Robotics has caused a revolution in the business world in a lot of ways. Many workers in automotive, manufacturing and material handling industries have had to retrain to use new and upcoming technology. Work on the production floor has definitely undergone major transitions.
Robots have advanced from simply performing menial repetitive tasks to collecting and responding to data appropriately. Robots are used in just about every industry there is. In fact, they are even taking over domestic duties as well.
However, there are a few industries that can claim to have been completely transformed by robotics. It has made tasks easier by taking over difficult and intricate tasks. Robots have been used in applications that require high levels of precision.
Here are a few industries that have benefited the most from robotics.
Manufacturing
Robots have been used in manufacturing since the 60s. Any industry that is involved in producing consumer goods for sale and use falls under manufacturing. Robots have played an important role here because many plants deal with difficult and dangerous tasks.
Moreover, quality is of utmost importance. If goods have defects, consumers are likely to reject them. Product recalls turn out to be very expensive for businesses as they lose a lot of money. They also stand the risk of losing customers who quickly lose confidence in their products.
Robots bring manifold solutions to the manufacturing industry. A small industrial robot can have the following effects on your business:
- The margin of error goes down
- The quality of the product improves
- The volume of production goes up
- Decreased accidents on the production floor
- Improved throughput
These and other benefits have improved the quality of work in the manufacturing industry. In addition, robots have helped to expand profit margins. The work atmosphere also improves greatly as contemporary robots are designed to work collaboratively with humans.
Military and Public Security
Political upheavals all over the world result in wars every so often. Not many years ago, war involved officers penetrating dangerous places as they patrolled and collected data. The modern military is equipped with robots, mostly drones that are able to reach exceedingly dangerous locations.
Drones are used to perform tasks such as:
- Sentry duties
- Reconnaissance
- Battlefield support
Internal security has also benefited greatly from drones. They can ‘patrol’, collect data and send back the same to base. They are able to respond fast to situations such as traffic accidents and other incidents affecting the public.
Drones that are remote-controlled can monitor possibly perilous situations and alert officers for a fast response. A robot with cameras and sensors can be dropped into a burning building to assess risk. It can then provide feedback to officers that can help prevent or reduce tragedy.
Also, robots can infiltrate hostage situations and give valuable feedback that could help save the hostages. Robotics has largely improved public safety and made police work more effective.
Health Care
Surgical robots are used by doctors to perform surgeries. They operate with precision resulting in less scarring as well as less loss of blood. They have been used for procedures such as lung surgeries and hysterectomies.
Modern medical robots are designed to perform surgeries from as far as 400kms away. If a 2014 report by the BBC is anything to go by, this is the reality of medicine and robotics.
Mining
Years back, mining was done by humans. Many of them ended up sick or even lost their lives as they dug for precious commodities. With robots taking over, mining has become substantially safer.
Mining equipment is also more advanced than it used to be. Drills are automated and are able to dig deeper even in hazardous conditions that would be impossible for humans.
Conclusion
Numerous industries have benefited from robotics in diverse ways. However, these industries have had an even greater impact. This is mostly because the transformation has a lot to do with improving safety conditions and saving human lives.
