Robotics and automation provide increased efficiency and accuracy by eliminating human error, increasing productivity and saving time – particularly beneficial in engineering when repeating tasks can become tedious.
Robotics offers workers another key benefit in terms of worker safety: it enables them to avoid potentially hazardous or unhealthy environments. Imperial engineers have been developing hardware to allow semi-autonomous teams of robots to work together – for instance docking drones with helicopters or using origami cushioning that allows safe landing.
Cost-effectiveness
Automation engineering helps businesses increase productivity while decreasing costs, making it an essential tool in many industries. Automation also increases accuracy while eliminating errors – saving companies money that they can invest into other areas of their business.
Industrial robots are widely utilized in manufacturing to increase efficiency and quality while decreasing human labor needs. These large, programmable machines can work alongside humans or fully replace them; capable of tasks like welding, painting and assembly.
However, the rapid advancement and power of robotic systems have raised legitimate fears that they will usurp jobs. While such fears are valid, Imperial is committed to developing robots which facilitate collaboration with humans rather than replace them outright.
Efficiency
Robotics engineering in manufacturing enhances efficiency and returns. Businesses also save on labor costs and operational expenses, leading to reduced consumer production prices.
Consistency and Quality Control: Robots have the capacity to complete complex tasks with accuracy and consistency, leading to higher quality products with reduced defects and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Automation engineering also can reduce the need for human employees to undertake dangerous or hazardous tasks, leading to improved workplace safety and reduced accidents, while simultaneously freeing workers up for more critical and innovative work – something which boosts employee morale and increases productivity.
Safety
Over 478 billion working hours were devoted to manufacturing-related activities in 2017 — many of them can be automated if desired; however, certain tasks are better left in human hands as these require creativity, adaptability and critical decision-making skills that cannot be performed by machines alone. While robots may reduce expenses by replacing human workers, this also increases job loss risk and technology reliance risks.
Industrial automation products provide innovative applications across various industries, from healthcare (medication dispensing, laboratory testing and surgical procedures) to logistics (warehouse automation and drone delivery systems) and agriculture (crop optimization) as well as retail (self-checkout systems).
Imperial engineers have designed sensing technologies such as lidar, radar and sonar to enable robots to safely detect obstacles in their environment and navigate safely through it. These sensing technologies make robots ideal for disaster scenarios or underwater exploration tasks.
Flexibility
Robots offer great versatility, enabling them to adapt easily to new use cases and operate in diverse environments. Furthermore, robots can increase productivity, enhance safety, and work continuously without fatigue – an unrivalled combination.
Medical robotics have revolutionized healthcare by enabling surgeons to perform complex procedures safely and with greater precision than ever before. Dyson also makes robot vacuum cleaners which can be programmed to follow obstacles in a room and adjust their path as necessary.
However, it must be remembered that robots are still relatively new, requiring significant initial investment and maintenance costs. Furthermore, some tasks are best completed by humans; therefore, manufacturers should closely monitor the usage of their robots and take steps to limit their dependence.
Intelligence
As automation technology develops, its potential to bring sustainability is undeniable. Yet concerns still exist regarding its effects on jobs and society – in particular how automation may reduce demand for goods and services while increasing worker dependency, decreasing creativity and hampering problem-solving skills.
An intelligent robot consists of computer programming and algorithms, remote control manipulators, sensors for measurement, processing and perception; real-time software; the ability to adapt to changes in its environment; various types of systems (pattern recognition, computer vision mapping motion planning); more sophisticated tasks may use cognitive models representing themselves and the world in which they live – this allows it to perform complex tasks such as navigating obstacles avoiding hazards or finding people during disaster situations.