Robotics and the Future of Testing Laboratories and Services
Overview
The landscape of testing laboratories and services is being transformed by robotics and automation. Robotics are expected to revolutionize various processes such as sample collection, testing and results analysis. In a market report by Meticulous Research, the robotics and automation market in laboratory services is projected to reach $5.6 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of approximately 7.1% during the forecast period. However, integrating robotics and automation into testing laboratories and services involves several challenges, including certification.
Impact of Robotics on Testing Laboratories
The implementation of robotics in testing laboratories and services offers significant advantages. According to a report published by the Automation Industry Association, laboratories that have embraced automation and robotics have been able to improve throughput and reliability. Specifically, 68% of such laboratories reported an increased level of productivity. Robotic systems also drastically reduce the rate of errors occurring in testing procedures, as showcased by a study published in Clinical Chemistry, where 4 out of 5 laboratories identified a decrease in their error rates after introducing automated systems.
Certification Challenges of Robotic Systems
Despite their advantages, robotic systems introduce complex certification challenges. A survey by Interact Analysis suggested that 74% of robot manufacturers found certification processes costly and time-consuming, significantly delaying market entry. This is where companies like 3Laws Robotics are making critical strides. Focusing on innovative software technologies, 3Laws aims to not only enhance safety and reliability for robotic systems but also to alleviate the challenge of certification, easing the path to market entry.
Role of 3Laws Robotics in Enhancing Testing Laboratories
3Laws Robotics is revolutionizing the testing laboratories space with modern software solutions like the 3Laws Supervisor. Built with Control Barrier Functions (CBF), a technology developed at Caltech, the 3Laws Supervisor software offers mathematically provable safety that can convincingly streamline the certification processes. By offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, this software can potentially reduce the certification challenges faced by robotics companies substantially.
Key Takeaways
• The robotics and automation market in laboratory services is projected to reach $5.6 billion by 2027. • Approximately 68% of labs that incorporated robotics reported increased productivity. • A significant 74% of robotics manufacturers find the certification process challenging. • 3Laws Robotics is a key player working to streamline the certification process and enhance safety in robotics.
3Laws Robotics is working on significant use cases that capitalize on this innovation. By focusing on areas such as warehouse automation, human-robot interaction, and dynamic environments, 3Laws is poised to enhance the operational efficiency of robotics within testing laboratories, while also maintaining safety. For instance, they helped an autonomous forklift customer achieve 40% efficiency gain, resulting in a 6-month payback period. They are also working on enabling robots to navigate effectively in unpredictable surroundings, minimizing downtime from collisions or e-stops, and providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks. The 3Laws Supervisor software is nosuited to a wide range of platforms inclusive mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators, and is compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2. 3Laws positions itself as a next-generation safety solution, providing a proactive approach to safety that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods, unlocking the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety that can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.