ROBOTICS

Example - Car Factory

In a car factory, a robot could, for instance, be used for: welding, then painting car components and the moving of raw materials or finished vehicles around the factory.  Robotic equipment is expensive to install but will probably be cheaper than human workers over a longer period. Robots are likely to be more accurate than human workers and doesn’t get tired of suffer from illness. Robots can work 24hr per day every day if necessary. It may be possible to save money since robots could work in unheated, unlit environment. They may also safeguard humans by doing processes which may be hazardous to human health.

There may be feedback or artificial intelligence systems whereby each time an item is welded etc, the quality is checked and may improve each time. However, human workers may be better at spotting impending problems etc.

There may be many redundancies of skilled workers, and most jobs which remain may be deskilled as staff basically become “machine minders”, although some highly skilled jobs may be created for system designers or maintainers. The machinery may need to “learn” from existing skilled human operators but these skilled people may not be available in the future for work on new car models.

 JOBS done by ROBOTS

• (Spot) welding

• Applying adhesives / sealants

• (Automatically) fetching and carrying parts/carrying heavy objects

• Bottle making

• Assembling parts e.g. fitting windscreens

• Testing e.g. engines, timing and emissions using sensors

• Use in dangerous environments e.g. bomb disposal

• Paint spraying

• Handle machine tools

• Weld / rivet

• Lifting / carrying

• Follow tracks on floor around warehouse

• Turn objects to specified setting

• Telebots e.g. Deep sea exploration, Bomb disposal

• Bionics e.g. robotic legs and arms controlled by the human brain

• Space probes

• Domestic robots such as vacuum cleaners, disability robots

ADVANTAGES of using Robots

• Robots can work more quickly than a human worker.

• They can be re-trained to do other jobs.

  • The robot can be re-programmed with a new set of instructions

  • The robot can be manually guided through the actions, and will remember/be able to repeat the instructions.

  • Can be quickly taught new skills by changing the program or a human taking them through the motions of a new skill

• Ensures consistency of quality in a job, a human can be tired or distracted whereas the robot performs the job equally well each time. Jobs are done to the same consistent standard.  Robots perform the required task more consistently than human worker and there may be feedback loop / artificial intelligence - each time an item is welded etc, quality checked - improves each time

• Perform the required task more accurately / with finer tolerances than human worker.  Therefore the jobs are accurate as it eliminates human error.

• Robots don't need breaks / toilet breaks / tea breaks / holidays; they don't get tired /ill/or go on strike, and can repeat programmed actions all day / Can work 24 hours a day 365 days a year

• Robots do not need to be paid, after initial set up and maintenance costs.  Cheaper to run as there are no salary costs.

• Robots can carry out boring / repetitive tedious jobs, which humans don't want to / cannot do

• Robots create new jobs, such as maintenance /programming

• Carrying out dangerous work and work dangerous & unhealthy places. Human workers will not be subject to dangerous fumes / heat, etc and less chance of employees developing computer related ailments such as RSI

• Robots can work in unheated and unlit environments saving on utility costs.  Factory may be able to run without heating / lighting

DISADVANTAGES of using Robots

• Loss of human jobs e.g. redundancies of skilled workforce / robots replace humans due to many assembly line jobs now being done by robots. Most jobs which remain may be deskilled (“machine minders”).  Any staff remaining will have to be highly skilled / need significant training, etc.  Some highly skilled jobs may be created for system designers etc.  Machinery may need to “learn” from existing skilled human operators and these people may not be available in the future for work on new car models etc

• High initial cost of purchasing robots / Initial expensive development costs to set-up and install.

• Possible need for extra space, and new technology, to accommodate robots

• Cost of maintenance/running costs e.g. expensive to maintain and repair robots and may also require factory to be rebuilt/extended etc.

• Staff training to set-up/use robots

• Limited functions / Limited functionality. Difficult to reset / change for new production run / take time to reset, etc

• Robots may not respond properly in times of an emergency or when some unexpected variance occurs / lack of common sense. e.g. Robots do not react quickly to situations they have not been programmed to deal with.  For example robots may not notice obvious situations such as factory on fire if no humans around

•  Robots lack touch / sensitivity / versatility / intelligence of human worker. They may not notice obvious/repeated errors in process / cannot adapt to changes

Bionics 

- Application of biology to the study and design of robots e.g. giving humans/animals (replacement) robotic parts