6 Popular Commercial Applications for Robots

Technology helps humans work more efficiently, go beyond their limits, and do the impossible. At present, we rely on robots to help us solve complicated problems. Waste sorting, driving public transport, and predicting the weather are only a few examples. Chances are that, in the future, we will have a robot in our homes, offices, and schools. Is this a bad thing? Of course, not. Robots are capable of performing more precise and high-quality work. It is not that humans cannot do the same thing, it is just that we should use our hours better.

It does not matter when robots came onto the scene or why. What is important is that machines are present everywhere and because of them our world is a lot better. Building a robot is all about finding an application that will offer a good return on the investment. In this article, we will discuss the commercial applications of robotics. Undoubtedly, robot adoption in the commercial setting leads to faster growth.

1.    Robot barista

Getting a good cup of Joe is not easy, but that could change very soon. A robot barista is being trialed and it is not meant to put the Starbucks barista out of business. The aim is to eliminate lines and confusion at the coffee shop. While one arm grinds the beans, the other one shots the expresso and carries out the rest of the work. The coffee robot can serve customers with various things, like cupcakes and muffins.

All a person has to do is walk up to the keypad, make their request, wait for the order to be confirmed, and pick up the coffee. A robot barista can make several drinks per hour. The client gets the coffee as speedily and deliciously as possible. It is expected that robot baristas will be implemented in cafes, hospitals, airports, and even schools. This is something to look forward to.

2.    Fulfillment robot

Order fulfillment issues are a common encounter in e-commerce. Businesses deal with many issues, such as inventory management, picking and packing, and more. Companies can make order fulfillment easier by deploying robots. A fulfillment robot can help sort and organize goods, drive forklifts, do inventory, and navigate in cluttered environments, etc. The list does not end here. With autonomous fulfillment solutions, employees stay in specific zones and the robotic units travel from one point to another, doing their jobs.

If big names like Amazon were to use only fulfillment robots, they would enjoy benefits that go beyond labor savings. For the time being, it is not possible to fully automate shipping warehouses. Robots are an integral part of the logistics network, yet it will be a while before robots take over, if they ever will. Many automation tools are available, so it is not hard to envision a better future.

3.    Medical robot

The rise of automation in the field of medicine is not something new. In an attempt to improve health care, many initiatives have been made to implement technological innovations. The technology is wide-reaching and universal to medical practice. Robots have a non-negligible presence in the medical industry, treating patients or disinfecting surfaces. Machines help healthcare professionals during surgical or rehabilitation applications. More often than not, they can mean the difference between life and death.

Many different types of robots have been developed or are under development. Take the endoscopy bot, for example. Robotics supports surgeons during minimally invasive surgery by moving and holding the endoscope. Capsule endoscopies are indeed impressive. Small cameras are inserted into the body to take pictures of the digestive system. The doctor can see inside the intestine and get the necessary data to make an accurate diagnosis.

4.    Service robot

The fact that commercial robots can function as service robots does not come as a surprise because they are highly versatile. They can carry out tasks that are dull, dangerous, dirty, or repetitive. For instance, at trade shows robots can be used to check in guests, as well as visitors. Automation reduces long lines. The person simply has to scan the OR code in an application or sent it via email. Most professional service robots interact with people, so they can be deployed in settings such as retail.

By 2021, the professional service robotic market will reach billions. Companies are looking forward to automating specific processes for efficiency, safety, and productivity. Attention needs to be paid to the fact that industrial robots and service robots are not the same thing. Besides the fact that they have different application areas, there is a striking difference in terms of market potential. More specifically, service robots have great potential growth and a relatively high growth rate.

5.    Field robot

Mobile robots are commonly used in work sites and natural terrain, where they perform important tasks like picking fruits or de-weeding. New technologies are being developed to assist humans with tasks which can be classified as difficult, repetitive, or unpleasant. Generally speaking, they operate fully autonomous. Although field robots have various applications, agricultural businesses have become the top users. Automatic machinery is used for nursery planting, crop seeding, irrigation, thinning and pruning, collecting grains, and so on and so forth.

As field robots continue to improve, farmers will have no choice but to adopt new technologies so as to remain competitive. Robotics come in handy when it comes to sectors of activity such as construction, forestry, mining, and intelligent highways.

6.     Biorobot

Bio-inspired robots are similar to real biological systems, the only difference being that they are much more simpler and effective. They have the ability to age and can even recover from injury. The scientific foundation for building biological machines in the future has already been established. The goal is to promote scientific discovery and develop new therapies through research and education. Robots that imitate nature are our counterparts. Therefore, they can interact with the environment and handle dynamic situations. Of course, they have the ability to complete autonomous tasks and operate handheld machinery.