intervention. Robots can move independently like living creatures, grabbing and moving objects. They can be directed by external control devices or have embedded controls.

From meticulously harvesting crops to assembling cars and delivering medicines, robotic solutions are increasing productivity, improving safety and providing greater flexibility across industries. Innovative organizations are looking for forward-thinking robotics applications to help them deliver real results.

For example, robotic assistance is increasingly used in surgical procedures. Currently, various modifications are being made to the console, robotic arms, cameras, handles, and instruments that make up the robotic surgical system, as well as other specific features (haptic feedback and eye tracking). In addition, research into automated surgery is also actively underway.

Future robotic developments will aim to reduce the number of incisions and increase accuracy. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), more practical forms of robotic surgical systems can be introduced, ultimately leading to the development of automated robotic surgical systems.

Some applications of robotics include: self-driving cars, digital assistants, surgical robots, customer service, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, prosthetic limbs, NASA-led Mars expeditions, etc..

Please refer to the following for more information:

• Wikipedia: Robotics
• Wikipedia: Robot

- Types of Robots

Robotic solutions are being implemented in an increasing number of industries and applications as robot manufacturers continue to deliver innovations in functionality, price and form factor. Advances in processing power and AI capabilities mean we can now use robots to achieve critical purposes in a variety of ways. 

While applications for robotics vary widely - guiding directions, stocking shelves, welding metal in hazardous environments, and more.

Some common types of robots include:  

• Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs): These machines can function independently, collaborate with people, and have safety features to prevent damage to structures.
• Automated guided vehicles (AGVs): These robots are used in various industries.
• Industrial robots: These robots are programmable and can move parts, tools, or other specialized devices through programmed motions.
• Agricultural robots: These robots can plant and harvest crops, monitor crop growth, and perform other tasks.
• Construction robots: These robots can automate tasks like concrete pouring and bricklaying.

Some other types of robots include: articulated robots, humanoids, cobots, hybrids. 

- How Robots are Used across Industries

Businesses and government agencies use robotics in a variety of ways. All common robot types are deployed to improve outcomes and reduce the burden on employees so they can focus on their most valuable and critical tasks.

The field of robotics has been undergoing a major change from manufacturing applications to entertainment, home, rehabilitation, search and rescue, and service applications. 

Although robots seem to possess fantastic skills in science fiction and movies, most people would be surprised to learn how much remains to be accomplished to provide today's robots with the ability to do relatively simple tasks. 

Robotics is used in many industries, including: Automobile manufacturing, Hazardous environments, Agriculture, Construction.    

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): AI and ML will make robots smarter, more adaptable, and more autonomous.
• Human-robot collaboration: Robots will work alongside humans, enhancing productivity and safety.
• Soft robotics: Robots made from flexible materials will be able to adapt to different environments and perform delicate tasks.
• Swarm robotics: Multiple robots will work together to complete tasks more efficiently.
• Cloud robotics and robotic-as-a-service (RaaS): These models will allow for centralized management and control of robotic systems.
• Modular and reconfigurable robotics: These systems will offer flexibility and adaptability.
• Agricultural robotics: Robots will monitor, water, and analyze crops to help farmers improve yield and management.
• Military robotics: Autonomous drones and vehicles will be used for military purposes.

- Future of Robotics Technologies

Robotics is expected to become more societal by 2030, blurring the lines between human and machine capabilities. 

Some robotics technologies that may be used in the future include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is the simulation of human intelligence in machines or computer systems. It includes techniques, algorithms, and technologies that allow computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
• Next-generation robots: These robots will have advanced AI capabilities that enable them to learn, reason, and make decisions based on complex data sets. This will allow robots to perform more complex tasks and adapt to changing environments.
• Personal robots: These robots will become common in homes, providing assistance with tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for children or the elderly. They will be equipped with advanced AI, allowing them to perform a wide range of tasks and provide personalized assistance to individuals.
• Collaborative robots (cobots): These robots are designed to work alongside a human workforce on the production line and ensure that tasks requiring human supervision are carried out safely. They can operate safely in close proximity to humans.
• Articulated robots: These robots are also known as robotic arms. They are fast, reliable, and accurate, and they can be programmed to do an infinite number of tasks in a variety of environments.

Other robotics technologies include: Exoskeletons, Drones that can fly themselves and make deliveries. Self-replicating machines, Cybernetics, etc.

 
Robotics involves designing, building and programming physical robots which are able to interact with the physical world. Only a small part of robotics involves artificial intelligence.

