Mobile Robotics: Opportunity And Challenge

Do you deal with the topic of mobile robotics? You are not alone there. More and more production managers are currently dedicating themselves to automating their intralogistics. Companies recognize the advantages that this step offers them:

• Increased productivity and flexibility
• Error prevention
• Material traceability
• More effective use of employees as their most valuable resource

No wonder, then, that mobile robotics is very popular.

Consider The Degree of Flexibility Needed.

The first question regarding mobile robotics is: What solution do I need? The counter-question is: How flexible can it be? The individualization of products and, consequently, the flexibilization of production systems is constantly increasing. Nevertheless, the degree of flexibility that a mobile robotic solution must bring is different in each application. Many mobile robots are on the market – from track-bound models (AGV = Automated Guided Vehicle) to autonomously driving solutions (AMR = Autonomous Mobile Robot).

Autonomous mobile robots generally offer more flexibility than their track-bound relatives. Nevertheless, there are still enough use cases for all models today. When choosing your mobile robotics solution, we recommend an as-is analysis to identify how much flexibility is needed in your factory today and in the future.

Put Your Current Intralogistics Concept To The Test.

In most cases, the first reflex when automating intralogistics is to convert the existing concepts and systems to an automated variant. A mobile robot, therefore, carries out the activities that were previously carried out manually. This can be the right way, but it doesn’t have to be.
The manual execution of intralogistics activities and the use of mobile robotics are two different approaches. An ideal intralogistics concept looks correspondingly different. When discussing the optimal use of mobile robotics, it makes sense not to regard them as simple employee replacements. Mobile robotics is a complementary technology that offers new perspectives – through individual structures, combination with other technologies (e.g., cobots), or interaction in the fleet network.
Therefore, we recommend: Let us show you your options and decide, independently of existing structures, what makes the most sense for your factory.

Perform A Technology-Adapted ROI Calculation.

The ROI can be calculated relatively easily with classic automation – for example, an assembly or test process. The automation saves cycle time X, scrap Y, or complaint costs Z. This, in turn, can be easily converted to the respective component.

However, mobile robotics does not affect a single process but the entire production. As already described, mobile robots do not replace a specific employee in a specific activity but complement the production system as a holistically integrated technology. To determine the benefit, you should therefore think across processes. For example, ask yourself the following questions:

• On which systems can mobile robotics start as a downstream process?
• How many transport routes can be saved by mobile robotics every day?
• How much time is freed up that employees can use to add value?
• To what extent are the employees’ working conditions (ergonomics) improving?

Some effects can be determined ad hoc (transport routes, transport times, etc.), and others can be seen over the long term (sick days, fluctuation rate, etc.). However, the more relevant factors you include in your calculations, the more precisely you can determine and argue the benefits of mobile robotics for yourself. As you can see, it pays to look at the overall picture.

Think Big But Start Small.

Mobile robotics works across processes. It creates value in your entire production. The long-term goal should be to exploit this value. “Think Big” is a good approach, especially in the conception phase of your project: you think outside the box. They develop alternative intralogistics concepts. Looking at the big picture allows such a strategy development.
In a concrete implementation, however, a reverse approach is recommended: “Start Small.” A hasty start with many robots, models, and providers is extremely difficult to realize – both technically and organizationally, as well as culturally. One must not forget that mobile robotics is a process that means cultural change. Start with 1 mobile robot first, and counteract it. You can learn, pick up your people, and scale based on your insights.
You must rely on a scalable concept right from the start. Even if you start small, a mobile robot rarely comes alone. Functioning fleet management is essential in the medium term.

Also Read: The Technologies Behind The Rise Of Robots

Get Relevant Stakeholders On Board Early And Transparently.

A mobile robotics project will not only find supporters in your company. For your project’s success, taking people with you is important. It’s about transparent communication right from the start. In this way, concerns and misunderstandings can be eliminated. You will also receive valuable input to help you as the project progresses. But who are the relevant stakeholders?

