Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics are revolutionising the way we live and work, with AI enabling robots to act autonomously and respond to their environment in real-time. The integration of AI into robotics systems is making robots more efficient and effective in a wide range of applications, from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and public environments.
However, there is still a lot of misunderstanding around the role of AI in robotics, with human-like robots and superintelligent machines often depicted in popular culture. The reality is that AI is already being used in robotics applications, and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has recently published a paper on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Robotics’, which looks at current applications of AI in robotic applications, future directions, and safety and certification considerations.
One of the key benefits of AI in robotics is its ability to enable robots to sense and respond autonomously to their external environment in real-time. This is particularly important in manufacturing and logistics sectors, where variability and unpredictability are common features. AI algorithms can help robots identify objects to be picked from an unsorted bin, or automatically identify welding points on a new part, reducing the time and resources needed to programme and re-task robots.
However, as AI algorithms become more complex and integrated into robotics systems, safety and certification considerations become increasingly important. The IFR is concerned about the proposed requirement for mandatory third-party certification of AI-enabled robots, which would impact any company selling robots on the European market. European policymakers are urged to amend both drafts to balance the protection of citizens with the market’s image, particularly for SMEs and start-ups.
Google DeepMind has recently introduced RT-2, a first-of-its-kind vision-language-action (VLA) model that can directly output robotic actions. RT-2 is a Transformer-based model trained on text and images from the web, enabling it to transfer knowledge from web data to inform robot behaviour. This is a significant advancement in robotics, bringing us closer to a future of helpful robots that can handle complex, abstract tasks in highly variable environments.
In conclusion, AI and Robotics are transforming the way we live and work, with AI enabling robots to act autonomously and respond to their environment in real-time. While safety and certification considerations are becoming increasingly important, the potential benefits of AI-powered robots are vast, from increased efficiency and productivity to improved safety and quality of life. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how AI and Robotics shape the future of automation and efficiency.
