The Industrial Robots of Tomorrow Under Development Today

Industrial robot technology progresses rapidly. The robots of the future will far exceed the capabilities of today’s robots, automating tasks that were previously impossible. Many of these robots of tomorrow – the ones that will transform the way we work, the way we travel, the way we purchase items and more – are under development today.

In several of the most innovative robotics labs around the country, the limits of robot technology are being greatly expanded and entirely new forms of automation are emerging.

Future Industrial Robots Currently Under Development

While there are many different types of robotic technology being tested, there are a few emerging technologies that will be particularly impactful.

• Human Robot Interaction: much of today’s robotics research has more to do with people than it does with robots. Human robot interaction (HRI) is an increasingly popular area of development – understanding people’s facial expressions, body language, and behavior has potential consequences in collaborative robotics, self-driving cars and more.
• Snake-Like Mobility: mobile robots with a snake-like body are being developed for a number of uses. For search and rescue missions, as well as medical procedures, these mobile robots travel where humans cannot to help save lives. The bodies feature many different joints that allow them to bend, swim and climb.
• Legged Mobility: robots with functional legs can travel places where wheeled robots can’t and offer a much more stable platform for applications such as package delivery. In fact, tomorrow’s self-driving delivery trucks may feature walking robots to deliver packages to your door.
• Multi-Robot Coordination: the proliferation of robots outside of the factory setting will eventually require advanced coordination beyond what today’s robots are capable of. For example, search and rescue UAVs and UGVs could be working in unison to scan an area quicker and more thoroughly.
• Underwater Robotics: robots are becoming more commonly used underwater, typically for studying the health of the oceans. Some types of robots feature a suite of on-board sensors that collect data as the robot autonomously glides through the water, even through strong currents and disturbances.

The few types of robotic technology under development listed above are among the most advanced, but there are several others, including self-driving vehicles, robotic intelligence, machine learning, manipulation and grasping, and more. On top of this, robotic integration services for validation and testing have had to evolve dramatically as robotic research pushes the technology forward.

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