Investing in Automation
There is no doubt that intelligent machines will play an increasing role in the future. However, although the capabilities of hardware increases daily, unfortunately today the software is struggling to keep up as we hand over more and more complex tasks to the CPU. At present programs are developed around the principle that computers can only do what you tell them to do – no more and no less. Consequently they are constrained by the limitations programmed by the developer. This won’t change until Robots can be programmed to learn to adapt to situations that have not being considered during the software design stage .. and this is a major challenge for the software developers.
This new way of thinking is called “Computational Intelligence”. Computational Intelligence is looking for these answers, but it requires immense research with huge associated R&D costs over a long period of time.
Part of the research being undertaken in Australia involves applying the concept of teamwork in a robotic solution. One powerful machine can usually complete most tasks but the cost of one powerful robot is usually much more than deploying many smaller robots to do the same task.
Taking this one step further, by using multiple robots working and interacting as a team, huge advantages are attained, including better efficiency and a higher percentage chance of successful completion of assigned tasks.
The next logical step from here is that the “team” can undertake a wider range of tasks as the robots don’t need to be specialised to one specific problem. The successful application of teamwork will be important in the future of robotics.
Current research at present includes development internationally of a robotised game of soccer which will facilitate the development of the techniques required to play well in a teamwork environment. Robot Soccer provides a framework for worldwide commitment towards a problem whose answers will be applicable to a huge range of applications.
Robot Soccer is not just a dream, the development path is well mapped out with the ultimate plan for a Robocup to be played by 2050. The goal is to submit a robot team that will defeat the human world championship team at soccer. However the real future is not in robot soccer, it is the utilisation of the research into real world problems. Robots will no longer be restricted to perfectly defined tasks in intrinsically known environments. They will be able to achieve tasks that are seen as impossible or unbelievable today.
So – in answer to the question. Unless you are willing to wait another 20, 30 or 50 years before the next major breakthrough, perhaps it is time to give us a ring at MAR and we can advise you on how you can utilise the great technology available today.
Thanks to the University of NSW for information on Robot Soccer. If you would like to read more about this you can follow this link to the University of NSW, Computer Science Faculty.
http://www.cs.adfa.edu.au/~abbass/ALAR/robosoccer.html
Machinery Automation & Robotics
1/101 Derby Street
Silverwater NSW 2128
Phone: (61) 2 9748 7001
http://www.machineryautomation.com.au