IFR study highlights human, bot collaboration

A new study published Feb. 15, 2024, by the International Federation of Robotics highlights human-like assistants in a variety of applications and use cases. The IFR's annual study, jointly prepared with Fraunhofer IPA, found 3.9 million robots deployed in 40 countries as demand for robotic-driven technology solutions continues to scale.

Marina Bill, president of the International Federation of Robots, predicted that robotic applications will reshape industries, service sectors and ultimately, the future of work.

Five key robotic trends

"The five mutually reinforcing automation trends in 2024 show that robotics is a multidisciplinary field where technologies are converging to create intelligent solutions for a wide range of tasks," Bill said, citing the following key robotic trends:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Robot manufacturers are finding new ways to leverage generative AI interfaces such as ChatGPT to program robots using natural language instead of code. These new applications facilitate low-code, no-code robotic programming that no longer require specialized development skills. In addition, machine-learning algorithms can use predictive analytics to manage robotic estates by proactively scheduling maintenance and improving performance.

• Cobots expanding to new applications: Rapid advances in sensor, vision and smart gripper technologies are examples of human-robot collaborations that improve robotic response times to changes in workplace environments. These collaborations promote workplace safety by enabling human workers to delegate dangerous tasks, such as welding, heavy lifting and repetitive motions, to machines.

• Mobile manipulators: Combining mobile robotic platforms with arms creates skilled mobile machines that are capable of navigating complex environments and manipulating objects. These mobile manipulators collaborate and support human workers while providing a timely solution to staffing shortages.

• Digital twins: Creating a computer model that mirrors a physical machine enables businesses to safely and cost-effectively stress test and modify robots virtually. All experimentation can be checked before testing solutions in the physical world. Since robots are becoming more digitally integrated in factories, digital twins can tap robots' operational data to run simulations and predict likely outcomes.

• Humanoid robots: Human-like robots that have two arms and two legs, can work in environments originally created for humans and easily integrate into existing warehouses and infrastructure.

A disruptive force for good

Noting that the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology plans to mass produce humanoids by 2025, researchers maintained that humanoid technology deployments may potentially disrupt and transform businesses and lives.

"The potential impact of humanoids on various sectors makes them an exciting area of development, but their mass market adoption remains a complex challenge," IFR researchers wrote. "Costs are a key factor and success will depend on their return on investment competing with well-established robot solutions like mobile manipulators, for example."

IFR researchers emphasized that collaborative robots are designed to complement humans workers, not replace them. Industrial robots operate at faster speeds, they added, which can potentially improve productivity and mitigate economic challenges.

"New competitors are also entering the market with a specific focus on collaborative robots," they wrote. "Mobile manipulators, the combination of collaborative robot arms and mobile robots (AMRs), offer new use cases that could expand the demand for collaborative robots substantially."

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