Covid-19 cases in the global workplace are on the rise, but there actually are solutions that could change this, and still let people keep their jobs by working remotely. And no, we’re not talking about a typical office job. We’re talking industries like food processing, agriculture, medicine, delivery services, and more.
Which industries are robots useful in?
While the applications of robotics before, during, and after the pandemic vary greatly – from giving directions, stocking shelves, welding metal in dangerous environments, and much more – today’s robots can generally be grouped into 7 helpful industries.
Manufacturing
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The manufacturing industry is probably the most well-known and oldest user of robots. Its applications are very important during a time like a global pandemic, as these robots and co-bots (the bots that work alongside humans) can work to efficiently test and assemble essential and in-demand products, like cars and industrial equipment.
It’s estimated that there are more than three million industrial robots in use right now, considering there were 2.7 in use already in September 2020. Manufacturing doesn’t only apply to the automotive industry, but also hugely includes food industries, such as fish, meat, and fruit processing. A food processing automation company PERUZA already has a lot of great robotics solutions created for safer, more hygienic processes to help create companies a higher yield.
If you work in a business that sees any shortage of workforce in your assembly, materials transportation, welding, and warehouse security departments, as these have been fully or partially done by humans till now, consider looking into robotics applications – you might find that both your employees and stakeholders will enjoy the change it can bring.
Farming and agriculture
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Farming is a massive industry that requires more and more efficient solutions every year, as the global population continues to grow and the demand for fresh, ethically sourced food reaches unprecedented levels during the pandemic.
There are special types of machines used in farming and agriculture – Autonomous Mobile Robots or AMRs.
AMRs are moving robots that make decisions in near real-time as they go. Sophisticated technologies such as cameras and sensors help them take in information about their surroundings. Onboard processing equipment helps them analyze it and make an informed decision – whether that’s moving to avoid an oncoming worker, picking precisely the right fruit, or selecting an appropriate surface to sweep.
These AMRs are great at helping farmers harvest their crops more efficiently and quickly.
The AMR and other types of robots can assess food ripeness, move any branches or leaves out of the way, pick weeds so humans don’t need to break their backs doing that anymore, and can pick the crop precisely, delicately, and very quickly to avoid causing any harm to the product.
If you work in farming and agriculture, this might be a good time to look into AMR and other robotics solutions, as they can enhance the safety of your workers during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and increase your yield through higher efficiency and productivity.
Logistics
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The global pandemic has surely expedited the demand for retailers and logistics companies to be fast and efficient, which means that shipping, handling, and quality control robots are a must-have for most of these companies.
As customers expect their packages to arrive at impossible speeds, it is important for logistics companies to adapt quickly and employ robots in their warehouses, or even on the road.
Currently, there are robots taking ordered items off the shelves, transporting them across the warehouse floor, weighing, packaging, and unpacking them.
Some logistics companies have even employed robots – drones – to deliver the goods to your home to avoid face-to-face contact with humans during the pandemic, and we must say that this trend is probably going to grow into methods used more and more in the future.
All of these processes being automated is crucial for the safety of warehouse workers and increased accuracy, so take a look at PERUZA warehouse solutions and see how you could make your workplace safer and more efficient with robotics.
Home
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Remember when you had to wash your clothes, sweep your floors or do your dishes by hand? Yeah, we neither. That’s what the washing machine, dishwashing machine, and Roomba vacuum cleaners are for, right?
Robots are all over our homes, helping with previously tedious chores like those mentioned above, reminding us of our schedules, turning on music at our homes, and even entertaining our kids with immersive video games.
Not to forget that there are also robots that can now do everything by themselves completely autonomously – from mowing grass and cleaning windows to cleaning pools.
It is now more accessible than ever to have robotics solutions in your house, which can help you save time and reduce human contact during the time when it should be limited to a minimum anyway, so explore the options of assisting you and your staff with robots.
Travel
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Although there is nothing more science-fiction-like than autonomous vehicles, they already exist. A great mix of data science and robotics, self-driving cars, and other vehicles are taking the world by storm.
Great automakers such as Tesla, Ford, Waymo, and others are all working on ways to create a completely autonomous vehicle that will let you enjoy the ride without the need to concentrate on driving yourself.
Not to forget the brilliant ideas rideshare companies like Uber, Lyft, and others are working on to develop autonomous rideshare cars that don’t require humans to operate the vehicle – finally a taxi ride without the fear of catching Covid-19 in addition to uncomfortable conversations with the driver.
Keep your eyes open for the opportunities of autonomous vehicles, and look into implementing this type of robotics into your business, if that means safer and better ways for you, your employees, and goods to travel.
Healthcare
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Healthcare can employ robotics in just about every aspect of the industry, from robot-assisted surgeries to bots that can help patients recover from injury in physical therapy.
Examples of robots at work in healthcare are Toyota’s healthcare assistants, which help people regain the ability to walk, and “TUG”, a robot designed to autonomously stroll throughout a hospital and deliver everything from medicines to clean linens.
There are multiple other types of robots used in the healthcare industry, for example, the previously mentioned AMRs are actually used to also disinfect surfaces with excellent precision, and provide mobile telepresence functionality.
There are also cobots that are now used to assist medical professionals during rehabilitation or to help nurses better serve their patients while doing it remotely, or even perform surgery remotely, reducing the risks of contamination and human error in very detailed operations.
Not to forget that there are robotized prosthetics that can greatly improve the quality of life in those who have lost any limbs.
Robots have also been employed by pharmaceutical companies to aid in fighting Covid-19. They are now used to fill and seal Covid-19 testing swabs and are also being used by some manufacturers to produce PPE and respirators.
As you can see, healthcare is one of the biggest industries to embrace the robots before, during, and hopefully, long after the pandemic in helping employees reach better results while continuously focusing on the safety of the patients.
Smart cities and hospitality
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Robots can help create smarter and safer cities around the globe. From hospitality companies using robotics to provide concierge services to whole cities offering way-finding services and tourist-guide bots to promote safer and more exciting tourist experiences, this is an industry that is booming in use-case exploration all the time.
AMRs can be used to deliver goods locally and conduct routine security patrols. Robots can also assist in speeding up building construction and even help with parking your car in the future.
All of these applications are something to look into if your business relies on safe structures and guided processes that serve the public by providing recreational, educational, or living spaces.
Final thoughts
The robotics industry is really booming with new applications being discovered and implemented on a daily basis. So if you take only one thing from this blog post it’s to really consider jumping in and implementing some of the clever ways robots can help you and your business in the Covid-19 situation and long after the pandemic is gone, as there is only one direction the robotics is taking – forward.
If your company is in need of automating some processes in the fish and food industry or looking for ways to ease their existing logistics load with packaging and other processes, feel free to contact us at info@peruza.com, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the best solution for your company!
