‘Economically, growth of robots world-wide is not uniform in terms of RoI’
Published on : Monday 30-11--0001
Are robots a boon or a threat to human beings, especially when it comes to jobs?
Yes, it’s a beneficial technology for the mankind. Robotics is a platform which is still under research and that too at a very early stage. In the meanwhile robots are already doing so many risky and strenuous jobs that humans used to do, especially in automobile assembly and mining and coal industries. In the nuclear reactors, considered to be the most harmful environment for human beings, most tasks are now performed by robots with manipulators and autonomous vehicles. On the other hand there are also threats when it comes to UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles/drones) and autonomous quadcopters as these come in wide use in the near future. In case of jobs, there will be some taken over by robots, be in in industry, or service robots in medical and hospitality, but that will not yet be a big threat.
Is the robots-taking-jobs argument exaggerated, as there are still jobs waiting to be filled?
Yes, I do agree partially because robots will take away jobs in some sectors, but not at a much higher level. There will be unemployment, but it is a myth that robots will take over all the jobs; someone has to operate a robot, someone has to service that robot, someone has to monitor the robot and someone have to programme and reconfigure the robot, so there will be jobs requiring different skills. At the bottom line 1 out of 4 will lose jobs due to the evolution of robotics industry but that too for a short span of time. But when you consider it for a long-term, the scenario would be unpredictable.
While robots are adapting fast to new roles, are their human counterparts slow in doing so?
Humans are the smartest machines on this planet, and humans have made the robots and drones in order to make life peaceful and relaxed for future generations, which may lead to laziness in human society which leads to unemployment. This is especially true as robots are adapting to each and every role that is designated by human beings with more precision and accuracy than humans can achieve. For the next few years this might not make much impact but in for a long run humans have to accelerate themselves to compete with the robot’s efficiency.
Compared to the advanced economies, robot penetration in India is still low. Will there be a dramatic change in the near future?
Economically, the growth of robots world-wide is not uniform in terms of Return of Investment compared to technologies like AI, IoT, Blockchain, etc. Because robotics is the toughest platform when compared to all other technologies which are trending now and here we have to concentrate on hardware, software, algorithm development, service, maintenance, etc. So to have a robotics startup very high investment is needed with a long-incubation process and a team which is technically sound. At the moment India does not have this kind of expertise in robotics that can make a prototype and take it to the market to make it a commercial success. But yes, there are a few startups which are trying to make difference in the robotics industry in India in terms of autonomous vehicles and drones, so let us hope for the best outcome in the next few years.
Finally, will man and robot co-exist in harmony?
Yes, obviously man and robots can be in harmony together there is no such possibility that robots will completely destroy the human society the way it has evolved. But yes, humans may lose jobs in many sectors where they have dominated for decades, but that does not mean robots can destroy the entire ecosystem. I have coined my own quotes for the robotics industry: “Robots will be good slaves and humans can be their masters for next one or two decades; but, in long-run robots are a huge threat to mankind”.
Thameem Fowzan is a robotics tech lead and robotics software developer and SLAM researcher who works on autonomous navigation. He has expertise in Robot Operating System (ROS), navigation stack, self-driving vehicles and is engaged in developing navigation and path planning architecture for humanoid robots and self-driving vehicles. As a Robotics Consultant, Thameem is facilitating skilled employees in robotics starups in India to finish their prototypes and make them commercially successful. He is managing a robotics forum on Linkedin, which paves way for many budding roboticists.