Embracing robotics: Innovations that benefit society
At an industrial and personal level, robots are impacting our daily lives for the better
From an industrial perspective, the impact of robotics is evident: robots in factories can increase efficiency and output, and robots in fulfillment centers can help maximize the number of orders fulfilled. But at a societal level, robots are also capable of advancing the needs of humans at a broader scale.
My work in engineering and with robotics presents the opportunity to change the world. Every contribution my team and I make increases the potential for a robot to perform more complex tasks. As robots become more complex, innovative and widespread, their positive influence on society grows.
More affordable care and improved quality of life
In manufacturing, the efficiency of robots can reduce costs in the long term; this applies to people, too. For example, although we have smart watches to detect vitals such as heart rate, what if we could take it a step further in the future, where robots act as caregivers?
An estimated two out of three older people are unable to meet their basic needs independently, and require some sort of support or care during their lives. For these individuals, simple tasks such as grabbing a glass of water or preparing a plate of food require assistance, but not everyone can comfortably afford traditional around-the-clock care. Robots are a more affordable solution, stepping in to perform essential duties even if a caretaker isn’t available. A robot can operate similarly in hospitals, bringing objects such as food or medication directly to patients.
In domestic settings, robots could also perform chores. What if in the future, you could purchase a robot programmed with an array of recipes and downloaded skill sets to cook meals with precision? It could even clean your dishes. From preparing a nutritious dinner that boosts your health to giving you time back in your day to spend with your family, robots have the potential to make anybody’s life better.
Promoting a safe environment for workers
Robots can optimize processes like logistics and monitor product defects and identify potential hazards within a factory. Robots help increase safety by monitoring and scanning different areas of a facility for potential leaks or entering hazardous areas that would be unsafe for a person. There are also more close collaborations in factories between robots and humans, which indicates that we’re getting closer toward putting robots in our homes.
For safety-related functions, there are different kinds of robots. A robotic arm is precise and can lift a lot of weight; a collaborative robot (cobot) is similar, but can lift only about 50 pounds. Mobile robots are designed to transport materials from one area to another. A humanoid robot combines all of these different capabilities into one. Because of this combination of features, humanoids offer the mobility and precision needed to complete an array of complex tasks.
Our company recognizes robotics as being continually impactful, and we strive to make it a reality with our semiconductors. We work closely with designers and original equipment manufacturers to help solve their challenges related to functional safety compliance and to develop solutions for logistics and automation. We can review design challenges at a system level and offer multiple- or one-chip options.
We have even used robots with our parts in our own manufacturing facilities, and have deployed a variety of robots that work side by side with our company’s employees to increase efficiency. This first-hand experience helps us improve the quality of our products while also preparing for the future.
Our devices can help with redundancy and functional safety compliance, and our smaller packaging options help optimize board space for joints in robots like cobots and humanoids. Our Gallium nitride (GaN) devices integrate the gate driver to optimize size and efficiency in robots so that manufacturers can reduce the space required for the robot, optimize their power consumption, and maximize their performance, all of which can enhance operation time and load carrying capabilities.
Robotic innovations for a better society
Our goal in robotics is to create cost-effective, high-performing devices that are capable of a variety of functions – from simple to complex – and that empower companies to create new and remarkable end products. Our collaborations with other companies help create sensor and motor-control solutions that address the existing and future challenges in robots today.
The chip-level modernizations and advancements from our company enable robot manufactures to innovate and advance robot capabilities that could positively impact society. Even though robots are not humans, their benefit to society is clear. Despite what science fiction movies might suggest, robotics is not about replacing the work of humans or taking over their world; robotics is about understanding and recognizing what humans in any environment need to survive and enjoy life, from providing essential services to promoting safe working conditions.
Errol Leon, system engineering and marketing manager for robotics at our company, authored this blog post.