• • • AUTOMATION • • •
What’s holding back robot adoption?
Dave Walsha, sales manager at DC motor supplier EMS, explores the factors holding back robot adoption, and what needs to change to get things on track
he most recent statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) found that the UK has approximately 101 robots per 10,000 employees. With the world average cited at 126 units, it’s clear that the UK is lagging far behind its competitors when it comes to embracing robotic technology.
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While it’s hoped that figures will have changed since the IFR’s previous report, the gap between the UK and other countries shows there’s still a clear need to drive up robotic adoption. Despite living in an era where buzzwords like automation, digitalisation and AI are everywhere, these trends don’t appear to have been implemented as quickly as one might expect.
There are some sectors that have taken to automation technologies more readily than others. The automotive sector — the UK’s biggest user of industrial robots — hit a global milestone this year with one million units reported to be in operation. But what about areas that haven’t adopted robots so readily — what’s holding them back?
Financial concerns For many, the financial cost of robotics is a major barrier to adoption. Not only is there the cost of the
robot itself to consider, but also the need for staff to be trained appropriately. The potential disruption to product lines and processes while robots are still being implemented is another factor that can make it hard for businesses to accurately predict and understand their ROI. However, there are routes available for those who wish to try robotic technologies without the upfront cost. This comes in the shape of Robotics as a Service (RaaS), which enables companies to hire robots rather than purchasing them outright. The flexible nature of RaaS means that businesses of all shapes and sizes can trial automation technologies. And without the same financial commitment, it offers all the benefits with minimal risk. Businesses who experiencing changing demand throughout the year can also benefit, with the freedom to hire additional robots as and when needed.
Ease of use
Another major concern in the use of robots is their ease of use. How easy are they to program, and how quickly can they start working and producing meaningful results? If robots are expected to work on a much more integrated level with humans — working alongside them rather than in separate
areas — the way that they can be instructed should reflect that.
This means that giving the robot commands
shouldn’t require extensive programming knowledge or take a lot of time. It must be quick and user-friendly — if it takes too long to ask the robot to do something, then the operator may just end up doing it themselves. Making the most of natural language processing technology and AI is essential in giving the robots the ability to understand and carry out the instruction efficiently.
Functionality
The hardware must also be up to scratch. Robots rely on a variety of DC motors to facilitate their movements, and it’s important that each one is selected with careful consideration. What are the power requirements? How much space is available? Will the motor be operating for extended periods? Surgery robots, for instance, must be compact and able to operate with extremely high precision. They also need to be highly dynamic in order to change position smoothly, and quickly react to changes in load while holding an exact position.
34 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • OCTOBER 2023
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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