• Management (C-Level)
• works for council
• employees in production

Ultimately, anyone whose work is affected by mobile robotics is interested in your project. Your decisive success factor will be finding and promoting so-called missionaries as technology drivers. At the same time, you should stay in close contact with those stakeholders who are not yet convinced. In this way, you ensure that your entry into mobile robotics is not only a technological success but a cultural one.

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This article will cover what a beginner should know on how to start using AI in your business. It will also discuss the benefits of doing so and how you can get started.

What Is The Advantage Of Using AI In Your Business?

So you may be wondering how AI can improve customer experience. Well, AI can help you identify issues that customers experience. It can detect them and then recommend solutions.

For example, you can use AI to record customer feedback on their purchasing experience. Or, you can use AI to automate certain customer service tasks, such as responding to frequently asked questions. It will take charge of those tasks that can be easily automated, eliminating senseless expenses and helping you gain some time.

Ways In Which You Can Implement AI In Your Business

If you want to start using AI technology in your business, you should consider a few factors. We will go over some of them below:

1.  Understand What AI Can And Cannot Do

AI can help you scale certain processes and make better decisions by providing more accurate data. However, there are certain things AI cannot do. For example, AI cannot ascertain a customer’s emotional state as well as a human can. Therefore, AI might not be your best solution if your business requires a lot of empathy or human interaction.

You also need to consider the cost of implementing AI into your business. If you have the budget, AI can greatly assist your company. But if you do not, it may weigh against your gains. It is known that deciding whether or not to implement AI into your business is a tough decision. As a result, you must weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s best for your company.

2.  Consider Why You Need the AI

As a business owner or manager, it’s important to consider your aims. Why do you want to implement AI into your business? What are you hoping to achieve? How will AI help you reach your goals?

You can use AI in many different ways in your business. One approach is to use AI to automate tasks currently being done manually. It can help improve efficiency and free up employees’ time to focus on more strategic tasks.

Another approach is to use AI to supplement or replace human workers in certain roles. It can be particularly beneficial in repetitive roles or those requiring high accuracy, such as data entry.

No matter your approach, it’s important to ensure you implement AI in a way that aligns with your business goals.

3.  Constantly Test The AI

It’s important to test the AI. It is required to do so even for a period after implementation. All these precautions aim to ensure that it functions as intended. Then, you can monitor the AI’s performance and compare it to expected outcomes. If the AI is not performing as intended, you can make adjustments to improve its performance.

It’s important to clearly understand how the AI is intended to function before you begin the testing. It will help ensure that the results of the test are accurate. You should conduct the tests in a controlled environment to identify and address any unexpected results. After the test is complete, it’s important to analyze the results and ensure that the AI functions properly.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, you can use AI technology in many ways in your business. By following the tips in this guide, you can get started with AI and begin reaping the benefits it has to offer. So what are you waiting for? Start using AI today and take your business to the next level!

Also Read: Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Controlling Are In Advance

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Cobots can work alongside humans, doing the same activities and helping them complete their tasks. This article will look at the positives and negatives of the interaction between cobots and humans.

Interaction Between Humans And Robots: How It Works

Technology is advancing faster, leading to more significant interaction between humans and machines. The so-called collaborative robots or cobots are more and more widespread in our lives at home and professional levels.

In the home, cobots can be used for different activities, such as cleaning the house or preparing meals. In the professional field, on the other hand, cobots are used to carry out repetitive and sometimes even dangerous tasks, such as handling heavy materials or industrial machinery.

The Interaction Between Cobots And Humans Can Have Both Positive And Negative Sides.

Let’s see what the disadvantages of using collaborative robots are:

• From the point of view of the human worker in collaboration with the cobot, psychological risks must be addressed.

• The cost of cobots is relatively high (not accessible to any company). Their price can be a deterrent for many companies, tiny and medium-sized ones.

• Cobots can be dangerous if not used correctly. If placed in the wrong positions or handled incorrectly, they can almost prove to be a weapon for company employees.

