Robots influence how physical processing of material happens
Published on : Monday 30-11--0001
Are robots a boon or a threat to human beings, especially when it comes to jobs?
Any kind of advancements in the society will transform life, and thereby even job structure, and robots are not different. In the same way that use of smart phones has influenced how many businesses are run, robots influence how physical processing of material happens; it can be manufacturing, waste handling or any other processes. I expect all changes to be in the positive direction leading to a better balanced society, where resources can be moved from more physical work to other branches as medical and elderly care, education, entertainment, information, etc.
Is the robots-taking-jobs argument exaggerated, as there are still jobs waiting to be filled?
Statistics are good/necessary for understanding trends. They should be interpreted correctly. Countries with high level of robot usage have usually higher levels of standards, and are often economically stronger.
While robots are adapting fast to new roles, are their human counterparts slow in doing so?
Robots are taking new roles because human makes them so. The intelligence behind is that of human. What the phrase 'artificial intelligence' refers to is actually a mathematical algorithm, made by an intelligent human and does not include any intelligence.
Compared to the advanced economies, robot penetration in India is still low. Will there be a dramatic change in the near future?
To become a global producer, this should happen. Whether it happens or not, it will depend on structure of investment. There are other reforms one might think of being necessary in India.
Finally, will man and robot co-exist in harmony?
In exactly the same way as we co-exist with cars and TVs in harmony
Dr Said Zahrai is one of ABB’s Corporate Executive Engineers heading Innovation at Business Unit Robotics. During the past 20 years at Robotics, he has been engaged globally in developing new technologies, products and services based on a multidisciplinary combination of technologies ranging from mechanics to electronics and software.
As head of innovation, he is working for acceleration of innovation in the industry and society. He leads engineering teams to extend usability and applicability of robots in industrial space among others by integration of sensors and machine intelligence into more traditional algorithms. Prior to Robotics, Dr Zahrai was with ABB’s research organisation, focusing on applied mathematics, modelling, simulation and optimization of various industrial products and processes.
Dr Zahrai holds a Master degree in Engineering Physics, PhD in Hydromechanics and a Docent title from Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH). He has been conducting academic research in multiphase and magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence modelling and directing graduate studies as Adjunct Professor at Department of Mechanics, KTH.