What is Roboverse: AI, Robots or Metaverse?
Have you ever imagined a world full of robots that are producing new products or even making food in your kitchen and delivering it to your doorstep? It’s not a dream but a reality. In other words, it’s called roboverse. This article covers everything you need to know about this new universe.
Table of Contents
What is Roboverse?
The roboverse is a digital subject that interacts with our world. It shows the growing number and all existing types of robots in the world that are connected to the cloud. Like in the metaverse, the roboverse connects two worlds, physical and digital. However, it doesn’t transport people to some fantasy world at all. There is a software-defined X, where any task “X” can be controlled through software in the physical world.
If you play online games like World of Warcraft or virtual worlds like Decentraland, you must be familiar with non-player characters (NPCs). They are avatars that an actual user doesn’t control. Instead, they help the world in which the games take place. So you can think of robots as a real-world version of NPCs.
Benefits of Using Robots
So what are the benefits of using robots in everyday life? Check the advantages:
- Cost-effectiveness
Robots can work on a repetitive cycle continuously without any break. Thus, it leads to an increase in the production rate. They don’t take coffee breaks, and they don’t need perks like paid time off or healthcare offerings.
- Better quality and consistency
Robots are more accurate and consistent than humans. You can be sure that they will consistently deliver quality. In addition, robots are programmed for precise, repetitive motion; thereby, they are less likely to fail and make mistakes.
- Greater safety
There is no need to risk human lives anymore since you can send a robot to do the job. In a dangerous environment, heavy machinery and sharp objects can easily injure a human and even lead to health issues. Automated robots can be deployed to do any tasks without causing risk to organizations and their workforce.
- Productivity
Robots can tackle repetitive tasks more efficiently than humans because they are designed to do the same without fatigue. It increases the speed of manufacturing processes, in part by operating 24/7. Robots can talk to customers, answer emails and social media comments, sell products, etc. Consequently, the introduction into the manufacturing process can have tangible productivity benefits.
- Reduced wastage
The cost of employees performing many manufacturing operations is more expensive than robots. The use of robots ensures fewer quality deviations, so there will be no material wastage due to failure or non-standard products. Moreover, robots don’t demand salaries or bonuses. Therefore, they are less costly to deploy.
Drawbacks of Robots
What are disadvantages of Roboverse?
- Human job losses
One of the most significant disadvantages surrounding robotic introduction is the impact on workers who may suffer job loss. Many companies that turn to automation with the help of robots have to let go of some of their employees. Humans can’t compete with a robot that can work continuously without making mistakes. That fact is enough to force people out of jobs they have done their entire lives.
- Hiring skilled staff
Automation with robots requires expert personnel skilled with knowledge of programming, operation, and maintenance. Job seekers may rejoice, but the prospect of having to recruit professionals and pay salaries may be an obstacle to introducing robots.
- Investment costs
Robots require a significant investment that not many can afford. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study considering all the costs of industrial robots, their installations, and their configuration. It would help if you also evaluated whether your robot can be easily modified in case you need to change operation in the future.
- No analytical ability
Although robots perform their job flawlessly, they are far from perfect. They can mess up as they don’t have the power to think, analyze or create by taking information from their surroundings. Robots are dependent on humans who program them to do ceaselessly specific tasks.
Automation and Robotics
Automation is a tipping point with rapid artificial intelligence and robotics technology development. The term automation means the use of a mechanical or repetitive process.
Before the advent of modern technology, manufacturing, and industrial applications were done manually. But today, the goal of industrial automation is to increase efficiency through the addition of machinery.
Automation and robotics have areas where they cross, like using robots to automate physical tasks or car assembly lines. Nowadays, robots are already performing many functions without considerable human intervention. It’s also believed that automated machines will replace almost half of the global workforce.
The current generation of autonomous robots uses sensors and artificial intelligence to perceive and make sense of the world around them. Collaborative robots are designed to complete specific tasks similar to humans, while traditional ones complete tasks more efficiently than humans.
How Does Automation Intend to Improve People's Lives?
Automation is becoming part of nearly every industry. It can impact our lives from what subjects children will study in school for the new economy to product variety. Below you can find ways into how automation will affect our society in the near term.
- Safer Workplaces
Bringing automation into the workplace will make it safer. It can take over dangerous or repetitive tasks that could lead to injury or even death. Thus, your employees will thank you for removing them from risky situations and preventing the 2.9 million accidents happening yearly.