Cobots also need maintenance to be carried out meticulously and on schedule to prevent accidents at work.

The negativity of the aspects can be quickly neutralized by the many positive aspects regarding using these very high-efficiency machines.

The positives mainly concern:

• Increase the efficiency of the production process.

• Reduce production times and increase the quality of the final product.

• By being used in dangerous or difficult areas for humans, the risk of injury is minimized.

• Cobots can be programmed to perform different tasks, which allows workers to focus on other tasks.

From whatever perspective you look at it, integrating manufacturing force with collaborative robots is a boon to business productivity. Knowing more details is easy; just contact Homberger Robotics and explain your needs.

These third-generation robots are on the rise. We believe that in a short time, many Italian companies (many more than expected) can choose to buy cobots, giving life to a real turning point in the industrial market and beyond.

The greater the market demand, the more extensive the offer will be; consequently, significant changes will be integrated, improving safety and versatility of use.

Furthermore, the interaction between humans and cobots is increasingly innovative and insightful. Collaborative robots are equipped with artificial intelligence capable of automating the production process in the workplace.

Thanks to the uninterrupted exchange of information, cobots are increasingly capable of overcoming obstacles and choosing alternative routes to routine ones.

The ultimate goal will be to make the cobots completely autonomous. In the not-too-distant future, the development of more robust processors and a broader vision will allow cobots to roam factories without necessarily having to interface with humans.

Also Read: Robots – History, Types & Application

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How it expedited various operations

Automatic palletizers have, time and again, proved and outwitted the conventional ways to increase operations in the field of manufacturing and others. This invention boosted up the production process and is also demanded for being able to adapt to variable needs and products.

Not only has this invention amped up efficiency, but it also lifted a huge burden off of human labour’ chest of loading and unloading(which is done by robotic depalletizer systems pallets. This ultra-modern invention has made workplaces a lot safer than they used to be. 

Inarguably, traditional automated palletizing systems have been a great help to push the targets. However, these systems demanded quite a lot of space within the facility. Additionally, these systems lacked the capability of surmounting and carrying complex tasks and ideas through. 

To be precise, traditional automated palletizing systems proved to be below par when they were faced with the job of palletizing mixed loads or to switch between products in less time. When the investors were faced with the cost and whether it was a great investment, the system somewhere lacked in coming up to scratch.

As time ticked by, the situation demanded palletizing systems that allow for relatively more flexibility, efficiency and readiness to get the tasks to a desirable end. And over here comes into the picture, the robotic palletizing system. Some of the benefits of such robotic palletizing machines are outlined below:

Simple case palletizing

First and the foremost advantage of hugging robotic palletizing machines is that these require limited hardware, thereby making it ideal for robotic palletizing. These do require some kind of intervention like replacing pallets or removing the ones having full loads so the task of human labour isn’t completely on the chopping block. You may need to be constantly on the lookout for infeed conveyors, robots and safety standards. 

Multiple lines can be dealt at the same time

Such robotic palletizers oils the wheels of multi-line palletizing tasks by assuaging the need for intricate upstream accumulation conveyor systems. 

Additionally, graphics-driven software smooths the path for end users to make changes in the pallets after they are content with new SKUs or other trailblazing changes that may have been introduced.

Bag palletizing

The next advantage of such buttressed palletizer systems would be that these can handle and palletize bags upto 20 cycles per minute and they are nearly impervious to limited spaces or unsatisfactory environment (in terms of cleanliness). 

This improved efficiency wasn’t found in the case of traditional palletizing systems. Needless to say, clamshell tooling allows the arms of such robots to lift up the bags without tampering with what is inside of them,thereby banging out straight and square loads.

Pail Palletizing

It wouldn’t be fair to talk about palletizers without addressing this important task which is undertaken by robotic palletizers. These robots possess the efficiency of pail nesting inside the lids of the layer beneath it.  These robotics prove to be quite precise at this specific job.

