The Rise of Robotics in the Workplace: Augmented Intelligence and Human-Robot Collaboration

As AI technologies advance, human-robot collaboration is becoming increasingly common across various industries. While there are concerns that AI robots will replace human workers, the key to successfully transitioning to robots in the workplace is augmented intelligence and using AI to enhance human capability, not replace it. 

This article will take a closer look at what augmented intelligence is, examples of human-robot collaboration across industries, and the benefits and challenges presented by humans and robots collaborating in the workplace. 

Humans and Robots Working Together

The future of the workplace is one where humans and robots work together in harmony. AI-powered technologies are already having a significant impact across numerous organizations and industries. However, it’s important that AI-powered robots are used to augment human capabilities as opposed to replacing them entirely. 

Rather than putting humans and robots in competition with one another, augmented intelligence is about using smart, robotic technologies to drive human capability. In other words, it’s about using robots to help humans work harder, better, and faster.

This kind of human-robot collaboration can significantly improve operations in the workplace. It can improve accuracy, increase productivity, ensure safety, and improve overall efficiency. Robots can even be used to enhance accessibility in the workplace and various other settings. 

Human-Robot Collaboration Across Industries

Human-robot collaboration has the potential to revolutionize workforces. Already, AI-powered robotic technologies are being integrated across various industries to improve outcomes. 

Healthcare

In medical facilities, AI technologies and robots are being used in many ways, including aiding in imaging analysis, medication dispensing, and assisting in surgeries. The combination of 6G technology and robots is also enabling remote precision medicine. These technologies enable surgeons to access real-time holographic and 4K video feeds to control robotic instruments and perform surgery remotely, without sacrificing accuracy. In addition, this method could also allow for better patient access, as skilled doctors could perform these services at any facility, regardless of their physical location.

Manufacturing and Warehousing

Robots in the workplace are also making manufacturing easier. Collaborative manufacturing robots are used by workers to assist with tasks such as picking and assembling parts, welding, testing systems, and checking for quality control. 

In warehouses, robots are working alongside teams to assist in order fulfillment. For example, robots can pick or retrieve items and bring them to workers to be packaged. Robots can also do the packaging themselves and assist in getting the items ready for dispatch. Some robots are also being used to monitor for issues to assist in warehouse safety and help protect workers from hazards. 

Agriculture

Precision farming is another recent trend that has come about by using robots to enhance agricultural production. Robotic equipment can be used to assist in planting and harvesting crops and autonomous drones can spread seeds and spray fertilizers. Farmers are also using AI robotic technologies to help them monitor their fields and detect things like water and nutrient levels in the soil and potential issues with diseases that could impact crops or livestock. 

Restaurants

Kitchen co-bots are being used in restaurants and fast-food settings to assist in kitchen operations. Miso Robotics, for example, is pioneering restaurant automation with co-bots that assist in various tasks including flipping burgers and frying chicken. Kitchen co-bots can also be used to help with food prep, such as chopping and mixing.  

Construction

This labor-intensive industry is seeing significant improvements with robotic technologies that can assist with various tasks. The semi-automated masonry system (SAM) is a co-bot that helps with laying bricks and lifting and moving other heavy materials into place. 

Drone robots can help survey sites and generate 3D maps to help with inspections. There are also demolition robots and self-driving robotic machines, such as those that work in road construction, which can help speed up projects and improve safety for human workers. 

Benefits and Challenges of Human-Robot Collaboration in the Workplace

There are many advantages to human-robot collaboration in the workplace. As already indicated, co-bots can make work easier and more efficient, which can help reduce human error and increase productivity. By lightening workloads, robots can also reduce job stress and enhance employee experience. By ensuring greater accuracy, robots can also help reduce waste in the workplace, which can improve sustainability efforts. 

However, for all the benefits of using these technologies, there are also challenges that can arise from human-robot collaboration. For example, though workers don’t necessarily need programming knowledge to work with robots, there may still be communication issues and a steep learning curve. This means employers will need to take the time to develop adequate guidance and training protocols to ensure workers are comfortable working with these machines. 

Another issue is safety. Though co-bots are often used to improve safety measures, they can also create safety hazards. Some of the robots used in manufacturing or construction settings, for example, are quite large and powerful, meaning if workers aren’t careful, they could easily injure themselves by getting in the way of a robot while it’s performing a designated task. Again, this indicates a need for thorough training and workplace safety guides to ensure workers fully understand how to co-exist with robots and how to avoid safety issues. 

Wrapping Up

On a final note, it is once again important to consider the concern that robots will have a negative impact on job displacement. When integrating robotics into the workplace, it is vital that employers do their part to reassure workers that they are not being replaced to avoid issues with morale. It will become increasingly necessary to highlight the use of robots for augmented intelligence and how they can enhance worker capability instead of letting workers think they are going to lose their jobs to these machines. This is key to ensuring a successful future of human-robot collaboration.