Next-Gen Robotics: Applications in Daily Life
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The world of robotics is transforming the way we view the future. Many ideas and research in the machine learning world today were once considered science fiction. Advanced tech like AI, AR, VR, and robotics are gaining more ground and public attention.
Next-gen robotics can enhance efficiency and productivity in several industries. It's built for convenience, eliminating the need for redundancies, menial work, and even some of the most challenging tasks. The advanced AI capabilities enable machine learning, including reasoning and decision-making based on complex data streams. Machine learning is crucial for the future of AI and robotics.
With technology advancing at an unexpected rate, it won’t be long before everyday robotics becomes a familiar term. Robots built with versatility in mind that can perform complex tasks and adapt to changing environments could be in the near future. Creating robots for daily use is a feasible goal. Next-gen robotics and the proliferation of AI tools will make it happen.
Robotics Integration in every sector
Robotics isn’t confined to industrial and tech fields anymore. Most people are familiar with robots in large manufacturing companies and industrial warehouses. Today, the diverse applications are far-reaching, with a notable impact on everyday experiences.
There was a time when robotics was mainly within the space exploration sector. Now, the public and private sectors are turning toward robot integration. Even before advanced machine learning, robots have had a role in specific workplaces. Automation, for example, is often used in manufacturing, production lines, and consumer services.
Nearly every public and private organization will be utilizing robotics. Integration is already taking place in common retail stores and customer service centers. Robots for the home are a reality. From education and healthcare to agriculture and environmental settings, robotics show massive potential.
Education and learning
The COVID-19 pandemic opened the floor for public discussions on what technology is needed to meet educational demand while improving the learning process. The increased interest in distance learning grew worldwide. Robotics, machine learning, and generative AI began making small waves in this increasingly digital landscape. Generative AI and advanced language learning models lead to smarter and more social robots.
Academia is a fluid landscape and, not unsurprisingly, the perfect platform for generative AI and LLMs. Robotic technologies in education are still fairly new, with every improvement and upgrade aiding an effective and interactive learning experience.
Domestic uses at home
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are often seen in warehouses for jobs like order fulfillment, but there’s been a growing trend of AMRs for domestic uses. Everyday robots have already found a place in homes. Also referred to as domestic robots, they are generally used to help with chores. They deliver easy cleaning solutions for the average household.
Examples of robots in daily life include social family robots, cleaning robots, and cooking aids. Robot mops and vacuums ensure consistent floor and carpet cleaning. Automated kitchens are slowly becoming an option as robot chefs and fully robotic kitchens become available.
What’s so fascinating about this application is that domestic robots can connect to the home network. This means it will gradually transition the home from a traditional environment to an interactive, smart home. Even the social family robot can act as your assistant and help keep your schedule on track. It’s designed to socialize and can play with children and family pets.
Medicine and healthcare
Robots are fulfilling complex medical roles, from simple delivery tasks to delicate procedures. Current examples of robotics in healthcare include delivery and transport. Robots can transport items between wards or help with management and delivery of pharmacy services.
Robots can handle disinfection jobs, which saves humans from exposure to harmful bacteria. They can be deployed to clean and disinfect clinical areas, including wards and outpatient facilities. Robots also provide accurate imaging assistance, help with radiotherapy, and aid in interventional procedures. Rehabilitation and mobility are areas of interest, as well. Elderly care, for example, requires robots to be capable of assessing patients and providing physical assistance.
One of the highlights of robotics in the medical industry is the surgical procedures robots assist with. Healthcare saw the first surgical application of robotic tech in 1985. Since then, accuracy and efficiency have increased, and surgical robots are consistently successful.
Socially assistive roles are especially helpful for mental health. These types of robots can help provide service provisions and companionship. Thanks to generative AI, therapy-related interactions show promise, with useful apps already providing support. Telepresence is another way robots are expected to make a mark. It’s a more advanced method of telecommunication by giving people a digital presence, regardless of their remote location.
