THE ROLE OF THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN ROBOTICS
One constraint still to be overcome is that robot suppliers
currently have to establish teleoperator centres. These
(remote) human operators take over, via the Internet,
when the robots encounter situations they cannot handle
with confi dence. Furthermore, operators are still required
for road crossing exercises. This latter step is obviously
very dangerous, and the robots are still not able to always
perform this action independently. The report states that
robots are deployed in a new environment: they are fi rst “walked”
around to capture data, following which the data is sent to servers for
processing so that it can be converted into a suitable map, earmarking
edges, many classes of fi xed objects, drivable paths, and so on.
For those readers whose interest in logistics extends to the
last mile segment, the news, whilst interesting, is tinged with
disappointment, however. Pavement robots are still far from being
totally autonomous, note the authors of the report. Currently, they
are often deployed in environments such as US university campuses
where there is little pedestrian traffi c and where the pavements are
well structured. Moreover, many robot operations are also restricted
to daylight and so-called perception-free conditions.
What still needs to be done?
In general, concludes the report, there is still much work to do to
improve the navigation technology of robots. The robots will have
to learn to operate in more complex and varied environments,
and with minimal intervention. This will almost defi nitely require
extensive investment in software development. Included here are
the gathering of data, the defi nition of object classes, labelling the
data and training the robots in many environments and under
the ratio of operators to robots will need to be kept to an
absolute minimum if such businesses, which essentially
propose to eliminate costly wage overheads, are to
become viable and sustainable.
a large fl eet, with the ability to
offer robots as a delivery service.
Despite all the foregoing
caveats and constraints, the
future remains extremely
exciting for this technology. If
the likes of Amazon have seen
fi t to invest in and trial robotics,
then it would appear that this
is no transient development. If
robotics can be honed to its fi nal
pitch of potential (which surely
it will in the fullness of time),
then the last link of the logistics
chain will benefi t immeasurably
as a result.
varying conditions (including
climatic). It will also entail
writing algorithms for the
many challenges the robots will
encounter in the course of their
autonomous operation.
It almost goes without
saying that investment will be
essential. Robotics is heavy on
development costs, especially
the software side. The end
markets, according to the report,
are also highly competitive,
and thus impose tough price
constraints. It is felt that the
hardware itself is likely to be
commoditised, leading many to
outsource manufacturing once
a suitable fi nal design has been
agreed. Furthermore, payback
for many will stem from having
Footnote:
To learn more about this detailed 20 year
market forecast for autonomous robots,
visit www.IDTechEx.com/Mobile
www.airlogisticsinternational.com February 2020 15
/Mobile
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