How Robotics have Impacted the Manufacturing Industry

Lights-out output allows robots to function without interruption. This term is popular among factories with few if any, human workers—the machines that manage the manufacturing process from the beginning to the end.

Fremont, CA: Robotic manufacturing systems can be a relatively new idea for certain areas of the manufacturing industry, but the technology has been in use for decades. By merging conventional manufacturing methods with higher technology forms, factory managers and business owners will exponentially increase their production rates and improve their bottom line.

The effect of automated production is spreading far and wide, improving efficiency and success for the entire business. When human workers are free from tasks that robots can easily perform, they can increase their energy by contributing much-needed information and ideas to higher organizational positions. When applied correctly, robotics produces an undeniable upward change in company operations.

What will potential industrial robot applications look like, and how will they streamline manufacturing? Here are a few ways these computers are starting to evolve.

Lights-Out Manufacturing

Lights-out output allows robots to function without interruption. This term is popular among factories with few if any, human workers—the machines that manage the manufacturing process from the beginning to the end. Some manufacturers may find this principle simpler to adopt than others, but those who do incorporate it into their operations expect to see a marked increase in efficiency and labor costs. Companies that follow this approach could also experience greater energy efficiency because of a reduced need for climate control and additional lighting.

The capability of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects physical devices to internet applications—such as cloud-based software—to make them smarter and more aware of their surroundings. Robotics manufacturers combine the two by equipping robots with sensors that allow them to read their surroundings. These techniques are used to collect external information, such as tactile and visual feedback. With these results, these bots can make educated choices as to what action to take next.

More advanced IoT applications include predictive analysis and location tracking. Integrating these capabilities into existing robotic sensors will take these systems to the next stage of automation. A robot that could foresee the imminent failure of another machine—or notify production managers of its own upcoming maintenance schedule—would bring engineering to an unparalleled scale.