In 2017, the types of robots we thought could only exist in movies were being made all around us. A vast majority of them were also working in our factories alongside human workers. The surge of collaborative robots, or cobots, helped to increase efficiency while also curbing the fear that humans will become outdated.
Join us as we explore the trends that will define 2018 for robotics and manufacturing. These trends will also help your organization stay ahead of the latest developments.
In 2017, there was a surge in artificial intelligence technology. This was no accident. Robots are indeed becoming smarter as both safety and efficiency become a major focus. This type of technology is just one of the trends that will define 2018.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect from robotics in 2018.
1. Robotics as a Service (RaaS)
Both robots and software are benefiting from a new structure that keeps everyone happy. Cloud storage is fueling this type of software, but robots are able to take advantage of this concept as well.
Instead of selling robots at an upfront cost, manufacturers are instead taking advantage of the option to pay for a service that covers costs like maintenance and management. They pay a specific amount at an ongoing rate, instead of investing in the entire robot at once.