- Increased Productivity
Artificial intelligence and automation have become more reliable thanks to innovative big data technologies. Simple tasks like automating software don’t require human oversight. That is why it can free workers to focus on the tasks that require their attention instead of spending their time on things that can be better done by computer.
- Shifting from Doing to Thinking
Careers have been focusing on the idea of ‘doing’ for the last few decades. They think that you aren’t succeeding in life if you are not doing something. Automation can cause us to shift the general workforce from the tasks of doing to those of design, service, and so on. Therefore, cerebral pursuits will change the way we work and the way we build our careers.
- Expanded Product Variety
Once automation becomes mainstream, new products will not need to grow through multiple stages. Designers will plug their designs into the computer and wait while the automated systems will do the rest calibrating manufacturing equipment to meet specific needs. So the ability to quickly create new products will create more product variety for the end user.
- Increase the Need for New Skills
Technological skills will be in high demand by 2030 as automation will likely take over most low-skilled positions currently done manually. The only recourse for these low-skilled workers is to acquire new skills through additional training because there is no other way to adapt to this change.
What are Autonomous Mobile Robots?
An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is a robot that can understand and move through its environment without being overseen by an operator. AMRs have a variety of sophisticated sensors that enable them to understand and interpret their environment. It helps them to perform their tasks effectively.
Autonomous mobile robots can navigate complex environments like airports, farms, or retail stores. They are smart enough to fulfill simple tasks. Moreover, AMRs make workflows more efficient and productive. It’s achieved by performing non-value added tasks like transporting, picking up, and dropping off products to free laborers to carry out other tasks that add value to the product/operation like picking, checking, or packing an order.
Types of Autonomous Mobile Robots
Even though they are a young technology, Autonomous mobile robots already have several distinct varieties, each of which is better suited to fulfill a specific type of action.
Thus, AMRs can be divided into four types:
- AMRs for transportation
- AMRS for picking
- AMRs for sorting
- AMRs for inventory visibility
AMRs for Transportation
Transporting raw materials and products from one place to another within a warehouse is a low-skill task. Transporting doesn’t add much value to a product; it’s often one of the first tasks to be automated.
AMRs for transportation means workers can perform more valuable tasks within the facility. Moreover, these robots will transport work-in-progress within the production line and return finished products to the warehouse for distribution.
There is no need for fixed routes or wires integrated into the warehouse floor, as the AMRs sophisticated sensors will allow them to find the most efficient way to transport products.
AMRS for Picking
Order picking is considered one of the costliest tasks performed within an operation. It doesn’t mean that it requires high-level skills, but it is incredibly time-consuming.
Picking strategies provided by AMRs can significantly reduce the travel picking time as they can bring the products to the selector. For example, an AMR can do this instead of having workers walk from their stations to pick an item off a shelf and return it to their stations.
This fantastic system also allows an AMR robot to carry carts with products and move between workers and stations. Later the workers can take the item they need from the cart without moving around.
AMRs for Sorting
Autonomous mobile robots also play an essential role in sortation. They are equipped with conveyor rollers, cross belt systems, and tilt trays that offer various sorting solutions.
High-speed AMR sortation is achieved by utilizing a fleet of tilt trays. Collaborative robots work on levels with chutes for older positioning and location. A station camera reads the barcode and then identifies the item, allowing it to take off via the shortest path to its destination chute.
These robots are also suitable for consolidation and return sortation. AMRs can bring a bin to a workstation. Later an operator puts in the correct item and quantity. Thus, this system allows short-term sortation because the AMRs can be redeployed to other tasks after sorting the returns.
AMRa for Inventory Visibility
Accurate inventory visibility is crucial for every warehouse. An AMR with warehouse scanning technologies can tell you where a product is within the warehouse or distribution center.
Inventory movement, tacking, and reconciliation can be challenging and time-consuming for large and complex operations. Integrating AMRs with the system automates the inventory control procedure, drastically reducing the cost and time required to track inventory.
There are a variety of intelligent robots with various degrees of autonomy already taking on several tasks that humans are less inclined or too fragile to handle. They can work side by side with humans, slowing down and applying less force to ensure nobody gets hurt.
However, some of these robots operate in a largely disconnected fashion. It is why robotics companies reinvent the wheel, and traditional industries still prefer outdated concepts with fixed production lines, functions, and separate machines.
