(Newswire.net — March 15, 2019) — While many stakeholders in the manufacturing industry recognise the beneficial economic implications of robotics in the sector, a few are yet to be convinced. Experts predict that by the year 2025, at least 40 % tasks in manufacturing will be performed and completed by bots.
A number of manufacturers are however doubtful about the impact of automation on the industry despite the predictions. Some of their reasons for the pessimism are on point. However, many are born out of fallacies that have run amok about robots.
The myths surrounding the future of industrial robots and any other automation need to be debunked.
A Few of the Popular Misconceptions
These myths have been repeated over time and most people believe them in theory without ever trying to test them out. This article attempts to demystify some of the most popular misgivings people have about robots.
Robots Are Out to Render Humans Jobless
This one has got to be the most popular one. Hollywood will have you believing that robots are not only going to kick you out of the workplace, they are out to rule the world. That may be a farfetched notion born in Hollywood. However, the fact is many factory workers do believe that robots are angling for their jobs.
This is not the reality on the ground. Cobots, which are programmed to work alongside people, take up tasks that are not popular with humans. They actually assist human workers with tasks which are repetitive and therefore monotonous for humans to perform. They work collaboratively with humans on the production floor.
Robots Are Not a Worthwhile Investment
The belief is that robots cost a lot of money and they cannot make up for the funds used to purchase them. As robotic technology advances, robots are becoming less expensive. In fact, small and medium sized companies are able to afford them.
Granted; robots are still quite an investment. The ROI is also incredibly fast. You can achieve your payback in as little as six months. This is largely due to the fact that robots help to speed up business operations as well as improve on product quality and save on labour costs.
Robots Should Only be Considered for the Huge Conglomerates
Many small enterprise owners do not see the point in investing in robots. The reason given is that they are not mass producers and are therefore content with their human workforce.
Nevertheless, robots of today can perform the simplest of tasks fast and that on its own is a great advantage. Moreover, they are not prone to human foibles such as errors and the need for breaks.
Collaborative robots especially bring many benefits to the table:
- They are versatile
- They are cost-effective
- They have become increasingly user-friendly
Tasks such as picking and placing, packaging and palletizing are best performed by robots.
Programming Robots is Not Possible
If all you have in mind are the old industrial robots, then this could be true. You may need to get an expert over to your facility to do the programming for you. With the new crop of robots, programming has almost become child play as it can be done via a Smartphone or tablet.
Robots are Dangerous for Humans
This misconception is most likely a result of not keeping up with robotic development. You may be stuck where it was possible for a bot to chop off a man’s head. Robots were fenced off and put in cages in previous years.
Today’s robots are built with inherent safety features and sensors so that they are able to perceive and understand when they need to slow down or stop operations altogether. This happens when they detect human presence.
Robots can even sound out a warning if you are getting too close for comfort. Some of them are programmed to navigate around their human colleagues and continue with their operations.
All in all, humans working in close proximity with bots must be trained to handle them safely.
Conclusion
Robots do not pose a threat to humans either in the work environment or in life. They are created by humans after all. Robotic technology is about making life easier for you; not harder.