Mixed, partial or display loads

These complex loads require fourway labels out orientation, several SKUs in one layer or load, quite a few sheets within one load/layer(as mentioned), specific type of dunnage and other detailed specialisation. Though conventional palletizing machines are capable of carrying these loads forth, the robotic palletizing machine does the task without letting too much money slip off your bank account. Such robotic palletizers are cost-effective in this manner.

Final Words

The aforementioned article talks about robotic palletizer systems at length and they have also been contrasted with conventional methods of palletizing loads and unloading. In the later paragraphs, the article tried to put forth different advantages of robotic palletizer and why you must opt for them.

The readers can go through the article if they are conflicted with what they must go for and which one would be most viable and economical without scrimping on the end quality or efficiency.

Also Read: The Technologies Behind The Rise Of Robots

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When people talk about modern work today, one often hears the terms digitization and artificial intelligence. Still, almost as often, they talk about robots that will change the world of work. But what is a robot? Why is it called that, and when did it become built as a robot for the first time? And above all: What types of robots are there and what can they be used for? If you are toying with ​​using a robot, you should know what kind of machine you are dealing with.

What Are Robots?

The answer to this question is not that easy because there is no uniform definition. We have come across the term robot quite often recently: lawn mower robots, vacuum cleaner robots, toy robots, social robots for pensioners, or a robot dog. The short form ‘bot’ can be found in so-called chatbots or the Google bots that scour websites in the computer world. The camera drone or autonomous driving is also sorted here again and again. And then, of course, there are the industrial robots, which are mainly known from the automotive industry. What they all have in common is that they do something automatically.

So is every automatic machine a robot? No. A device is first and foremost a powered (motorized) tool that humans control. A drill as well as an automobile or a coffee machine.

An automat is a machine that can perform a specific task automatically, but only this one. So the coffee machine can brew coffee by itself, but nothing else. And a CNC milling machine can be programmed, but in the end, it can only mill. If this particular process is no longer required, an automat is useless.

On the other hand, a robot can be programmed and converted and can therefore be used for a large number of tasks. The specialty of a robot is its flexibility. Where a machine can only repeat the predefined work process, a robot can be reprogrammed so that it grips or assembles, advertisement.

The History of Human-Like Robots

What Was The First Robot, and Who Invented it?

People have always invented things that make their work easier. And the desire, on the other hand, for a mechanical helper who tirelessly takes on complex and tedious tasks is probably as old as humanity itself. Even Aristotle thought of automatically working machines with the ancient Greeks. But it would be a good 2,000 years before the world was ready. From a purely mechanical point of view, inventors were prepared to build sophisticated automatons as early as the late Middle Ages. But it was only the transistor technology invented in the 1940s that laid the foundation for it to program it.

When we think of the articulated arm robots that are typical today, we cannot ignore George Devol and Joseph Engelberger. With Unimate, these two developed and built the first robot that electronics could program. As early as 1954, inventor George Devol applied for a patent for a programmable arm. However, he initially lacked funding to implement the ambitious project. In 1956 he met the investor, entrepreneur, physicist, and engineer Joseph Engelberger at a cocktail party. He was a big fan of Isaac Asimov’s robot stories and was immediately ready to join the project. Engelberger took part so much enthusiasm for his work that today he is considered the father of modern robotics.

What Are So-Called cobots?

Robots are usually made of metal and, thanks to the electric motors used, are also powerful. They can move very quickly under certain circumstances. Therefore, there is, of course, a considerable risk of injury if a human gets in the way of a robot during operation, which is why most classic robots operated behind a protective fence. But there is another way.

With these devices, a new type of robot was founded: the cobots. The name is made up of the English terms Collaborative Robot, i.e., robots for human-machine collaboration. To achieve the necessary security, the manufacturers of cobots use different methods, sometimes in combination. They measure the forces that their motors generate and compare them with the planned path. Some have force-torque sensors in some or all of the joints. Some use an air-filled sensor skin, others use capacitive sensors (like a touch display). They all have in common that as soon as they encounter an obstacle or a person, they stop.

