Robotic Automation and the Future of Automobile Dealers
Overview
The future of automobile dealerships will be greatly impacted by the emerging trend of robotic automation. Robotic automation will change the car buying process, make vehicle production more efficient and reduce the need for human labor in automobile manufacturing. In this guide, we explore these changes in detail and present key statistics on the acceleration of automation in this sector.
The Car Buying Experience
With the ongoing advancements in technology, the traditional face-to-face car buying experience is undergoing a massive shift. Virtual Reality is bringing the showroom to buyers' living rooms, where they can virtually explore the different aspects of a car. Nearly 48% of consumers are expected to complete the entire car purchase online in the future, including vehicle testing, paperwork, and home delivery. Meanwhile, 67% of buyers are prepared to purchase their vehicles online, and about 76% of consumers express interest in learning more about cars through virtual showrooms and augmented reality.
Efficiency in Production
Robotic automation has drastically improved efficiency in car production. The average automotive production line has 60-100 robots, which can build a car from scratch in less than 18 hours. Companies like Tesla employ more than 200 robots in their assembly line, making production highly streamlined and efficient. The repetitive tasks carried out by these robots have reduced the time to produce a car by roughly 50% over the last decade.
Labor Reduction in Manufacturing
The adoption of robotics in manufacturing processes has enabled automobile companies to cut down on human labor significantly. Research shows that one robot can do the work of four to five workers, thereby saving significant labor costs. It is estimated that 15% of industrial robot applications are in the automotive industry, and the percentage is increasing every year. A forecast predicts that the number of robots in the global workforce will reach 20 million by 2030, reducing manufacturing labor costs by 16% globally.
Key Takeaways
- Virtual reality and online platforms will change the traditional car buying process.
- Robotic automation will increase production efficiency in automobile manufacturing.
- The future will see a significant reduction in human labor in manufacturing as robots become more prevalent.
Introducing 3Laws Robotics
3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of the ongoing robotic revolution, with its advanced software solutions designed to address the vital challenge of certification – a significant pain point for many robotic companies.
- 3Laws Supervisor is their innovative software built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), technology developed at Caltech that provides mathematically provable safety.
- This technology is adaptable and works with a wide range of platforms including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. It's compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
- The software enhances safety and reliability for robotics systems and streamlines the certification process by offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness.
- Several use cases across industries showcase the efficiency gains of using 3Laws' technology. For example, their work with an autonomous forklift customer resulted in a 40% efficiency gain and a 6-month payback period.
- Their software ensures safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans, addressing a growing need for collaborative robotic solutions.
- 3Laws also reduces operational downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions, providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks. This feature allows robots to operate closer to their peak capabilities while still maintaining safety.
3Laws Robotics offers a proactive approach to safety that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods. It unlocks the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety. As such, it emerges as a next-generation safety solution that is safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262