Redefining “Robot” for the Modern Laboratory
The word robot usually inspires images of red-eyed boxy 1950s movie minions with flashing buttons. Androids and human analogs have received attention in the entertainment industry as well, all under the heading of robot. However, the little domed circle that whizzes around on the carpet until it bumps into a wall and turns around is not just an “automatic vacuum,” it’s a robot. Industrial machinery, including heavy arms that perform repetitive tasks and work in dangerous conditions, are robots as well. There are more and more robots in the world around us every day, escaping our notice because they don’t fit our Hollywood definition of the word. Any mechanical or electrical device that carries out a repetitive task autonomously on the instructions of circuitry or computer programming is a robot. The Hollywood prop department created the glowing red eyes and shining humanoid designs.
Factory and other industrial robots have a long list of benefits. The jobs replaced first were the most dangerous, followed by the most tedious and repetitive. For every job replaced there was a job gained in the robotics industry or a higher-level position generated to oversee or maintain the robots. Reasoning and decision making are still very human traits and while robots are being used more freely humans will never be replaced. While the initial reasons for automation may have been to protect human safety, it was soon discovered that robots could be more accurate and work indefinitely.
Another industry that requires exacting measurements and precise but repetitive actions is in a laboratory. In the pharmaceutical industry, chemicals have to be synthesized and put through a variety of steps and tests, such as adding liquids or solids and freezing or heating compounds. While humans may occasionally measure incorrectly or spill and will most certainly need breaks, laboratory robots can work with less waste around the clock. Clean and efficient, a robotic staff can allow a few people to produce amazing large-scale results.
5 Takeaways That I Learned About Labratories
The technology of robotic laboratory systems is still improving and even complex sensors that detect changes in color may be just around the corner. To offset the cost of the initial investment, the ideal candidate for a robotic laboratory system is a company that will need the same tasks to be performed consistently over a long period of time. The longer the system is in use the more cost-effective it becomes as the initial investment is earned back time and time again in quality, around-the-clock results.
What Research About Robotics Can Teach You
Robots are infiltrating daily life in many ways and with each step towards the automation of common tasks we see a future that is efficient, clean and exciting. Without the burden of repetitive tasks, humans can work as innovators. Automated lab instrumentation and automated lab robot systems are extremely helpful tools, but it will be a human who finds the cure for cancer.