“The sophistication with which physically embodied robots can feel, plan, act and learn will continue to increase dramatically.” This is how categorical Accenture is in a report from its Lab, which also says that as robots move towards functioning in semi-structured and unstructured environments, the door will open to entirely new ways of interacting with humans. , while reducing the complexity of implementation for enterprises. This means that robotics will be widely accessible and capable of executing new use cases across the enterprise.
Today’s robotics follows the trend of ‘consumerization’, evidenced by both acceptance and increasing economies of scale. This transformation reaches the point where companies can innovate with robots as a viable solution for a wide range of tasks in which humans and machines augment each other’s strengths to increase productivity.
“The next stage in robotic automation is here,” they say in Accenture Lab. In the last two decades, robots, programmable machines that have the ability to detect, plan and act to perform physical tasks automatically, have received a substantial boost through investments, open source contributions, consumerization and standards development, resulting in a new range of commercially viable robotic applications.
According to a report published by IDC, annual spending on robotics for hardware, services and software is expected to triple by the end of 2021 to reach $ 215 billion, driven by an annual growth rate of 23 percent. The further democratization of robotics and component technologies across all domains will drive innovation and cost reduction. This, in turn, will drive a faster pace of robotic adoption and ubiquity. As this cycle continues, Accenture Labs envisions that some of the most effective business applications of robotics will operate in semi-structured environments where a robot is integrated as part of an overall system, and digital information helps the robot to function more intelligently. .
Robotic systems
In addition, rapid progress in mechanical, electrical, and software components will encourage robotic systems to move in environments that are uniquely human, where machines will blend seamlessly with people and perform an increasing range of tasks. This will have an impact on the design of work processes and will affect the way humans and robots interact and ultimately collaborate.
Accenture Labs believes that the full implications of these robotics trends are still a few years away from realization; however, the initial opportunities are here, and the time to lead the way is now. The report looks at the rapidly evolving robotic ecosystem, including technological, social, and regulatory advancements. It also covers potential new robot applications in multiple industries along with enablers for powerful robot and human collaborations. And it suggests steps to get started, including a model of robotics capabilities as companies invent their future with widespread use of robotics.
Some examples
Today, companies are beginning to use mobile robots to wash skyscraper windows and clean ocean ship hulls, for example. They are deploying flying robots to inspect power lines and pipelines, or to gather information for insurance claims. And wheeled robots are being used to move goods through warehouses or to deliver services to hotel guests. Engineers use robots combined with advanced analytics to automate mining processes, and doctors use them to improve surgical procedures. And in the consumer sphere, physical robots are appearing in people’s everyday lives through applications such as 3D printing, drones, and robotic vacuum cleaners.
Still, physical robotic technology must overcome some technical hurdles to maximize business utility. “In the next decade,” they say in Accenture Lab, “we expect to see a dramatic expansion of robotic systems in the company and a major change in the way companies implement robots.” Much of this innovation will come from scenarios already unfolding as people increasingly transform tools into teammates by automating some of the work, including autonomous vehicles to drive, warehouse robots to pick and pack. , and healthcare robots to monitor patients. Over time, Accenture Lab believes that the application of robotics in these industries and others will drive even greater transformations.
