21st Centry Forum

Artificial intelligence is becoming a reality and an increasingly important element in the development of robotics. In the dawning years of the 21st century, artificial intelligence has provided the heavy lifting for some of the most difficult problems in computer science. John McCarthy, who coined the term, defined artificial intelligence as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.” Is human created machine intelligence possible? While in the word “intelligence” in the world of industrial robots is a relative term, the ability for machines to make the correct decisions based on computerized programming is becoming a reality, transforming the field of robot industrial and revolutionizing the industry.

Algorithms are being designed and developed to enable computers to “learn.” Through inductive learning, machines can extract rules, patterns and conclusions out of massively complicated data sets at a level superior to human capabilities. It’s becoming increasingly essential in the science of robot industrial control, offering robotics the necessary inspection capabilities to ensure quality on the production line.

“Intelligence” in robotics is achieved through a search of all possible solutions, as reasoning is literally reduced to a computerized search. Robotic algorithms enable moving limbs and grasping objects to use localized searches in realizing configuration space, increasing the adaptability of a limb to the suitability of the job as it “learns” how to operate in a variety of spaces.

Artificial intelligence can also be employed in robotics to instill machine vision, enabling computers to engage digital photography and other imaging processing software to perform quality checks on the product. This enables machines to conduct visual inspections at a high-speed, automatic 24-hour duration with a standardized repeatability of measurements. Traditionally, humans employed in this realm suffer a high degree of failure due to natural distraction, sickness and other debilitating factors. Computers offer calculated quality that’s as reliable as the mathematical properties on which they are based.

As decision-making capabilities based on data become more computerized, robotics becomes all the more viable in the manufacturing process. Through the science of robot industrial technology, we are building a world of tomorrow, creating sustainable manufacturing processes that reliably produce quality at an affordable, quantified cost.