ROBOTICS - RESEARCH TASK

The twenty-first century has introduced many new

technologies into our daily lives, and robots are one
of the advancements of this era. Many of these are
affecting organisations across the globe, with digital
companies Apple and Google being some of the
largest companies in the world. Despite this, many
are not informed about the engineering and robotics
behind these machines.

WHAT IS RPA?

RPA, or Robotic Process Automation, is the software (programs or information used

by a computer) that can imitate human interactions, being specially coded to
complete tasks such as industrial work and office jobs. These robots reduce human
labour and can complete repetitive tasks while humans tackle other more complex
and valuable jobs. Robots can also complete these tasks more efficiently and
accurately than the typical worker, saving valuable time that could be taken
completing more strategic tasks. These machines are also better for the economy
and will save money in the long run. Many businesses such as offices could benefit
from this. Soon, human labour will be a thing of the past.

These RPA machines take around 8 weeks to create and are a low-cost solution to
many corporations’ problems. These robots are capable of organising information
across different digital applications, which will complete tasks much more efficiently
than a muddled and distracted human brain.

WHAT IS AI?

AI, an acronym for Artificial Intelligence, is anything

related to making robots smarter, or as the name
suggests, more intelligent. Society thinks of
mechanisms such as a stereotypical robot to be
able to do only specified tasks, coded by a human.
However, AI allows such machines to understand
and learn information given to them, acting on their
own depending on the situation. An example of AI is
Machine Learning (ML), which allows robots to learn and grow in intelligence without
human assistance. AI-embedded machinery can interpret large amounts of data and
detect patterns and trends, potential threats, and can forecast different outcomes to
a situation, all without a human having to interpret it for them. While RPA is useful for
routine tasks, it does not have the intelligence to learn by itself. RPA lacks the
capability to make informed decisions or judgements, and has little common sense.

AI tends to act in a more human-like way, creating its own conclusions,

understanding complicated material through its capability to recognise objects and
speech. Robots with AI can engage in human conversation (such as Apple’s Siri and
Google’s Alexa) and execute non-routine tasks. AI can assist society in many ways,
and the quickly-advancing technology suggests there is a bright future for it.

AI IN THE REAL WORLD

Although we don’t realise it, some online tools we use daily

are actually powered by AI! An example is Google. Have you
ever typed a word in the search bar, and suggested search
options are shown to you? This is AI at work. The AI, from
your keyword, collects data from the most popular searches
using your keyword. The interface is learning from collected
data without human assistance! This is one commonplace
example of AI.

Apple users should be familiar with Siri, the friendly virtual

assistant coded into your phones or digital devices. Siri almost seems like a real
person, right? This is the work of the AI coded into the system. Upon receiving a
request, Siri records your voice and translates the frequencies into a code, made up
of patterns and keywords. Siri then uses these phrases to interpret what the user
means, and works out the context of the sentence. Then, Siri chooses a suitable
reply from the information it has gathered. The AI is using its skills to understand
your phrases, creating full and cohesive sentences as a response.

AI is a commonplace thing and is accessible to nearly everyone, however we don’t

appreciate it as much as we should. The programming and science behind these
machines is complex, and we should not take this privilege for granted.
WHAT IS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION?

Digital transformation is the process of using digital technology to make

advancements to or create new business processes and customer experiences to
meet requirements. It is an umbrella term over both RPA and AI, creating new
opportunities in the business world. Digital transformation is preventing unnecessary
labour and allowing more minds to work on more complex problems, leaving robots
to do the work. It is creating a more efficient world for us and for our society.

CASE STUDY - DRIVERLESS CARS

Driverless cars are a new advancement in

the motoring world. Electric cars are
becoming more common amongst people
across the globe, and supports the global
warming movement that is happening
among young people. The driverless car is
a new technology that requires no humans
to control the vehicle. The machine informs
itself when to change lanes, slow down,
stop, and many others. However, there is a danger in the car making decisions for
itself.

Driverless vehicles can detect obstructions around them, preventing any

unnecessary accidents from occuring. It will stop if faced with an obstruction and
has been safety-tested many times. However, accidents can still occur. Studies by
Professor Qi Alfred Chen (paper here Auto Driving ) have shown that these vehicles
can be overly cautious. Even a small box or bicycle would halt it to a stop. It could
stop in a dangerous location, becoming a traffic obstruction or a cause for an
accident.

It is true that there are some dangers to self driving cars, however there are many
upsides too. Self driving cars have very little fossil fuel emissions and could be one
step closer to creating a climate-change free future. This would decrease
transport-caused pollution immensely and help our carbon footprint. (report here
Pros and Cons ). It could also allow the passengers to multitask and complete tasks
while in the vehicle, instead of having to drive.

Overall, although there are disadvantages to the driverless car, they could create a
productive, more sustainable future for our community and will benefit many.