Applications of Robotics

Robots for dementia care

S. Korea and Japan are a “super-ageing” society, with the population getting older faster. As populations age, there will
be fewer health care workers to care for a larger group of patients. The country is producing robots for people with
dementia – to provide companionship, improve safety in the home, and help with therapy.

Defence

Robotics in defence applications have revolutionized military operations with advancements in autonomous systems and
unmanned vehicles:

• Autonomous Decision-Making: Robots capable of making decisions, such as firing upon targets without
human intervention.
• Surveillance and Reconnaissance: Unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles are extensively used for
intelligence gathering and reconnaissance in various terrains.
• Explosive Disposal and Security: Robots like Boston Dynamics' 'Big Dog' and DARPA's six-legged robots
(e.g., PackBot) are deployed for transportation of heavy equipment and explosives disposal.

• Exoskeletons: Robotic exoskeletons provide soldiers with enhanced strength and endurance.
• Medical Support: Robots like 'Daksh' in India aid in bomb disposal and hazardous material handling.
Manufacturing

Automation and robotics have transformed manufacturing processes across industries:

• Efficiency and Precision: Industrial robots are integral to automotive, electronics, and consumer goods
manufacturing, optimizing production lines with faster assembly and higher precision.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Robots can operate in various conditions, perform repetitive tasks with
consistency, and handle heavy lifting, contributing to increased productivity and reduced operational costs.
• Nanotechnology: Robotics facilitate precise manipulation at the nanoscale, crucial for industries like
semiconductor manufacturing and synthetic diamond production, where human precision is augmented by
robotic accuracy.

Medicine

Robots have revolutionized healthcare delivery and surgical procedures:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: Since the 1980s, robots assist surgeons in procedures such as gallbladder removals
and knee surgeries, enabling smaller incisions, reduced recovery times, and fewer complications.
• Tele Surgery: Teleoperated robotic systems allow surgeons to perform operations remotely, bridging
geographical gaps and providing specialized medical care to remote areas, reducing costs and increasing
accessibility.
• Emergency Response: Medical robots can be deployed in bio-terrorist attacks or epidemics, providing rapid
and precise medical interventions to infected individuals while minimizing risks to healthcare professionals.
Disaster Preparedness, Response and Relief

During national disasters or bio-terrorist incidents, robotics play crucial roles in disaster management:

• UAVs for Rapid Relief: Denel Dynamics' 'homing pigeon' UAVs swiftly deliver essential supplies to disaster
areas, bypassing damaged infrastructure and improving response times significantly.
• Emergency Communication Networks: Swiss Institute of Technology has developed Micro Air Vehicles capable
of autonomously establishing emergency wireless networks, aiding communication in disaster-stricken areas
where conventional networks may fail.
• Rescue Operations: Robots assist in rescue operations post-disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, locating and
communicating with trapped victims without endangering human responders, thereby saving lives efficiently.

Humanoid Robots
Advancements in humanoid robotics have led to robots like Honda's ASIMO and Sony's SDR-4X, which emulate human
movements and interactions:

• Advanced Features: Robots like SDR-4X incorporate advanced technologies such as emotion recognition, facial
and voice recognition, enhancing their interaction capabilities in human-like manners.

Agriculture Robots

In agriculture, robots are transforming farming practices, especially in countries like India:

• Agri-Robots: Designed to optimize agricultural processes, these robots help in precision farming by precisely
planting seeds and reducing wastage, thereby increasing crop yield and profitability while lowering labor costs.

Some examples of Agricultural Robots:

• Green seeker sensor: This smart machine reads a plant’s needs and then applies precisely the amount of
fertilizer of herbicides needed. Green Seeker is a machine which uses the sensors to let the plant tell us
that what it needs.
• Robot drone tractors: A new generation of robot drones is revolutionizing the way we farm, with
manufacturing of different robots, announcing the first ever robot drone tractor becomes part of
the agricultural mainstream. Robot will decide where to plant, when to harvest etc.
 • Flying Robots To Spread Fertilizer: A flying robot monitors the growing condition of the crops over
farmlands with camera equipment and an automatic fertilizing system in the front, the robot can fly
autonomously and apply fertilizer independently.
• Fruit Picking Robots: The research is still in full progress, especially as the robots need to be carefully
designed so that they do not bruise the fruit while picking. One solution is the use of suction
grippers etc.
• Robot Cattle Grazing and Automatic Milking: Is the milking of dairy animals, especially of dairy cattle,
without human labour. Automatic milking systems (AMS), also called voluntary milking systems (VMS),
were developed in the late 20th century. They are commercially available since the early 1990s.

Robotics for Environmental Monitoring

Robots are increasingly used in environmental sciences for monitoring and data collection:

• Environmental Applications: Robots play a vital role in monitoring natural disasters like volcanic eruptions
and environmental phenomena such as harmful algal blooms, providing data that is crucial for understanding
and mitigating environmental impacts.

Robotic inventions in the area of prohibitive labour:

Robotics has seen significant growth, particularly in fields requiring precision, reduced human involvement, faster
operations, and task versatility. This technology is increasingly being applied in critical areas such as:

1. Manual Scavenging and Sewage Works: Robotics offers a solution to the hazardous practice of manual
scavenging, where toxic gases in sewers claim many lives annually. Automated systems can mitigate risks and
save lives.

2. Underground Mining: Robotics enhances efficiency and safety in underground mining, minimizing accidents like
collapses and fires that endanger workers.
3. Rescue and Disaster Relief: Robots excel in disaster scenarios, accessing inaccessible areas and providing vital
information and aid, thus aiding in saving lives.
4. Military Applications: In military operations, robots can perform tasks that reduce human casualties, such as
handling explosives and providing medical assistance on battlefields.
5. Deep Sea Exploration: Robotics plays a crucial role in exploring deep-sea environments, supporting initiatives
like India's blue economy policy by enabling complex undersea missions.
6. Glacier Studies: Artificial intelligence-powered robots contribute to continuous, real-time data collection in
glacier research, offering cost-effective alternatives to satellite deployment in remote areas.

Disadvantages

Despite their benefits, robots pose several challenges:

• Training Requirements: Integrating robots into industries requires extensive training, increasing costs and time.
• Safety Concerns: While robots enhance workplace safety, improper use can introduce new hazards, requiring
careful management.
• Employment Impact: Increased automation in industries may lead to job losses, potentially causing social
disruptions.
• Cost and Accessibility: High production and purchasing costs limit widespread adoption of robots, creating
economic disparities.
• Emotional Limitations: Robots lack emotional intelligence and ethical decision-making capabilities, posing
challenges in human-robot interactions and societal integration.
• Talent Availability: There is a shortage of skilled professionals in robotics due to its multidisciplinary nature,
requiring expertise in multiple engineering disciplines.
• Hardware Procurement: Difficulty in sourcing and procuring quality hardware components locally impacts
development and innovation in robotics.
• Educational Limitations: Robotics is not widely integrated into engineering curricula across India, limiting
opportunities for students to gain practical skills and knowledge.