Can robotics help us achieve sustainable development?
Table of Contents
Introduction
There's no question that we need to live more sustainably if we want to protect the future of our planet. That means exploring new and innovative ways to work toward achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals, which aim to make the world a more equitable place.
Robots can help us do this by saving us time and money and taking on otherwise dangerous jobs for humans—which is precisely why they're an essential part of our collective future. There are different types of robots with various purposes, and they all have a role to play as we continue working toward creating a genuinely sustainable future for everyone on Earth.
Here's how robotics will help us achieve sustainable development:
Creating an environment for it to thrive
Robotics is a technology that is still in its infancy, but it will change the world. The most important aspect of robotics is creating an environment for it to thrive.
When we talk about robotics and its relationship with sustainable development, we must consider three factors:
The technology itself, how we use it, and how we design our society around it.
Read the 15 emerging technologies here.
Robotics has the potential to reduce pollution because of:
More efficient transportation systems
Higher levels of automation in manufacturing
Greater accuracy in factories
Better monitoring for automated equipment so that maintenance can be done at regular intervals instead of whenever something breaks down unexpectedly
Using robots instead of humans for dangerous jobs such as bomb disposal
Underwater exploration (a benefit shared by other technologies like autonomous cars)
Finding creative ways to reuse existing components rather than continually producing new ones through recycling efforts
Reducing waste by making sure nothing goes unused while still being able to meet all demands—for example, solar panels have more energy than needed during peak hours but not enough during low demand times such as at night or on cloudy days when clouds block sunlight from reaching solar panels installed on rooftops.
A.I will take less time and cost less than humans d
Artificial Intelligence will be more economical than human labor and more reliable. AI can perform repetitive tasks more efficiently than humans, which is why it's so valuable for manufacturing.
Read more here.
Furthermore, It can take on more dangerous tasks that would be too risky for people to do, like mining or working near heavy machinery. So if you want to build a house but don't want any humans involved in the process, robots are available for purchase today!
Robots can be used to help us achieve the SDGs
Many people don't fully understand the SDGs. They think they're just about the environment, but they're actually about social and economic development as well. The robots used in factories can be used to help us achieve these goals by making factories more efficient and assisting people in working safer.
Read the SDG4: for education sustainability article here.
For example, a robot could ensure enough materials for each worker to use on their machine or check that all of the workers' safety equipment is working correctly. This will help us achieve goal number six: quality education for everyone! This is just one example of how robotics can help us achieve sustainable development -- there are so many more ways!
Protective robots can inspire trust between humans and robots
Protective robots can inspire trust between humans and robots alike, which would be suitable for building peace. As a result, defensive robots could be used to protect people, the environment, the economy, and the government of a country or even the entire world.
Service robots will help sustainable development
Service robots can help sustainable development by reshaping economic structures and disrupting traditional industries
When we talk about service robots, we're referring to a broad category of machines that perform tasks for the benefit of humans. These tasks could be anything from helping with household chores to aiding in the medical field or manufacturing industry.
Service robots don't need to be as complex or sophisticated as industrial automation systems—they need to be practical enough that people are willing to pay for them. So, for example, a robot that does laundry wouldn't necessarily have advanced intelligence capabilities like speech recognition software; instead, it would rely on an instruction manual or pattern recognition software that allows it to follow simple commands like "wash clothes" or "fold shirts" without having any knowledge of the language itself (though this is changing). So what's so great about service robots? Besides being cool , they offer many benefits:
Transportation robots will be able to accomplish various tasks
You might think this is an idea that only applies to developing countries. You'd be wrong.
In developed countries, robots can help with transportation in various ways. You may read more on Importance of robotics in developing country here.
For example, they can easily pilot planes, boats, and trains without human pilots or drivers; they can move packages from one place to another without having to pay employees over time; they can even help deliver food directly from restaurants to customers' doors! These are great examples of how robotics will play a role in our lives as we move toward a more sustainable future.
Robots will save lives, but they won't replace doctors or rescuers
Robots can help save lives by performing too dangerous tasks for humans. Robots are being used to clean up the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, where an earthquake and tsunami caused a nuclear meltdown in 2011. The disaster contaminated land with radiation and forced thousands of people from their homes.
Robots will be able to search for missing radioactive material and remove it from places where humans cannot go because of high levels of radiation exposure.
Robots also have the potential to help save lives by performing tasks that are too difficult or repetitive for humans to do safely or efficiently. Some examples include:
Searching collapsed buildings after earthquakes and other natural disasters so rescuers can find survivors faster than they could with their hands alone (this has already been done successfully in Nepal)
Moving heavy machinery out of dangerous areas after earthquakes so rescuers can get through more quickly without being crushed by debris themselves (also already being tested at Fukushima
Robots can build infrastructure.
Robots can build infrastructure for us, saving money and boosting development. Building infrastructure is a slow process that often involves manual labor in dangerous or inaccessible places.
However, these are jobs that robots can do better than humans: they're faster, more reliable, and require less training. Plus, they'll be able to work around the clock without breaks or food breaks—meaning you could have roads built overnight!
Robotics is a path toward a sustainable future.
Robotics is a path toward a sustainable future. We live in an age where technology disrupts almost every industry, with robotics at the forefront. As AI advances and robots become more autonomous and complex, they are poised to transform our lives and drive economic growth.
In fact, according to PwC's annual global robotics report, investments in robotics are expected to grow by 10% per year through 2025. The SDGs were set out as aspirational goals by world leaders in 2015: They include ending poverty; protecting the planet; ensuring good health; providing education for all; achieving gender equality; reducing inequality within and between countries; creating decent work for all; building peaceful societies; achieving zero hunger by 2030
Conclusion
In the first place, robotics can help us achieve the SDGs by delivering tangible solutions to many of humanity's issues. The AI robots will save time and money so we can focus on other things, while service robots will reshape our economic structures. Protective robots will increase trust between humans and machines, paving the way for a more peaceful world. Transportation robots can accomplish tasks that are not useful anymore or that don't need human intervention. They'll also save lives by performing duties like building infrastructure and rescuing people who are in danger. Finally, they may even replace doctors someday!