Trends and The Future of Robotics

The installation and use of industrial robots worldwide have more than tripled within the past decade and has become an industry in itself. Artificial intelligence software, in combination with additional systems, allow robots to master difficult tasks or tasks that are deemed more suitable for automated systems. For example, bottle filling and handling, a process that requires accuracy with safe and secure handling, is today best suited to an automated robot. Robots, and especially newer generation robots, are easier to install and program as well as having the potential to reduce carbon footprint.

Here is our list of what we expect to see in the future of robotics:

Robots in “smart” factories

Smart factories are getting smarter. We see this, especially in the automotive industry. This sector has been a pioneer in smart factory adaptations for a long while, incorporating industrial robots throughout assembly lines. In the years to come, we can expect to see interaction between robots and self-driving/autonomous vehicles. With the latest navigation technology, mobile robots are much more flexible and productive than traditional production lines. 

Broadening scope into new industries

Breakthroughs in digitalisation and connectivity has contributed to an increase in robot adoption, especially in manufacturing sectors. These include the food and beverage industry, textiles, wood products and plastics. This exponential digital transformation will lead to new business models, with manufacturers diversifying and adapting more easily than ever. In a “smart” factory, different products are assembled subsequently by the same equipment – a process deemed to be almost impossible just a few decades ago.

Securing supply chains

One thing that hasn’t changed, and will not change, is consumer demand for robots. The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened supply chains dramatically. Companies of all sizes will rethink their production processes with the adoption of flexible robotic solutions to support continued growth in these markets.
Manufacturers now have an opportunity to re-evaluate pre-pandemic supply chains. When productivity is optimised through robots, there is a definite boost to output, hopefully levelling and catching up after the forced downtime experienced in 2020. 

Robots continue to offer productivity, flexibility and security

Advances in robotics are directly contributing to increased robot adoption, coming full circle. As to be predicted, the pandemic hasn’t inspired any new trends, however, it has accelerated the use of robots. As such, the pandemic has been the biggest driver for change in industries.

Robots are not solely for large corporations

As predicted, large corporations continue to invest in robotics, but the pandemic has also had a positive impact on the adoption of robots in small to medium businesses. The modern software of robots have now made it easier and simpler to fit them into a production line. And so, companies can now adopt robotics quickly and inexpensively.

Robots reduce carbon footprint

And finally, investments in modern robot technology often reflect the requirement for a smaller carbon footprint. We’ve come to anticipate modern robots to be energy-efficient, thus reducing energy consumption of production. Due to the very nature of robots, guaranteed precision and productivity doesn’t allow product rejections and substandard goods faulty, products or even breakages, reducing production time. Additionally, through the higher precision, they also demonstrate a positive impact on the ratio of resource input over output. Robots also help in the cost-efficient production of renewable energy equipment.

Automation remains a tool to survive and shrink costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated this with companies implementing robotics and automation at a significant pace, chasing the need and demand to stay open during this difficult period. The adoption of robots for production lines has proven that they can not only produce more goods with precision and optimised productivity, they are able to save more money by reducing a company’s carbon footprint. For all these reasons, we can expect to see more investment in automated robots in the years (even months) to come. And ultimately, the introduction and incorporation of robots within a vast range of industries will serve as a boost to the economy.