A significant advantage of mobile robots is their computer vision capabilities. The combination of sensors that mobile robots use to determine their environment tracks the environment in real-time with high accuracy. This is important, especially in production environments where the situation constantly changes. The integrated intelligent systems used in AMR offer an additional advantage. Thanks to the autonomy of mobile robots, they can explore the environment using downloaded blueprints or by moving and mapping. This allows rapid adaptation to new environments and further increases productivity in the industry.
Moreover, these robots are agile and quickly deployable because they can make their way and adapt quickly. They can be broken down into multiple modular systems. By performing rapidly repetitive tasks, they can eliminate the possibility of human error, thereby increasing the safety of a facility or territory.
Drawbacks of mobile robots:
- Restrictions on load size to be transported;
- The need for a large number of SKUs to operate at the highest level;
- The need for constant wireless communication between the robot and the operator.
Security and mobile robots
Because Cameras and sensing outfit AMR, they can comprehend their surroundings at a higher level, removing the risk of human carelessness and the potential for accidents and other safety risks that can arise from human error.
But as the robotics industry is rapidly evolving, there is a need to create security standards and recommendations specifically for AMRs. They should encompass all mobile robotics areas and monitor their implementation to ensure human safety, especially given advances and innovations in robotics systems.
Technical safety experts are currently working on rules and standards for manufactured mobile robots called R15.08. These rules will be issued in three parts:
1. Safety standards for industrial mobile robot manufacturers.
2. Various requirements for companies seeking to design, install and integrate a safe mobile robot system.
3. The security requirements for end-users of industrial mobile robots.
The background and evolution of mobile robots
The world's first AMR was developed in 1948 in Great Britain. In 1961, the first industrial robot was introduced at the General Motors plant in New Jersey. From that point on, there was constant development and testing to improve the efficiency and sophistication of mobile robots.
In 1968, the Tentacle Arm was invented, and in 1969 the Stanford Arm, the world's first robot arm with computer control and an electric drive, was introduced.
In 1970, the first AI mobile robot was created.
In 1974, the Silver Arm was invented. It was a robot that could assemble small parts by receiving information from contact and blood pressure sensors.
In 1979, a robot was invented that was able to walk across space without a human being by using the television camera that captured an image and transmitted it to the computer. The computer then estimated the distance between the robot and objects and told them which direction to move.
Since 2000, research has been ongoing on using artificial neural networks to drive artificial intelligence in mobile robots.
Looking to the future, manufacturing companies are trying to find new uses for mobile robots beyond manufacturing. Currently, the technologies combine computer hardware, software, and cutting-edge machine training techniques. These technologies are task-oriented and evolving rapidly, experts say. Developers are still working on a simultaneous positioning and mapping algorithm.
In the development of labor-scarce markets, mobile robots could have a decisive impact. Mobile robots could do all the dirty, dull, and dangerous work in agriculture and construction.
The possibility of using mobile robots in houses also exists, but it requires increasing the reliability of large AMR systems and overcoming the barrier between robots and humans.