To further reduce the risk of injury, the edges of the cobots are rounded, and they travel at reduced speeds and forces. As a result, they sometimes seem a bit sluggish, which is why many models can work much faster in the absence of people (ensured by a fence or sensor monitoring).

Lightweight robots and cobots are certainly the most sensible solution to be used in small businesses, laboratories, or in trade. In addition to the low price, it is above all the ease of use and programming that makes cobots so attractive.

Also Read: The Artificial Intelligence In Three phases To Autonomous IT

What Robots Can & Cannot do, The Areas of Application

Of course, some jobs would not be possible without intelligent mobile robots. Especially in extreme environments such as deep-sea research or space travel, researchers rely on the support of robots. Technically demanding tasks are also not an issue for autonomous systems.

Then there are the uses in industrial mass production. Here, the six-axis, Scara, or Delta systems are primarily responsible for efficiency; they are supposed to weld, paint, load machines, and process workpieces. Fast and around the clock.
But what about small businesses and craftsmen? Artisans, in particular, are often proud to do their work themselves, with their own hands. It shows their ingenuity, their craftsmanship. That is a good thing, yet there is one or the other task that justifies using an industrial robot or cobot. Of course, even systems equipped with AI and machine learning cannot replace the experience and creativity of a master craftsman or skilled worker. Artificial intelligence is far from being that good. But jobs that are stupidly repetitive, physically difficult, or dirty and dusty, robots can do very well. And let’s be honest: there is work like this everywhere. If you’ve never thought about a steel or aluminum colleague before, maybe you should. It could change your work life. Positive.

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This is why many chatbots today are based on this flourishing technique, and companies are crazy about it! We understand them: it gives an innovative and modern brand image at the cutting edge of technology thanks to an efficient chat service.

But can we say that an AI-based bot is 100% reliable?

AI: FROM BUZZWORD TO REALITY

Recall the basics! Artificial intelligence is to implement several techniques to enable machines to mimic a form of real intelligence.

Its goal is, therefore, to perform the same tasks as humans!

In practice, the principle is brilliant. This saves precious time, and it is a real technological advance!

Except that…

“Artificial intelligence does not exist.”

Yes, we hit hard! But it does not come from us, and it is Luc Julia, the co-creator of Siri (which we no longer present today), said it!

Or rather, it is the AI ​​as it was presented to us that does not exist. It is only recognition. We teach machines things, and we give them examples.

Therefore, we cannot speak of “intelligent solutions” in the true sense of the term. And that’s unfortunately why they remain disappointed most of the time.

We talk to you in more detail through the different AI-based chatbots found on the market!

Also Read: How To Reskill Your Workforce For Artificial Intelligence

WHAT ARE AI-BASED CHATBOTS LIKE?

As we said above, many chatbots today are based on artificial intelligence (or claim it, at least).

But how exactly does it work?

Thanks to artificial intelligence, these chatbots can understand written language and give the impression of interacting with a real person. This is called NLP ( Natural Language Processing ). Unfortunately, this technique turns out to be ineffective today.

Indeed, if you have not entered all the spelling possibilities yourself: the visitor will receive an error. This brings us to the second major problem with NLP: you have to enter by hand all the possibilities of writing the words that your visitors use. Result: weeks or even months of preparation for solutions that approach 70% error according to a benchmark research in the field. Ouch!

Other AIs put forward on the market are based on analyzes of traffic and your visitors’ browsing habits, with cookies, which allows them to highlight products according to a chain of behavior. However, they are not far enough today to guarantee reliable results.

In conclusion, all these features are not exhaustive and take a long time to become 100% efficient (which between us is impossible!).

The question then arises: is investing so much time and money necessary to have an effective chatbot on your website?

A CHATBOT WITHOUT AI: YES, IT IS POSSIBLE!

Of course, chatbots are very regularly associated with the notion of AI, but not all of them use it!

Artificial intelligence is legitimate when there is a large flow of data to be processed in real-time. Now a chatbot was never the insane amount of data to calculate at the same time.

