Predictions on robotics for 2022

The fictitious concept of a "robot revolution" appears to be coming real now, with AI robots evident around us completing little chores. Robots have evolved over the last few decades from specialised devices for industrial purposes to domestic task assisters. During the pandemic, when social isolation became the norm, demand for AI robots increased significantly.

In other words, it's an exciting moment in robotics and here are some major trends to witness in the Robotics industry in 2022:

Ascension of "Cobots"
One of the most popular advances in robotics and electrical engineering is the usage of collaborative bots, sometimes known as "cobots." These robots are designed to work alongside people in a safe and effective manner, with little regard for human health or safety. Using strong sensors and software (as well as end-of-arm tooling), these bots can detect changes in their work environment in real time, allowing them to respond as needed while keeping people safe.

AI will be used to create contact-free experiences
The most important forecast for artificial intelligence in 2022 is the contactless service. Certain key lessons have been gained from the pandemic scenario, such as contact-less shopping, working from remote places, and social distance, among others. As a result, this year’s perspective on AI-powered technology will favour contact-free experiences. Some establishments, for example, may allow customers to shop utilising self-shopping tactics such as virtual-trail work, scanning, and price-tag checking. Direct payments are made through optical-character recognition equipment. The guests’ information would be collected via document scanners without the requirement for document exchange or physical interaction.

Smart factories
As robots get smarter, so will the sectors that utilise them, such as manufacturing and distribution. Industrial robots and automated solutions will help assembly lines, and smart factories will become commonplace. As a result, we should expect speedier, more efficient, more precise procedures with fewer discrepancies. In the future, robots and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) will interact, requiring less maintenance and human intervention.

Creativity in robotics will flourish
It will be great to see more creativity and innovation emerge from the robotic area in the coming years. Robotics is experiencing a rebirth, fueled by software-first solutions, lower-cost sensors, and more data. When more developers and entrepreneurs get access to cutting-edge AI, perception, and simulation technologies, previously impossible things may become extremely realistic. The next decade will be interesting as industrial robots are reinterpreted in the context of human work and lives.

RPA stands for robotic-process-automation
This RPA-mechanism starts the automation of repetitive tasks. This was predicted to rise at a faster rate in 2022. The AI community predicts that this year’s stream will be larger than last year’s. In the healthcare industry, for example, RPA is utilized to automate many activities like as billing, inventory management, and appointment scheduling. The organization established an RPA technique to improve employee experience by relieving them of tedious work and allowing them to focus on what they do best. Finally, it is expected that by 2022, RPA-Process will be one of the standard technologies for enterprises.

Rise of AI robots
Traditional robotics programming will continue to evolve as AI improves in numerous industries. Using AI or machine learning, several features may be added to robotics to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. Healthcare, agriculture, automotive, warehousing, and supply chain management are just a handful of the industries that will benefit from AI and robotics. Robots and automation are already benefiting from artificial intelligence.

-- Pulak Satish Kumar, Director & COO - iRobot India (Puresight Systems Pvt. Ltd)