Bergur Thormundsson
Research expert covering technology in the Nordics, AI and smart cities
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics - statistics & facts
The ongoing revolution of artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, led by the developments in generative AI programs and large language models (LLM’s), is already making a significant impact on the economy and the working environment across industries. But there is a more subtle yet incredibly significant change coming out of AI, particularly, its use in robotics. While alarmists might suggest problematic combinations with military-grade drones or new forms of automated weaponry, the larger segment of civilian and industrial robotics is likely to be the breeding ground for a whole new class of robots.
This brings industrial robots closer to cobots, blurring the lines between the two. Cobots were designed from the beginning to operate alongside human workers, and their classification apart from industrial robots stemmed wholly from this difference. Already some of the largest robot developers, including FANUC, Symbotic, and Kion, have begun to produce mechanical arms with AI controls.
A perfect match
The combination of AI and robotics has the potential to bring out the very best in robot development. AI robots augmented with a variety of instruments, including 2D/3D cameras and a host of sensors, allow them to take in data that is then analyzed by AI in real-time processing. Before AI, these sensors would have, at best, allowed a robot to cease operations when it detected anomalies or anything in its path. This causes a slowdown and interrupts operations in large factories. With AI programs analyzing and utilizing the data, it now makes it possible for robots to make decisions based on their surroundings, adjust rather than stop operations, and work around their human coworkers. This is particularly important in sectors such as hospitality where humans are active in close proximity to robotic workers.Hidden change to industrial robots improving cobots
Of the many varieties of robots that operate across global industries, AI implementation is likely to have the greatest effect on industrial robots. This technology, mostly concentrated in mechanical factory arms or large assembly lines, constitutes the largest part of the robot segment. With the introduction of AI,This brings industrial robots closer to cobots, blurring the lines between the two. Cobots were designed from the beginning to operate alongside human workers, and their classification apart from industrial robots stemmed wholly from this difference. Already some of the largest robot developers, including FANUC, Symbotic, and Kion, have begun to produce mechanical arms with AI controls.
A timely change
The inclusion of AI technologies in robot development comes at an opportune time, with many economies struggling with declining labor pools. Robotic automation has already improved productivity, and with the addition of AI, is likely to galvanize productivity even further.