- Future of AI in Robotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics have become tightly intertwined, delivering significant advances and reshaping many industries. As AI technology continues to evolve, its integration with robotic systems will redefine the future trajectory of automation, manufacturing, healthcare, and various other fields.

Robots are getting smarter, evolving from single-task devices to machines that can make their own decisions and navigate public spaces autonomously. From transportation systems, hospitals and the military, to the robotization of workplaces and homes, robots will be everywhere and increasingly interact with humans. 

Whether you find it exciting or scary (or both), advances in related fields such as robotics and AI are raising new ethical dilemmas and challenges to the laws and regulations that govern humans and machines. A world with clear boundaries between them. 

The new technologies that threaten our jobs today are based on the Internet, robotics, and AI. What they can do is beyond imagination; this is where the panic lies, that robots with AI may be able to do things we don’t even understand.  

Robotics will become an important part of many applications in the next decade. Robots combined with AI will be able to perform complex actions, learn from humans, and promote the phenomenon of smart automation. 

Here are some predictions for the future of AI in robotics: 

• 2025: AI-powered robotics are projected to automate 50% of manual tasks in manufacturing by 2025, increasing productivity by 30%.
• 2030s: Robotics in manufacturing could be completely autonomous by the 2030s, from assembly to quality control.
• 2050: Personal robots will become common in homes, providing assistance with tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for children or the elderly.

Other predictions for the future of AI in robotics include:

• AI models will enable robots to perform specific tasks more efficiently, learn from their experiences, and interact more intuitively with the real world.
• Robots will be able to perform more complex tasks, adapt to dynamic environments, and offer more personalized interactions.
• Robot maintenance and operation will replace traditional jobs in the manufacturing industry.

- AI and Robotics

Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with physical robots. Robots are programmable machines that are usually able to carry out a series of actions autonomously, or semi-autonomously. There are three important factors which constitute a robot: 

• Robots interact with the physical world via sensors and actuators.
• Robots are programmable.
• Robots are usually autonomous or semi-autonomous. 

AI has continued to create huge impacts across multiple industries and continued research has changed how AI affects the robotic industry. Presently, the innovative combination of AI and robotics has created an array of futuristic possibilities in automation. The application of AI in robotics is mainly for enhancing some industrial robotics capabilities. While scientists and experts are yet to realize the full potential of AI and robotics,

AI gives robots a computer vision to navigate, sense and calculate their reaction accordingly. Robots learn to perform their tasks from humans through machine learning which again is a part of computer programming and AI. Since the time John McCarthy has coined the term Artificial Intelligence  in 1956, it has created a lot of sensation. This is because AI has the power to give life to robots and empower them to take their decisions on their own.  

- Ethics of AI and Robotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are digital technologies that will have significant impact on the development of humanity in the near future. They have raised fundamental questions about what we should do with these systems, what the systems themselves should do, what risks they involve, and how we can control these.

Ethics of AI and robotics refers to the set of moral principles and guidelines that govern the design, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and robots, aiming to ensure their use is beneficial to society and avoids potential negative impacts like bias, privacy violations, and safety concerns; essentially, it's about making sure AI acts ethically and responsibly in its interactions with humans and the world around it. 

Key aspects of AI and robotics ethics include:

• Bias and Fairness: Preventing AI systems from perpetuating or amplifying existing societal biases in decision-making processes.
• Transparency and Explainability: Ensuring that the reasoning behind AI decisions can be understood by humans, allowing for accountability and trust.
• Privacy and Data Protection: Safeguarding user data collected and used to train AI systems.
• Safety and Reliability: Designing AI systems that operate safely and reliably, minimizing potential risks of harm.
• Accountability: Identifying who is responsible for the actions of an AI system, especially in critical situations.
• Human Oversight: Maintaining human control over AI systems and decision-making processes.

Some specific ethical dilemmas in AI and robotics:

• Autonomous weapons systems: The development of lethal autonomous weapons that can make killing decisions without human intervention.

• Surveillance technologies: The use of AI-powered surveillance systems that raise concerns about privacy and personal freedom.

• Algorithmic bias in hiring and lending decisions: AI algorithms that unfairly discriminate against certain groups based on data used to train them.

• Misinformation and manipulation: The potential for AI to generate and spread false information on a large scale.

• Artificial general intelligence (AGI): The potential ethical implications of developing AI systems with human-like intelligence.