Robots and the Future of Inspection robots

Overview Robots are revolutionizing the inspection industry with their efficiency, reliability, and safety. From complying with safety regulations to improving operational efficiency, robots are pushing the frontiers of technology to provide unprecedented benefits. There is an expected 600% increase in robotics technology in the next four years, indicating strong future growth in the industry. Companies like 3Laws Robotics are making significant strides towards overcoming barriers in robot certification and producing advanced software that provides mathematically provable safety.

Industry Growth The robotics industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% from 2020 to 2026 as more companies embrace the use of robots for inspection purposes. By 2025, over 45% of all warehouse tasks are expected to be fully automated with robots. This projected growth is not confined to specific sectors; companies across multiple industries are investing in robotic technology to increase efficiency and safety.

Evolution of Inspection Robots Inspection robots evolved from rudimentary machines to sophisticated technologies equipped with advanced sensors and software. They are capable of covering greater distances at 600% higher speeds compared to their human counterparts. Moreover, these robots can even perform precise inspections in dangerous or hazardous locations that are often inaccessible or risky for humans.

Challenges in Robotic Certification One of the major challenges faced by the robotics industry relates to certification. Each system is required to adhere to a long list of regulatory and safety requirements. It's a significant pain point for companies due to the extensive testing and documentation required. 3Laws Robotics is addressing this pain point by providing software solutions that would expedite the certification process through evidencing complete robustness and compliance.

Efficiency and Safety with 3Laws With the help of 3Laws Robotics, an autonomous forklift customer achieved extraordinary results - a 40% efficiency gain resulting in a payback period of just six months. By offering safety features that prevent unnecessary e-stops or collisions, 3Laws assists in minimizing downtime, thereby significantly increasing operational efficiency.

Key Takeaways

• Expected rise in industry growth with a CAGR of 12.4% from 2020 to 2026

• Robots perform inspections at faster speeds and cover greater distances

• Challenges exist in robotic certification, with 3Laws addressing this

• 3Laws technology helped a customer achieve 40% efficiency gains

• 3Laws software prevents unnecessary downtime and increases operational efficiency

Founded in 2018, 3Laws is a robotics company aimed at creating safe and efficient robotic systems. They are developing innovative software, 3Laws Supervisor, to address the critical issue of certification, which is an significant obstacle for robotics companies. Using a technology developed at Caltech, Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), they aim to offer robust safety features and confirm systemic robustness, offering a potential way to simplify the certification path.

Use Cases for 3Laws' Technology Their technology has proven valuable in diverse industries. They have seen success with warehouse automation, enabling an autonomous forklift customer to achieve significant efficiency gains. Furthermore, 3Laws has shown its potential in human-robot interaction, meeting the growing need for cooperative robotic solutions in dynamic environments.

The Future with 3Laws 3Laws offers real-time safeguards for autonomy stacks, this way robots can operate near their peak capacities while ensuring safety. The adaptability of 3Laws' software is notable; it can function effectively with various platforms like mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators, and it's compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2. Their advanced, proactive approach sets them apart as a next-generation safety solution that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods. 3Laws signifies the future of robot safety, enabling robots to reach their full potential backed by dynamic, predictive safety features that can be certified safe per ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.