Top 5 robotics events in 2020

One of the major challenges of a rescue operation is pinpointing the location of survivors. Drone technology has been playing a massive role in this regard. Drones can fly and take pictures; it gives rescue workers aerial view, which allows them to plan a more effective rescue mission. Drone footage could prove useful in pinpointing survivors. China has been using drone footage for rescue operations, especially during earthquakes. With drone technology, rescue teams have reliable information, such as an estimate on the number of survivors. DroneSAR, an Ireland based drone company, is working a technology to use drones to find survivors. It created an app synched with drone technology to improve rescue mission. For instance, the app maps out grids and orders a drone search only those grids created. When a drone finds a survivor, the app shares the location to every member of the rescue team.

A team of researchers at the University of Auckland, NZ, conducted a twelve-week study to find out how robot pets can benefit the elderly. To this end, 40 seniors were selected from a retirement home. They were divided into two groups of twenty each. The first group was studied interacting with a robot seal named Paro. The other group was sent out of the retirement home every week to participate in interactive activities like bingo and arts. Read even more details on a website to learn more.

The Intelligent Robots and Systems’ International Conference 2020 will hold in Las Vegas Nevada from 24th to 30th October. This event is a magnet for great minds and companies working towards the development of the new advancements in the field of robotics. The event has featured countless cutting edge innovations in robotics. The IROS 2020 is poised at highlighting new research works as well as promoting talks and idea-sharing experiences.

On the other side, most scholars define robots as: ‘an actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of autonomy, moving within its environment, to perform intended tasks. Autonomy in this context means the ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing, without human intervention’. And with this definition, polemics is on the cards! For instance, surgical robots lack autonomy. However, they are still considered robots. Who defines the ‘intended tasks’: the robot, the programmer, or the user? Would a self-driving car be considered a robot? How about a smart vacuum cleaner? Despite the vagueness of the definition and the numerous questions it raises, one thing is for sure: “I can’t define a robot, but I know one when I see one.” (Joseph Engelberger). So let’s experience some robotic magic together. Extra information at a website to learn more.

Steel is strong and heavy, which means it is difficult to shape and carry in large parts. However, steel can be also formed into thin sheets. You may see that vehicles are protected by their steel exterior, which can also be applied in robotics. Those sheets can be formed into tubes, which can be also made as robot frames. Known for its flexibility, rubber can absorb shock while handling delicate products. For your robot, you may consider covering up both the hard and sensitive parts with rubber. It is also reliable when you want your robot to be sociable with humans. This soft material, however, is also suitable to use in extreme environments. Rubber has high resistance to some elements especially liquids. To enable your robot to go underwater; consider sealing it with rubbery materials. Since the rubber doesn’t rust, it can handle some acids too. With all that being said, rubber is a great material to consider for your robot – its use might be limited, but it can certainly come in handy.

The drop experienced this year has been greeted with reactions by concerned United States citizens as they expected higher units of imports than the previous year owing to the awareness it has gained over the years. A section of United States citizens has pointed to the tension between the country and China for the drop in the growth of sales of robots in the country. Others also claim that trade barriers as a result of some government policies and positions towards China ensured the dip in orders of robots.

We are arguably seeing a forth revolution as the computing power of the 20th century has taken major leaps forward in the 21st. A connected world. Automation is becoming commonplace in factories and we are starting to see with the Internet of Things how a connected system can change the face of manufacturing. Industry 4.0 will involve these automated systems making key decisions without any input. Discover more details on this article.