Human imagination and hard work have taken the robotics industry to reach the pinnacle of technological development. Human-Machine interaction has become almost seamless, and robots are becoming a passive part of our everyday lives. The most primitive as well as the most advanced areas of robotics are making significant progress. Below are the various upcoming trends in the way robots are manufactured, automated as well as perceived:

1. Automation Of Robots

Automated robots are being extensively used to improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes, operations of warehousing as well as the finding of applications in the modern supply chain. In spite of earlier apprehensions from experts over people across the globe losing their jobs due to heightened automation, upcoming and next-generation robots have proven to increase productivity per capita. As per recent studies, there is a rise in the robotic automation in the supply chain, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, as well as healthcare industries. Robots are observed to increase the productivity and efficiency of internal operations through data mining and by making semi-automated decisions based on it.

2. Robots Are Being Used To Provide Services

In the past few years, robotics has faced technological innovations and developments which demands periodic client communication with thorough monitoring. As a newly developing trend, the sector of RaaS (Robots as a Service) will comprise a significant proportion of the global robotics market in years to come.

RaaS (Robots as a Service): It is a cloud computing technology in which there is a seamless interaction between a robot and an external device. The data and functional patterns are derived from the externally connected device through the robot while the robot mines patterns and trends in that data. Finally, those patterns and inferences are loaded on loud.

In terms of performing functionality, the robot is able to improve efficiency, discovery, and depiction of data. Currently, RaaS is being implemented in systems of SOAP and RESTful communications. In order to have a secure functioning of Web Service messaging service, client data discovery, and access to upcoming events, service-providing robots are employed.

3. Emergence Of Cobots or Collaborative Robots

The emergence of ‘Cobots’ is expected to gain momentum and popularity in the manufacturing sector. Including Cobots help organizations to prevent the replacing of the existing employees as the machines are able to simultaneously work with the existing employees. Cobots are proven to increase the efficiency of employees.

Across the robotics industries, cobots find maximum applications in the manufacturing sector, however, a diverse and large number of companies are also making use of Cobots. Some of the many tasks which can be carried out by Cobots include food preparation, healthcare, and consumer packaging, out of many.

4.  Emergence Of Drones

Interest in aerial drones is increasing worldwide. As per recent forecasts, the robotic drone market is expected to expand by many folds in the coming decade. Drones are considered highly useful in areas of manufacturing, monitoring, documentation as well as communication. They are used in the transportation of raw materials, transportation of finished goods from one geographical area to the other as well as monitor the production lines.

Popularly, drones are also used to assess the quality, quantity as well as feedback in the various stages of the supply chain. Employing drones in the manufacturing process can help industrialists identify human resources which can do meaningful work that requires more complex cognitive abilities.

5. Cloud Robotics

Robots are identifying purposes which go beyond manual labor and simple calculations. In confluence with technologies such as the Internet of Things, robots are able to connect with other machines. These machines can be located either in the same facility or in a remote location. Cloud robotics technologies help in learning new functionalities, performing preventive maintenance operations and in verifying that functionality.

6. Robots Are Identifying Niche Markets

Various types of robots are being manufactured across the globe. The production of robotics which was once a uniform and a standardized process is now appealing to different markets and niches. Specific robotic models are existing which specifically perform welding, working on the assembly line, handling materials, etc.

7. Customizable Robots

Robots can be customized as per their need, functionality, and area of operation. The cost of manufacturing and designing remains the cornerstone of the degree of customization, and the expenses are gradually decreasing due to a rise in global competition. The type of hardware, software, color, and appeal of the robot is being customized in European and South Asian countries. Companies are exploring modular robots in order to cater to the need for customizable robots. Similar to the highly advanced LEGO set, the robots are an ideal solution for companies and individuals looking for personalized automation.

Apart from the manufacturing and function trends of robots, the robots are also being used to harness and develop decision-making skills. The ‘humanization’ of robotics is a fast-evolving concept which is employing professionals from social sciences, linguistics, and psychologists to come up with better and more robust human-machine interaction.