Therefore, other more successful and reliable operating modes exist conversation patterns to anticipate discussions between the bot and the Internet user and complex algorithms.

Also Read: How Technology Augments Customer Service in 2021

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Software robots are not a new tool, although there are still many companies who do not know or know the potential that can have. Both the evolution of the market and the new behavior of consumers and users, directed towards a clear digital trend, have boosted the digital transformation in organizations.

This has caused us to find ourselves in the ideal scenario to continue investing in new business solutions, in addition to directing the strategy to the search for an optimization of the processes that take place in an organization.

Artificial Intelligence is a concept that can be applied to different tools, to provide them with greater functionality as well as to enhance their capacity in certain respects, as in making decisions autonomously.

We must discard the idea of ​​a robot (whether physical or software) with intelligence that “turns” against the human, a thought that can be disturbing.

The true value of AI in any type of software, such as RPA, is that it can perform more complex and evolved automation without the need for human interference.

So what can Artificial Intelligence bring to RPA technology?

What we know so far about software robots is that they are capable of performing certain repetitive and tedious tasks, reducing the margin for errors, and freeing the employee to dedicate their time to other activities of greater value. This is the essence of the definition.

Now we introduce the AI ​​variable. The tasks that were already automated are still so, but now, these softbots are capable of making predictions, learning, and evolving with the new variables that are emerging.

Thus, for example, in the event of a computer attack, the RPA robot is capable of detecting it, blocking it, and “learning” for future cyberattacks. Thus, even if the type of threat changes, RPA is able to know that it is facing one, and neutralize it.

Another example is when managing data from various sources. In general terms, the softbot can be predetermined and programmed to “read” and archive the information according to the source, format, etc.

With AI, in addition, faced with a different format, the software robot is able to process it, based on the experience it has had so far.

RPA and Artificial Intelligence: the perfect technological tandem

The incorporation of this type of technology in companies tends to bring a lot of uncertainty, especially due to the fear that it may supplant the tasks performed by an employee. The templates are suspicious that tools are implemented that jeopardize daily work.

However, nothing is further from the truth, since RPA software robots with AI do not eliminate jobs, but complement the work of workers, taking care of those tasks that, although necessary, add little value to the business (checking bank accounts, incorporating information into the ERP, checking emails, filing data, etc).

Once you have RPA in place, your company will be able to:

• Stop doing repetitive and tedious processes.
• Eliminate errors, or minimize them.
• Dedicate time to more valuable areas: customer service, creativity, design, analysis, etc.
• Have more satisfied employees in their work position, as well as enhance talent.

In addition to the benefits, the best way to explain a technology is by showing its application. And so, we link to the second question that we raised at the beginning of this article: In what specific use cases can RPA with AI be applied?

Document management: PLN-based RPA solution

The organization of documentation is one of the most recurrent tasks in companies, and also one of the heaviest. In some organizations, each department has personnel assigned exclusively for this task, and in other smaller organizations, it is the employees themselves who dedicate part of their day to carrying out this activity.

The RPA software robot, together with PLN (Natural Language Processing) technology, is capable of receiving information and classifying it automatically.

PLN is a mechanism within Artificial Intelligence that is capable of formulating an understandable language between machines and humans. Thanks to certain programs that simulate communication, this tool helps softbots to process documents in the most efficient way possible. In addition, with the functionalities provided by AI, the solution learns the variations effectively.

Manage contracts and invoices: from email to ERP

Numerous documents usually arrive in the email inbox, from contracts, supplier invoices, commercial proposals, reply to a request for information, etc.

RPA, with advanced OCR technology, is able to “read” and extract these emails and the data to classify them. Once this is done, and thanks to the possibility of combining process automation with other technologies, such as Machine Learning and PLN, relevant data can be extracted from the attachment, to later be able to fill in files within the business ERP.

These are two real use cases for the application of RPA software robots with Artificial Intelligence, but the possibilities are endless, depending on your sector and the characteristics of your company.

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