Agricultural applications
Using robots in agriculture is a necessary step in developing hyper-efficient resource management. Homesteads, farmland, and related agricultural lands that produce crops require monitoring, watering, and more.
Tracking crop growth factors, including soil analysis, is a primary focus of agricultural robotics. Understanding the soil and nutrient levels helps farmers assess what’s needed to improve crop harvest, yield, and management.
Environmental studies
Robotics plays a role in environmental monitoring and conservation efforts. Drones, for example, are aerial robots that provide an overview of an area and can send data back in real-time. They play a crucial part in surveillance, analysis, and data collection. Other factors for this technology include sustainability plans, such as the well-known adage reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Robotics for environmental research involves finding new methods of waste reduction, renewable energy sources, and fighting climate change. Monitoring and tracking emissions, watching energy levels, and improving land stewardship are just a few things robots and integrated AI can help with. Industrial robots, for example, help to improve clean technology and energy efficiency in coal combustion, pollutant emissions, and industry-level waste management.
Retail and customer service
Recent years have seen the expansion of robots in retail, either for the back room or the sales floor. Palletizing robots, automatic shelf-stocking robots, and inventory management robots are a few popular uses. In-store robots like automated mobile floor cleaners or conveyor belt self-checkouts are also becoming the norm.
Retail warehouses, especially large chains, have invested in automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The implementation of robots in retail environments happened before robotics became a hot topic. The retail and customer service landscape began the gradual transition to robotics years ago. Current estimates for robot use sit at around 40% automation - that’s nearly half of the industry investing in robotics, with continuing interest. Potential ideas for a major overhaul in the industry include talks of full automation.
Robots in the customer service industry have been designed for social functionality. Cashiers, customer service reps, and online chat agents are slowly being replaced by robotic technology. Customer satisfaction ratings and related data are constantly collected to help improve overall service. The customer service and retail experience are increasingly becoming a robot-human interaction.
The Future of everyday robotics
As AI models evolve and prices fluctuate, more companies can access advanced technologies. Businesses are looking to leverage robots as predictions steer towards a rapid rise in robotics. Generative AI and LLMs are some of the driving forces behind this growth.
To understand what robotics will look like in the coming years, check out the reveals at CES 2024. The Consumer Electronics Show revealed robots in more public-facing roles. For example, settings investing in robots include restaurants, public works, and hospitality. Restaurant patrons are already seeing robots in the front and back of the house.
Warehouses will get better utility from upgraded AGVs. Construction companies can also rely on robotics. For example, HP offers quick, accurate, and easy robotic layout solutions for construction sites. Transportation hubs, sidewalk delivery, lawn care, and architecture firms will see robotic integration, as well.
Challenges and ethical considerations
Although robotics are meant to improve overall resilience across the board, there are unknowns in how the future will look. Debates surrounding the efficacy of this technology are ongoing, especially when potential outcomes may include unintended consequences. Providing solutions is the impetus for the integration of advanced robotics. But that doesn’t mean that challenges and ethical considerations should be ignored.
Will robots and automation replace workers? Will AI steal my job? Do you have to be a computer whiz to start learning AI operations and next-gen robotics? These are some frequently asked questions that deserve widespread conversation. We can’t talk about full automation without considering alternative avenues of employment for workers who lose their positions to a robot. We can’t talk about widespread access without accounting for first-time users and a simple UI. Even while clarifying common misconceptions, asking questions is what provides an in-depth, critical analysis.
Summary
Robotics will play a transformative role in daily life. Embracing this coming technology morally and ethically is imperative for every industry. Robots and AI technology are meant to enhance human living, which means addressing the weaknesses within current systems and fostering innovation for a better future.
As discussions in the political, legal, and ethical arenas continue, so does innovation in the tech world. Robotics will become a part of daily life if we are fully prepared. Learning about all the current applications and potential possibilities will make the transition easier.
