What Are Mobile Robots & How They Are Transforming Industries?
Mobile robots are one of the most disruptive technologies to activate across an industry in this emerging era of automation and innovation. However, you may ask, what are mobile robots, and what does it mean for the future of work, logistics, health care, and beyond?
Read further, as we explore the world of mobile robotics — including mobile robot types, mobile robot functions, mobile robot benefits, and a deeper look into the future of mobile robots.
What Is A Mobile Robot?
Essentially, a mobile robot is an autonomous machine that can move in its environment and perform a specific task. Mobile robots are not fixed to one location like stationary robots, but can operate in dynamic environments. Mobile robots rely on a combination of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated algorithms to assess the environment and to move through it autonomously.
Some of the defining features of mobile robots are as follows:
Autonomous Navigation: Mobile robots can make decisions regarding their movements and tasks without human intervention.
Advanced Sensing: Mobile robots can use a combination of LIDAR, cameras, infrared, etc. to sense their environments.
Mobility: Mobile robots can move using wheels, tracks, legs, etc.
Whether a tiny little carrying bot in a warehouse, or a large self-driving vehicle, necessary to evaluate how mobile robots work always comes back to three things — perception, processing, and action.
Classes and Types of Mobile Robots
Mobile robots have different types. They come in forms that are specific to a focus on different needs in industry:
1. Industrial Robots
Used for material handling, assembling, packaging, and manufacturing tasks. Autonomous mobile robots manufacturers offer design capabilities to industries, increasing workflow automation.
2. Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving cars, delivery drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
3. Service Robots
Used in hospitality, retail, and healthcare environments – from hotel butlers to hospital delivery bots.
4. Agricultural Robots
Used for seeding, harvesting, monitoring soil properties, and spraying crops. Modern agricultural practices are changing.
5. Inspection Robots
Work in hostile environments, such as mining sites, oil rigs, and underwater, to ensure human safety.
6. Social Robots
Robots that humans can interact with and offer companionship, educational support, and customer services.
As you’re considering what mobile robots are, it is also important to consider the essential areas of functionality for mobile robots
e.g.,
1. Sensors and Perception: Mobile robots, using a variety of sensors including cameras, ultrasonic sensors, LIDAR, and RADAR scanning devices, can detect obstacles, can map environments, and can react to changes in conditions (among many other functions.
2. Locomotion Systems: Mobile robots utilize wheels for travel on flat, hard surfaces, tracks to travel over loose, rugged surfaces, and legs for walking in changing, complex environments; though it is possible to combine these base locomotion systems into a single mobile robot unit.
3. Control Systems and Software: AI is the area where extensive research has been undertaken in the development of autonomous robots via the combination of control systems and software. Robotics operates based on desired behavioural attempts, generalised maps adhering to algorithms, and machine-learning to determine their operational outcome.
4. Power Systems: While mobile robots are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, their development using solar power for capable mobile robots considers energy management for robotic systems a high design priority.
5. Communication Systems: Mobile robots are able to communicate with other robotic systems via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and proprietary networks in communication for operation and data transfer to share knowledge.
Uses and Functions of Mobile Robots
Mobile robots are already providing high levels of value in various industries:
– Warehouse logistics and material handling.
Companies use fleets of mobile robots to pick, place, store, and transport items in their warehouse operations, accomplishing greater efficiency in their supply chains.
– Healthcare and hospital delivery services.
Autonomous robots can deliver medicines, carry equipment, assist with surgery, and even visit patients for companionship.
– Automation in agriculture.
Farmers are assisted with planting, monitoring, and harvesting crops using robots to accommodate their distinct farming requirements.
– Inspection and maintenance in hazardous environments.
Mobile robots are deployed into hazardous locations (i.e., production of mining operations, undersea pipelines, nuclear operations) to carry out inspections and ensure workers’ safety.
Benefits of Mobile Robots
Thinking about what benefits mobile robots can provide? Here’s why the industries are using them more and more:
Increased productivity – Robots never get tired and can operate around the clock, leading to increased operational throughput.
Cost Decrease – Saving on labor costs and, in some cases, other costs associated with human error.
Safety – Love that it is doing dangerous work in unsafe environments.
Flexibility – Mobile robots are easy to reprogram to perform the same or different applications.
Safety and Mobile Robots
Safety is the most important factor surrounding mobile robot operations. Here are a few things to consider when deploying mobile robots:
Safety features built-in into the robotic solution.
- Features such as collision detection, obstacle avoidance, and emergency stop.
- Standards that would be appropriate for the application.
- Mobile robots should comply with standards regarding the particular industry.
- Commonly used standards in the industry include ISO 3691-4 for industrial trucks and AMRs.
Manufacturers of Autonomous Mobile Robots should be engaged and involved to help ensure the robots include up-to-date safety technologies.
Emergence, History, and the Future of Mobile Robots
History: It all started back in the 1940s with simple teleoperated robots, and we now have AI-enabled autonomous systems at our fingertips.
Future Trends: A few trends that will involve mobile robots in the future include:
– 5G to deliver mobile robots faster data connectivity
– AI and machine learning, which will enable predictive decision-making capabilities
– Swarm robotics, which will enable multiple robots to work together
– Sustainable design with energy-efficient capabilities
There will be even more to come that will enable the advancement of mobile robots. While transitioning to mobile robotics could affect all aspects from logistics, agriculture, healthcare, urban planning, and everyday exercise, we feel that mobile robots will contribute enormously to all aspects of our lives.
Conclusion
As industries rush to become smarter, safer, and more efficient in their operations, mobile robots are far more than just another tool; they are transforming the manner in which work gets done. What are mobile robots, how do mobile robots work, and what are the benefits of mobile robots are all part of the developing world where human and robot collaboration becomes the daily norm.
For any industry wanting to be prepared for this future, it is important to work with the right folks.
Connect with Novus Hi-Tech to discuss the best mobile robot developments for you today, from the industry’s top autonomous mobile robot producers!!
