Applications of IoT in Robotics

The Internet of Things and Robotics can be regarded as separate and distinct fields, however, the recent times have seen them merging to form a single technological niche. Presently they are simultaneously growing, opening new avenues of growth and engineering each other through supportive means. Both IoT and Robotics communicate and work collaboratively, culminating to the term The Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT).

IoT is already creating a revolution in the field. The advent of robotics and its diffusion in different aspects of life is enabling the professionals to develop Robotics enabled IoT applications, forming a tangible reality for future times. The core interplay between IoT and Robotics is assisting in human tasks, solving pivotal issues, designing new methodologies and completing targeted functions. The integration of automation in this is helping one avoid repetitive tasks and lower human errors. Consequently, one can aim for higher standards of progress simultaneously.

What is The Internet of Things?

The internet of things is a wide expanse physical devices and things, embedded with sensors and actuators to collect and gather information from the surroundings. The devices are connected via the Internet, Ethernet, Bluetooth or WiFi. The information gathered is now processed and analyzed and send to end-users on their respective devices via notifications or alerts. The data gets exchanged on between devices, often relying on other technologies like big data, cloud computing, analytics and more. The devices range from household items to sophisticated industrial gadgets and even wearable. The system of IoT enables minimal human intervention, facilitating an advanced digital ecosystem.

What is Robotics?

Also known as the study of robots, they are man-made and technologically implemented machines which replace human work. It is interdisciplinary, a combination of science and engineering, followed by construction, design and use of mechanics. Presently, they are utilized vastly across various industry verticals, with their intellectual programming/capacity being put to enhance productivity.

What is IoRT?

The concepts of IoT and Robotics when combined, make the Internet of Robotic Things. These devices are built intelligently, embedded with smart features to monitor and evaluate things happening all around. The sensor captures data which is fused, contributed to big scale production and other courses of effective actions. Simultaneously, the machine behaves to control, access and manipulate objects and actions in the physical world.

IoT enabled robotics are conceptualized to handle distinct tasks, integrated with Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), modelled to handle customer-driven experiences, assure optimization of workflow, make data-driven analysis, make scope for digital transformation, articulate business revenue etc.

Evolution

Till now, both IoT and Robotics have been a driving force to generate essential attributes for standard objectives. IoT devices are built to focus on supporting services which allow pervasive monitoring, tracking and sensing. Here, the technology of robotics will work on detecting autonomous behaviour, increase production rate and simplify interaction. This way, a scalable and valuable operation functions is executed. The robots receive a situational awareness from the IoT sensors and the technology of data analytics, therefore leading to the smooth execution of tasks.

The First Stage of IoRT

IoT is mainly M2M or machine to machine communication. It is an information gathering and networking system which consist of ‘things’, where data is leveraged for an actionable outcome, productive results and analytical insights. This technology can be utilized in the creation of smart cities, parking systems, predictive maintenance and more. IoRT is implemented in the industrial units, also known as Industry 4.0. here, larger operational technology is used.

Data and statistics have revealed that by the year 2020 and beyond, almost 60% of the manufacturing, plant and industrial workers will work with the support of automated assisted technology like AI, AR/VR and Robotics in large. Although robotics is more than being just limited to the industrial domain, it will assist in other services as well.

For example, the concept of the Internet of Things has promised a huge deal on the segment of industrial reformation. Since they are undergoing a swift bridging of the digital and physical worlds, it is opening up a plethora of new opportunities. This integration is happening in robotics within scope and context. The market share of the Internet of Robotic Things is expected to reach a whopping $20 million by the year 2022. This gives an estimated forecast of how things will flourish in the market.

The components of every IoRT application will be the following –

1. Intelligent Robotic machines, with the input of embedded monitoring and analysis capabilities, can sense data from various sources.

2. The robots can analyze data from whichever event it is monitoring, implying the involvement of edge computing.

3. Consequently, the robot is now able to determine the actions to undertake, control the surrounding objects in the environment. It can also move if designed to do so. The collaboration will be established between the man/machine and machine/machine. The interactions can further initiate predictive maintenance and brand new services etc.

IoRT Applications

While the field of IoT is consecutively linked with the convergence of technology and several other opportunities, it also demands all-in-one solutions which can address the possible challenges. There are several technical components needs for the heterogeneous functioning of dynamic IoRT systems. However, progress has taken place in different notable aspects.

• FANUC Intelligent Drive and Edge Link

FANUC is a well renowned Japanese manufacturer of smart robots. They have actively collaborated with Rockwell Automation, Cisco and more to develop an advanced system called FIELD or FANUC Intelligent EDGE LINK and DRIVE. Here, sensors, deep learning methodology, edge computing, middleware implementation enable the industrial robotic devices to collaborate and produce an outcome in the area of IoRT.

• Amazon’s Mobile and Robotics Unit

Also known as the Amazon Robotics mobile Fulfilment Sector, here advanced robotic machines with the technology of the Internet of Things are helping manage inventories, automating the receiving of parcels across multiple warehouses. They are embedded with computer vision, object recognition, language perception, depth-sensing etc. the robots navigate based on barcode computerized stickers attached on the floor. This has helped leverage their industry standards.

• Six Claw Robot

Nuvotan utilizes a high controller, six claw robot, with a microcontroller which has the potentiality to function around 20 motors and other different peripherals and is applied for science, training and other purposes.

The usage of IoT enabled robotic devices are also being utilised positively and progressively in several other segments of work like medical and healthcare industry, the functioning of smart cities etc.

Conclusion

The bigger idea in the present times has been a successful collaboration between machines and man. The Internet of Things Robotic Technology can take productive decisions and collaborate for futuristic work helping manufacturing and other industrial sectors make unending advancements. Collaborative Industrial Mechanized Robots are a growing phenomenon where robots are taking breakthrough actions with the support of data sensors and learning. Hence, its undisputed success cannot be denied at all.