COVID-19 Has Been Great for Robots
/By now, you’ve certainly seen the videos from Boston Dynamics of their robots busting a move
There’s a lot that goes into programming a robot to move like that. Boston Dynamics worked with dancers and choreographers to understand the mechanics of movement; adjusted hardware for power and durability; and programmed reflexive control, trajectory optimization, and model predictive control.
The latest video took months to come to fruition. Each of the robots’ dances takes less and less time for engineers to complete. That matches the trend we’re seeing of industrial enterprises investing in automation like we’ve never seen before—since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Automation Acceleration
Computers can get viruses, but robots can’t get COVID-19. With capacity restrictions, social distancing guidelines, and general safety protocols limiting human workers, companies have stepped up (running-man style) to accelerate the use of robots and automation.
There have been big strides made in a few key categories. Ecommerce retailers are using robots and “cobots” (robots that work alongside humans) to maintain COVID protocols while fulfilling the large increase in orders. And companies from warehouses to paper mills are using cameras and sensors to help remotely monitor inventory levels, security, production, manage inspections, and more.
Not Just for the Factory Floor
Production environments aren’t the only industrial automation applications that have risen amid the pandemic.
Shell has been using unmanned tech throughout their operations for years and has stepped up development and implementation since COVID hit.. A Shell team recently launched X-07, a remote-controlled vessel, to inspect the Ormen Lange gas field off the coast of Norway.
Remote data collection turned out to be essential in a global pandemic, but Shell sees its application long after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. “This is the new normal, not a temporary fix,” says Michael Kaldenbach, Shell’s Digital Realities Leader. “We can work more safely and efficiently.”
And with all the cleaning that needs to be done, the pandemic itself has bolstered a need for autonomous cleaning implementations. Robots are being deployed to sanitize facilities, quickly and without risk to humans.
Economies of Scale
Large-scale automation used to be reserved for massive productive facilities. But advances in technology and business models are opening up the benefits of automation to smaller enterprises. The increase in demand for these smart systems will—according to my college econ professor—reduce their costs.
COVID-19 sped up the adoption of already-in-the-works automation tech and created even more new demand. Once the pressure of the pandemic is off, will the trend continue? It’s a long-term investment play, so signs point to yes.
I, for one, welcome our new robot coworkers.
