Navigating the Future: Robotics in the Tech Hiring Landscape

Do modern technological innovations have such magnitude that they make it likely that we will have fewer job opportunities in the future?

The disruption caused to the labor market by Industry 4.0, robotization, and the rise of delivery services without people is already commonplace. There are indications that significant socio-economic changes will occur alongside technical improvements. Industrial robotics and automation are key in the structural changes we are experiencing.

What is industrial robotics?

The manufacturing of industrial robots aims to replace operators performing repetitive or dangerous tasks. In this way, workers are no longer exposed to activities and can be relocated to much more interesting and less monotonous jobs.

The growth of industrial robotics is already key in a good number of very different sectors, such as military, automotive, logistics, life sciences, or even commercial, already consolidating as a mega-trend that is transforming the economic and business landscape of the industry.

But the big question that arises with this technological advancement is, will there be fewer jobs? The answer is no. The increase in automation heralds the arrival of a landscape of entirely new job roles.

Although robots and AI will inevitably assume many data-based labor functions and pattern recognition, changes will occur in how people and machines interact to achieve the highest level of efficiency. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, and it is important to learn as much as we can about it.

The automation of tasks, both repetitive and data-based, will lead to the creation of new types of jobs, emphasizing how people and machines can cooperate more effectively. Robot companions, or "cobots," will integrate into our workforces, evolving towards the development of a cohabitation and cooperation workforce.

What are the benefits of industrial robotics and automation?

In addition to eliminating repetitive tasks, robotics, and automation have many other benefits that are gaining strength every day.

Automation in "dirty" environments

Dirty environments can be considered factories that handle toxic substances, mines, disaster areas, or any activity that, due to its nature, could be harmful to workers' health.

Tasks involving the handling of hazardous substances or exposure to unhealthy conditions pose a real risk to human labor. This is where autonomous mobile robotics comes into play.

In factories, for example, autonomous mobile robots can take on tasks involving the handling of toxic or dangerous materials such as paints and chemicals. This not only protects workers' health but also reduces the risk of workplace accidents and spills.

Cost reduction and increased efficiency

Reducing the economic cost of industrial processes is a common need for all manufacturers. The survival and competitiveness of many factories depend on their ability to reduce these costs. Autonomous mobile robotics not only improves the safety and quality of tasks but also saves money in the medium term.

Flexibility in production is another important cost-related advantage. Mobile robots can quickly adapt to different tasks and environments, making them versatile and multifunctional machines.

In the manufacturing industry, autonomous mobile robots can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without the need for rest, beyond charging time, significantly increasing production efficiency. This makes manufacturing more profitable and competitive.

Disadvantages of Robotics

Technological dependency: The increasing reliance on robotics and AI can create vulnerabilities in case of failures or cyberattacks. Cybersecurity becomes crucial to safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Lack of flexibility and adaptability: Robots and AI systems are designed for specific tasks and may struggle to adapt to new or unexpected situations. The ability to improvise and reason out of context remains a key human skill.

Initial costs and maintenance: Implementation may require significant investment in terms of equipment acquisition, software development, and maintenance. This can be a prohibiting factor for some organizations or sectors with limited resources.

Ethics and accountability: As AI advances, ethical and accountability issues arise. It is necessary to establish appropriate frameworks and regulations to address issues such as privacy, ethical decision-making, and responsibility in case of accidents or malfunction of autonomous systems.

Types of Industrial Robotics

To meet production needs, there are different types of robots, depending also on the type of industry in which they will be implemented. Fixed robots, designed to perform the same task uninterrupted, can be highlighted.

There are also programmable robots that can be used for different tasks as they can be reprogrammed. And finally, flexible industrial robots can work in coordination with other machines as they depend on a central system that coordinates them all.

Robots can also be classified according to the tasks they perform, whether they are manipulation or repetition tasks. Additionally, there are intelligent robots that connect to their environment, bots, or nanobots, in the experimental phase.

While autonomous mobile robotics has advanced significantly, its potential has not yet been exhausted. Advances in artificial intelligence, sensors, and navigation technology are enabling robots to become increasingly versatile and capable of addressing a wide variety of tasks.

The introduction of mobile robots into industry and manufacturing environments offers a series of significant productivity advances that will increase as the technological context evolves. For example, through integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile robots can connect to IoT systems to collect real-time data and optimize production processes. This allows for more informed decision-making and greater efficiency throughout the production chain.

There are increasingly more examples showing the importance of human-robot collaboration, in which humans contribute their capabilities and the robot autonomously performs boring, repetitive, dangerous, or costly tasks.

Last but not least, the adoption of mobile robots improves companies global competitiveness. By increasing efficiency and reducing production costs, organizations can compete more effectively in an increasingly demanding global market.

Having the advice of experts who can help us make decisions when including robotic or automated processes is essential to travel this path safely and strongly. The world is moving towards the reign of these processes, and if we want to continue to be part of those leading the market, there are no other options than to adapt. The faster we understand this, the fewer chances of failure we will have.