The Rise of Robotics in the Industrial Setting

According to the World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics, there were a record 517,385 industrial robots integrated into factories across the globe in 2021. That figure is expected to grow even larger going forward. In fact, Research and Markets estimates that the market will reach a value of $88 billion by 2030. As this trend unfolds, what can we expect? Let’s dive in.

Benefits of Robotics in the Industrial Setting

From enhancements in hardware and software to artificial intelligence, technical advancements are fueling the expansion and capabilities of robotics. They are now capable of carrying out more tasks than ever before and offer benefits such as efficiency and sustainability. These impacts have the potential to boost a variety of industrial sectors, including “food and beverage, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, logistics and construction,” as reported by Control Engineering.

Pushing the use of robotics in industrial settings even further is the development of innovations like collaborative robots, also known as cobots. Cobots, essentially, can help complete tasks as they build more and more understanding.

Improvements in capabilities are inspiring a variety of industries. For instance, Ilene Wolff at SME Media explains that “Advanced composites maker Airborne Aerospace BV (The Hague, Netherlands) uses automated programming for a robot that seals the edges of composite parts by devising its own glue path based on CAD drawings.”

Addressing the Cybersecurity Challenge of Robotics in the Industrial Setting

Much like other evolving tech, robotics come with challenges in addition to the benefits they present. A major concern that will demand increasing attention is the cybersecurity risk that they could pose. Similar to internet-connected devices, robotics can be vulnerable to breaches, but there are already efforts underway to tackle this issue.

Engineering.com shares that researchers at the Ohio State University Artificially Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) lab are working on methods that would detect suspicious activity in robotic equipment. In the meantime, it is important that operators strategizing robotics integration also assemble cybersecurity assessments and plans.

Sources

        “All-time high for industrial robots” - Control Engineering Europe
https://www.controlengeurope.com/article/193060/All-time-high-for-industrial-robots.aspx

        “Robots are becoming more flexible and resilient” - Julian Ware, Control Engineering
https://www.controleng.com/articles/robots-are-becoming-more-flexible-and-resilient/

        “A.I. Fuels Aerospace Manufacturing Automation” - Ilene Wolff, SME Media
https://www.sme.org/technologies/articles/2022/december/a.i.-fuels-aerospace-manufacturing-automation/

        “Protecting Industrial Robots from Cyberattack” - Isaac Maw, Engineering.com
https://www.engineering.com/story/protecting-industrial-robots-from-cyberattack