ake just about any task more engaging and even improve employee satisfaction and job retention.
3. It Provides Competitive Differentiation
Not every business uses AR. In fact, most don’t. Whether you’re a logistics business, an eCommerce company, or operate a warehouse, using the latest technology can give your organization a competitive advantage. It demonstrates your commitment to efficiency, accuracy, and employee wellbeing.
How Augmented Reality Is Transforming Robotics
The market for AR technology continues to grow each year. In 2020 alone, it was worth an estimated $18.8 billion, with a 78.5% over the prior year. A majority of the growth in AR is taking place in the commercial sector. So how is AR changing the face of robotics? Here are just a few of the ways these two are already working together.
1. Robot Training
One of the best uses for AR and robotics is in training. First, using neural networks, AR can be used to train robots to perform certain tasks. This is much quicker than writing thousands of lines of code. But AR can also be used to train humans by overlaying computer-generated images over reality to guide them through tasks.
2. Object Recognition
AI-powered robots are generally exposed to a wide range of data. Robots can learn to group similar objects together and identify them based on their characteristics. This is valuable for things like inventory management and automated picking processes in warehouses, among other commercial uses.
Robots equipped with AR can assist workers with a variety of operations. For example, by wearing a headset similar to Google Glass, a worker can get visual instructions for picking orders in a warehouse or the repair or maintenance of a piece of machinery. The technology can lead the worker to the right place and provide step-by-step instructions for a task.
Many healthcare facilities are now using robots for simple to complex surgeries. Surgical robots can use AI to analyze the data they collect from various sensors and AR to scan a patient’s body parts. An AR-based exoskeleton can assist a person with a disability in moving, standing, or sitting.
In the military, advanced robots are being used to detect hidden dangers and are relaying that information back to human soldiers wearing AR-powered headsets. AR is also being used by pilots for weapons targeting and spatial orientation, with data superimposed on the pilot’s visor, so they don’t have to look down at the instruments all the time.
6. Space Exploration
AR is being used in space exploration already since real-time control and communication are impossible. For example, astronauts use a headset called Sidekick to provide hands-free assistance to crews completing tasks. The headsets offer 3D diagrams and schematics, allowing the engineers to keep their hands free.
7. Criminal Justice
There are even uses for AR and robotics in the criminal justice system. When a case goes before a jury, it can be challenging to paint a true picture of a crime scene or a potential scenario. But AR-enhanced robots can help jurors explore a crime scene more accurately to improve case outcomes.
The Future of Augmented Reality in Robotics
While the convergence of AR and robotics is taking place in logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and defense, the potential for its use in just about every sector are nearly limitless. In fact, it’s likely that AR-powered robots will do more than just elevate what existing robots can do. It will also unlock innovation for new applications that no one has conceived of yet.
AR is changing the game for robotics in many positive ways. This new approach to robotics allows humans more insight and control into the robotics that is helping improve a business. It’s an ideal approach for cobots, which would enable human operators to work directly with machinery for automation purposes.
This content was originally published here.