The robotic revolution was not announced on a news broadcast. And it isn't a distant future scenario.
It is already unfolding right in front of us, quietly but powerfully. Unlike past industrial revolutions that were marked by innovative disruption in factories and assembly lines, this revolution is more intimate, impacting the spaces we live and work in every day.
At home, consumers are accustomed to robots vacuuming, mopping and cutting lawns. In stores and restaurants, robots and cobots are streamlining operations—automating checkout, delivering food and assisting with inventory. These technologies are reducing human labor for repetitive tasks while simultaneously improving service speed and customer experience.
Workplaces and factories are perhaps the largest cultural clash. Robots and cobots are collaborating with humans to boost productivity. Cobots are indispensable in industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to electronics assembly. These robots enhance precision, reduce errors and take on dangerous or strenuous tasks, all while freeing up human workers to focus on higher-value work.
The robot and cobot revolution is reshaping our world, how humans work and eventually - cultural attitudes towards human-machine interactions.
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From the GlobalSpec archives
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- The exoskeleton revolution (July 2024)
- Trends, challenges behind robotic surgery (June 2023)
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- Robots are primed to replace automotive mechanics (or are they?) (September 2022)
- World's most compact industrial robotic arm (May 2021)
