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Industry Uses Robotics to Create Motion Control Automation Devices

January 9, 2006
by Martin A. David
Technology Schools Columnist

If you've seen so many Star Wars films that you think robots are all walking department store manikins and rolling garbage cans, you've got a lot to learn. Robotics is a rapidly growing sector of industrial development. Almost every machine that has some form of motion control device in it uses automation robotics in order to function. If you enter a career in robotics, you will be helping to create the next generation of artificial intelligence devices.

Mobile Robotics Uses

The intelligent, mobile robotics industry has produced devices that can handle radioactive materials and explosives without endangering human lives. There are machines that can explore mines, act as security guardians, and even perform delicate surgery. Mobile robotics devices use vision, motion control, speech recognition, and the pattern learning abilities of artificial intelligence to create automation mechanisms for manufacturing and industrial applications, for commercial users, for the consumer market, and for defense and security applications.

Progress in Motion

Careers in robotics intersect with all of these markets and help develop new uses for robotics technology. Industry uses this motion control automation to make production lines that run with very little human intervention. Automation is also applied in commerce such as retail establishments, shipping, and market fulfillment operations. As a consumer, you have robotics automation devices in your automobile, in your CD or DVD changer, and in a growing number of devices around the home.

Growing AI Interest

The future will see even greater use of artificial intelligence and motion control technology. Careers in robotics will be among the most rapidly growing segments of the computer industry as more explorations produce collaboration possibilities between groups of robotics devices, more independent operation of automation machinery, and a growing use of artificial intelligence research.

About the Author

Martin A. David consults as a Senior Technical Writer for a number of Silicon Valley firms. He has written numerous feature articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times.