Imagine walking into a factory where robots handle materials and assembly lines, sensors monitor equipment, and artificial intelligence optimizes production while human workers oversee operations.
As the industrial sector transitions into Industry 4.0, this scene has rapidly become a reality. Manufacturing robots now offer greater capabilities with reduced downtime, and they’re making workspaces safer and more efficient. Let’s take a look at how robotics are transforming our industrial landscape.
The Rise of Automation
The use of robots in industrial settings is hardly a new concept. The first industrial robot was the Unimate 001, sporting a six-foot robotic arm on a two-ton machine, which was installed at a General Motors plant in 1961. Fast forward to the 1970s, when the PUMA (Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly) robot was introduced. PUMA robots were able to perform much more complex tasks, like assembly and surgery–and even knew how to paint! Today, we have nearly 20 categories of robot classification.
Enhancing Productivity
Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, marks the transition of factories into a digitalized, automated workspace. It has revolutionized industrial environments.
Cobots
You may have heard of the term cobot, which is short for collaborative robot. These machines are designed to work alongside humans and enhance our capabilities and efficiency. They can handle repetitive, physically demanding, and sometimes impossibly precise tasks, which allows their human co-workers more time for the more complex and creative aspects of their work. Some examples of cobots working in industrial settings are:
- Amazon’s Kiva Robots
These machines enable faster order fulfilments and efficient inventory management.
- Tesla’s Robotic Arms
These machines allow for faster car manufacturing with minimal errors.
Robots can work continuously without breaks, which vastly improves throughput and adaptability and enables companies to meet ever-increasing consumer demand.
Enhancing Safety
The industrial sector was once synonymous with dangerous environments in which laborers toiled from dusk till dawn in toxic conditions, prone to numerous and even fatal injuries. Robotics have made improved safety significantly. Machines can take over dangerous, repetitive, and remote tasks, ensuring a safer environment for human workers. For example, the Semi-Automated Mason (SAM), deployed in the construction industry, has the capability to safely and efficiently lay bricks, sparing a human performing the same workload from possible injuries.
Chemical plants and nuclear facilities, notoriously dangerous and toxic environments, employ robots to perform inspections and maintenance tasks that would otherwise be perilous to humans. Drones perform aerial inspections of high structures, pipelines, and power grids to find errors and anomalies early. Autonomous robots are equipped with sensors that can pinpoint things the human eye can’t see, enabling early detection and timely interventions.
Future Trends
Advancements in robotics are currently driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor technology. As AI is increasingly integrated into robots, these systems become more intelligent and autonomous, capable of learning and adapting to new tasks.
Unplanned downtime costs Fortune Global 500 industrial companies nearly $1.5 trillion a year: about 11% of their total revenue. Fortunately, the Internet of Things (IoT) is ushering in more connected and data-driven robotic systems that can communicate with each other and their central control systems. As this technology progresses, robots can perform real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, creating a truly interconnected, resilient operation.
So, what do these advancements in robotics mean for you? As the industrial landscape evolves, industrial workers will need to acquire new skills to work effectively alongside these advanced systems. This includes skills in:
- programming
- artificial intelligence
- machine learning
- data analysis
Propel Your Career With a Degree in Industrial Technology
To thrive in industrial technology, understanding robotic systems is vital. The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online programs to equip you with these essential skills:
- Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology
This program offers a deep focus on technical and engineering principles to prepare you for roles like industrial engineer and general and operations manager.
- Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Industrial Technology
This is a more flexible option for those building on prior experience. Graduates can pursue roles such as industrial engineering technologist or maintenance manager.
These programs cover robotics, automation, and systems integration, preparing you to lead and innovate. Both are entirely online and asynchronous, so you can study at your own pace.
Position yourself at the forefront of technological advancements and champion productivity and safety in future industries. Apply to one of UTPB’s online industrial technology programs now.