But to fully realize the promise of the roboverse, companies must leave behind these older ways.
The roboverse will make our lives in the real world better. As more robots are deployed worldwide, the possibilities for combining their work to perform more complex missions are growing exponentially. All this is possible with the help of software in the cloud that manages the operation of robots. The work that these robots do in the roboverse is of great importance. The real world is becoming a lot more interesting than any virtual world.
How Robots Will Transform Our Lives?
Robots are changing our daily lives by shaping the future of work, travel, and exploration. Economic growth, productivity, and new career opportunities for many people will increase. However, there are warnings about massive job losses, predicting 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030.
At the same time, we can look forward to robots handling more of the redundant manual labor tasks, making transportation work more efficiently, improving healthcare, and so on.
Here are some ways robots may change our lives in the future.
Transportation
Robotics is expanding the transport and logistic industry. They can drive independently to a destination and calculate their exact position and route. As they are equipped with sensors, it isn’t a problem to identify critical situations and respond accordingly, sharing the course with people or vehicles.
According to Google, only about 3 to 5 years away from an autonomous car that is roadworthy. Automatic transport might also increase safety, efficiency as well as reliability. Even though the demand for drivers and pilots will drop, new roles in control and management will open.
By 2030, robot-powered vehicles might be on the road in major cities. These cars will reduce emissions, improve policing behaviors and make travel more accessible.
Education System
Robots are an effective classroom tool because they can be programmed to teach any subject. A lot of schools in the U.S are adopting robots in the classrooms. They aren’t replacing teachers but serve as teaching assistants.
In 2021 an educational robot named Moxie was released by Embodied. That robot attracted a lot of attention for its unique design and use of artificial intelligence. Moxie is designed to help young kids learn social skills, empathy, communication, and critical thinking.
In addition, the robot remembers previous conversations and can recognize children’s faces, allowing them to form a natural bond with it. Robots like Moxie will likely become much more popular, especially with the rise of remote learning.
Industry
Industrial robotics is currently booming. Robots are improving the lives of construction workers and ordinary people. For example, autonomous construction vehicles will help workers do their jobs more safely and efficiently.
One of the first applications for robotics in manufacturing, and it remains a strong candidate for increased automation. The structured nature of many manufacturing tasks makes it easy to integrate robotics. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are moving to a point where manufacturing could be 100% autonomous by the 2030s.
3D printing is one of the most exciting advances in construction robotics. It could change the industry. Construction of 3D printing has been ongoing for several years now, but only in the 2020s, it begins to take off.
In 2021, ICON announced it would develop the world’s largest 3D printed neighborhood in Texas. This project includes 100 homes with sustainable materials and solar panels integrated into the roofs.
Medicine
Robots are also used for medical purposes, dramatically changing how we treat ailments. By 2030, it will be normal to see a robot in the halls of hospitals around the globe.
Robot surgery is one of the fascinating niches of medical robotics. Patients often die in different parts of the world because they don’t have access to a doctor who knows how to treat them. However, with the help of robotic surgeries, everything could be changed. Recently, researchers at MIT announced a new system that would let doctors remotely treat stroke and aneurysm patients. Thus, this remote robotic surgery system could save many people’s lives.
Another exciting thing is that robots may assist nurses in hospitals and eldercare centers. They can also help people with impairments like a spinal cord injury in the rehabilitation process.
There is already a prototype of a unique nursing robot named “Steve,” which was tested at an eldercare center in Washington, D.C. Stevie could talk with residents, play different video games, and even participate in karaoke night. That robot’s uniqueness is its artificial intelligence also has built-in care features. For example, the robot can call for medical assurance after hearing the keyword “help.”
Conclusion
We have a lot of ground, revealing how the roboverse interacts with our world. Let’s sum it up to make sure you are well informed.
- Automation will create new opportunities and jobs that were not previously available.
- New automation technology allows us to extend our capabilities and work faster, smarter, and more efficiently.
- Robots can take over at least some of people’s everyday job functions so that people will have more leisure time at their disposal.
- The greater adoption of robotics will be a boon for businesses with an impactful global change.
In summary, the roboverse will change how we live and open new opportunities for everyone. It will likely improve the quality of life for thousands of people
helping us reach new horizons on our planet and beyond.
