Guest blog: The Future of Robotics: What Can We Expect?
Robots have been part of science fiction movies and books for many decades, if not centuries. And today, we are closer than before to reach the point where robots that look like humans walk among us. We aren't there yet, but robotics has developed to the point robots already exist and take over some of our tasks.
Who hasn't heard about the robots developed by Boston Dynamics or the little Vector, a robot developed by a company called Anki? Well, if you haven't you should check them out; these are prime examples of achievements in robotics. There are other robots in the market, like for manufacturing and simple things like house cleaning work.
So robots are here; how much time before they start doing our jobs or taking over the world? Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet. Here is what you can expect from robotics in the future.
Potential Applications
Public Security
One of the potential applications is in public security. Governments already use robots in military applications, and the next step could be public safety. Mostly, these robots are drones used for recognition tasks, but imagine if they could be used to keep an eye on cities.
Major cities around the world use video surveillance as a form of security, but it has many limitations like poor video quality or blind points. A drone could keep to its designated zone and be programmed to follow suspicious activities. So a fleet of drones could improve police work a great deal.
Going even further, if robots reach a point where they look and act like humans, they could also replace law enforcement troops. And they could be programmed to perform without bias eliminating one of the main issues we as humans have when judging others.
With the current political and social environment surrounding police and public security forces, robotics could make a difference. But this isn't something we can ensure right now. It will require a lot of regulations and technological developments before that could happen.
Education
Education is one of the sectors where technology took the longest to merge into. Only in the last decade computers were introduced to the classroom to make it more interactive. But before that, for at least a century, the teaching methodology remained the same.
However, now that the changes in education already started, they have been streamlined. Along with the improved classroom has come the acceptance of the idea that not everyone learns by the same methods and that education should be personalized instead of generalized.
Besides, the growing popularity of online classrooms has changed how people learn. Some companies already use Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to create personalized learning experiences. So, in the near future, self-paced courses with robots guiding students isn't a crazy idea.
Moreover, the potential for robots completely replacing teachers could be right in the case of students that are comfortable learning on their own. It could be possible for a world where human and robot teachers work alongside each other.
Healthcare
Robotics could make a vast difference in the healthcare industry. Robots are already assisting healthcare professionals in minimally invasive surgeries. An example of this is the DaVinci surgery, a robotic system that is controlled by a doctor to operate patients.
But robotics could go farther and be in charge of basic surgeries or procedures where precision is critical, and a human error could mean someone's life. Another possible application is the use of robots to do the necessary patient checkups, like measure blood pressure, checking vitals and monitoring symptoms.
Then they could refer the patient to other specialized doctors if needed. Robots will be used even for tasks like dispensing and delivering prescriptions in the pharmaceutical industry. We could also see in the future home care and aid robots. The elderly population grows each year, and so does the need for home care professionals.
Robots can take care of people that can no longer take care of themselves and keep them company as well. This is one of the leading home applications for robots that most people imagine, and we could be seeing it soon enough.
Trends
Robots Will Steal Our Jobs
Robots stealing our jobs is one of the main fears most people have concerning robotics and AI. And, not to burst people's bubbles, but it is a founded fear. Robots can and will likely still your job if you have a position that requires heavy work, menial tasks or repetitive work; basically things that don't need any creativity or highly technical studies.
On the other side, if your work requires creativity and tech skills, you will probably be safe for many years to come. Moreover, even though robotics is and will continue to replace many jobs, they are also a new source of work. Many job positions have been created surrounding this technology.
So, if you don't want to be left out, start learning now a tech skill that will be needed even in a world with robots. Maybe learn a skill like Python programming or software development, something that is in high demand and will continue to be needed in the next decade.
Soft Robotics
One of the main limitations of the robots that exist today is that they are made with sturdy but hard materials. And when we are trying to create robots that simulate humans or animals that are made of muscle and skins that are soft and flexible, the result isn't accurate.
That's where soft robotics was born; it is a subset in robotics where scientists are developing soft materials that can be used in robotics and that act as muscle and tissue. The achievements in this field will improve robots and human prosthetics, so human cyborgs can also be in our future.
In Summary
We may be on the verge of the next breakthrough for humanity, and if it means robots are taking over humans or a human enhanced by technology, we have to wait and see. For now, we do know that robotics will continue to grow and make our lives easier. Robots will become another part of our lives, even coworkers and companions; we shouldn't be afraid but prepare to embrace it.
Guest blog comes from Artur at Careerkarma