Robot autonomy is slowly but steadily revolutionizing operations across different industry verticals. These intelligent and focused systems offer unending possibilities and promise improved quality outcomes.
Autonomous robots can work collaboratively with humans to effectively accomplish complex tasks. They are fast integrating into the industrial sector, solving critical challenges, and performing operations with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
Giant e-commerce companies, warehouse and retailing solutions, logistics services, and manufacturing units have already incorporated robotics technology in profound ways. But there’s still more to this sophisticated technology.
As per reports, the value of the global autonomous robot market was USD 2754.05 million. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.7% in the upcoming years, and by 2030, the market may reach USD 11607.13 million. Given these numbers, it is likely that, in the future, robot autonomy will be deployed across more areas, supporting human workers with new levels of efficiency.
Let’s explore how robot autonomy expands possibilities in operator-assisted applications.
Collaborative Work Environment
Striking a balance between human intelligence and robot autonomy helps develop a collaborative work environment with optimal productivity. This is particularly useful in the case of industrial landscapes that deal with physically demanding tasks.
With limited capabilities, human workers cannot always meet operational efficiency requirements. But, when supported with robotic intelligence, workers can carry out diverse tasks more efficiently with reduced effort and risks of accidents.
Enhanced Technical Abilities
The collaboration between humans and robots also enhances technical abilities with advanced machine learning algorithms.
These collaborative robots can automate repetitive tasks, offer valuable insights with advanced data analysis, identify complex patterns, perform precise measurements, and foster skill development.
They can easily integrate into the infrastructure and address gaps with their technical expertise.
Improved Safety
Industrial operations involve high risks. Different operations need to be performed in unstable conditions, often at extreme temperatures and pressure. Besides, some processes involve toxic chemicals and fumes that are potentially hazardous to human health.
When exposed to such working conditions, human workers develop fatigue and other medical conditions in the long run. Besides, any accident can damage the business's reputation to a large extent.
Instead of risking human lives, these tasks can be carried out with the help of autonomous robots with adequate surveillance. Autonomous robots can also trigger alert signals in case of any failures or impending mishaps, ensuring that the workplace is always safe for humans.
Reduced Costs
Setting up and deploying traditional robots required complex programming and involved high costs and extensive structure. However, robot autonomy has eliminated these bottlenecks as autonomous robots are sophisticated.
They are highly flexible and can be efficiently programmed for target functions. With their unprecedented speed and accuracy, they can complete tasks way faster.
Also, they are long-term investments and offer high ROI with improved growth, performance, and productivity.
Skill Development
Autonomous robots can help workers hone their skills, offering a simulated and controlled environment to practice complex tasks.
As they can replicate real-world scenarios, workers get more familiar with different equipment. These robots also help with repetitive tasks, training, improving muscle memory, and creating immersive training experiences.
In addition, they also make it easier for human operators to apply the acquired skills and test their expertise. Autonomous robots can also be programmed to evaluate workers’ performance and offer real-time feedback.
Improved Employee Value
The best part about autonomous robots is that they efficiently take care of mundane and repetitive tasks and free up human workers so that they can focus on strategic work.
Shifting risky roles to these high-end machinery boosts employee morale. Also, it reduces their strain, as they need to supervise the operations rather than perform mechanically-intensive tasks. As a result, employee value improves as they can better handle the processes with autonomous robots.
Intelligent Automation is the Future
Multi-tasking collaborative robots can bring drastic changes in industrial operations and processes. Contrary to popular belief, these robots will not completely replace human workers.
They are not a threat but an additional competency to complement the operator’s efficiency. With their precision, accuracy, expertise, and real-time assistance, autonomous robots improve industrial functional abilities.
With consistent levels of quality and productivity, robot autonomy helps grow and expand operations, reduce time-critical efforts and re-work rates, and enhance revenue.
Designed for proficient human interaction, these robots can upskill employees, serving purposeful and strategic goals. With a balance of labor and automation, businesses get access to new opportunities and growth by integrating robot autonomy.
At Hokuyo, we offer a wide range of sensor products to support robotic automation.
Contact us to learn more.