The use of robotics may be vital to reaching the sustainability goals laid out by the United Nations, according to a new report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
Smart agriculture robot. Credit: Suwin / Shutterstock
Smart farming presents nearly endless opportunities for robotics, which may be essential in meeting sustainability goals. Credit: Suwin / Shutterstock
13 of the organisation's 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), including clean energy, industrial innovation and sustainable agriculture could utilise some form of robotics in the world's race to tackle the climate crisis and leave a better world for future generations, it claims.
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“The use of robots responds to the UN´s call for action,” says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), adding that the IFR supports the UN's goals.
"There are fantastic new ways in which robots save resources and produce green technologies of the future," he added.
Solar and wind energy are expected to dominate the energy mix by 2050 when most nations' net-zero goals are expected to be met.
Solar panels could produce one-third of the world's total electricity by the mid-decade, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the use of industrial robots in order to meet the demand for renewable infrastructure, both for public and personal use.
Whether these robots replace or supplement human workers remains to be seen. Replacement of a human workforce is one of the greatest fears for Industry 4.0, which means that Industry 5.0 may attempt to bring back a "human-centric approach."
Robots are currently being used in automated factory production lines, but significant advancements in this technology will also be required. The way energies like solar integrate with systems will need continued development.
For example, Swedish firm Absolicon has developed what it considers to be a gamechanger for the adoption of solar heat as a source of energy, having created a parabolic reflector that turns the solar radiation into steam that can aid in industrial-scale production.
The firm claims each square metre of the thermal collector can produce the equivalent of 100 litres of oil. The production of these is aided by robotics supplied by Swiss-Swedish engineering firm ABB.
The use of robotics in the development of clean energy sources meets the criteria for the UN's SDG 7.
The average industry robot has an expected lifespan of around 30 years, the IFR claims, and it is often more efficient to repair the machines on-site due to the losses that production downtime can cost.
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Many robotics suppliers, including ABB, Fanuc and KUKA run dedicated repair centres which contain spare parts and are where thousands of robots per year are refurbished.
Innovation in this way can increase output while also allowing companies to optimise production hitches and has other sustainability issues such as emissions reductions cover the UN's SDG 9 on "Industrial Innovation."
"Smart agriculture," which forms part of UN SDG 2, represents one of the largest areas for development regarding sustainability. As populations - particularly in urban areas - continue to grow, ensuring crops do not fail or have greater yields will be essential in dealing with all the extra mouths to feed.
According to the UN itself, the global population could surpass 11 billion by 2100. Overpopulation is already becoming an issue and with the habitat destruction that comes with catastrophic climate change, the race is on to develop technologies that ensure as much food as possible.
The opportunities for robotics in this sector are nearly endless, and it is likely much of it will be automated.
Here at Industry Europe, we've covered drones that can manage and spread seeds to aid in reforestation; other types of drones that can both monitor crops and potential habitat destruction and ward off wild animals; satellite imaging and AI that helps micromanage crop development; or even 5G-powered "agri-robots" that could aid in reducing soil degradation, reduce sector emissions and strengthening agricultural supply chains.
The IFR suggests that agri-robots could travel slowly up and down rows of crops, and identify and burn weeds using cameras and AI for precision targeting, which not only reduces the need for herbicides but allows for the burning of weeds while the crops are growing.
This has been seen with robots such as the BlueBot 2.0, which has seen use in weeding sugar beet fields.
Ultimately, the goals of SDG mean ending world hunger, which smart agriculture will play a role in.
“The transformation on the way to a sustainable use of resources is proving robotics and automation to be key technologies,” according to IFR General Secretary Susanne Bieller.
“Intelligent automation reduces production costs: This helps battery technology achieve a breakthrough in e-mobility for example or fuel cell production for hydrogen-power as an alternative to fossil energy. At the same time, highly efficient production technology reduces CO2 emissions.”
Other SDGs that robotics could aid in include SDG 3: "Good Health and Wellbeing" for all, which could include robots working in healthcare, the automation of therapy sessions using AI, micromotors boosting drug discovery, the 3D printing of medical implants, or precision treatment of diseases.
Read more: "Automate or evaporate": IE meets IFR's Dr Susanne Bieller at GMIS2021
SDG 11 deals with the topic of sustainable cities and communities, which could be automated and made more efficient using robotics and AI.
SDG 14 pertains to the conservation of the oceans, which could be done through satellite monitoring or using robotic technologies such as so-called "aquaculture," which is typically automated fishing processes designed to preserve marine ecosystems.
Similarly, EDG 15 applies to the conservation of life on land, which has already seen several developments, some of which have already been mentioned.
- A complete list of the UN's SDGs can be found here.
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