Get Ready,,,It's just a matter of time! We are in the infancy in robotics. I plan to spend more time looking into companies which develop robotics and robots for not only commercial use, but also for residential applications. I need a Judy Jettson to bring me coffee and breakfast in bed while Jake Jettson is out pressure washing and cutting my grass. The times,,,,they are a changin'!
Robots Work for $0.75 an Hour
The average cost to operate an medium-sized industrial robot averages 75 cents per hour.
Consequently, businesses of all shapes and sizes are scrambling to replace human workers with industrial robots.
As I mentioned, Foxconn, maker of Apple's iPhone and iPad, announced they'll replace human workers with one million robots... Amazon just spent $750 million on warehouse robots...
The list of companies turning to robots goes on and on: Staples, Gap, Crate & Barrel, Zappos, Office Depot, Saks Fifth Avenue, Toys "R" Us, and Walgreens, to name a few.
And this transition to robots makes total sense...
Why pay a Chinese worker $27.50 when a robot can do the job for 75 cents per hour?
And keep in mind that robots don't need health insurance or expensive benefits. And they don't require sick leave, lunch breaks, or vacation time.
Now, it used to be that robots weren't practical for most businesses...
Robots of the past were large, clunky, mechanical giants. They could be programmed to do a single task, and had to be kept in separate cages to protect human workers from serious injury.
In addition, when a company wanted to use a robot, they had to design their entire factory to accommodate the robot. This required both a tremendous amount of planning and an enormous investment of time and money.
Consequently, robots were reserved for very large corporations and the military.
But times have changed...
We've reached a tipping point, and robots are now ready for the mainstream.
There are three reasons for this tipping point...
The Tipping Point has Been Reached!
Tipping Point #1: Amazing Artificial Intelligence
That's right, robots are getting smarter.
For example, IBM created a robot named "Watson."
Watson can process up to 60 million pages of information per second. Pretty incredible...
In order to demonstrate his prowess, IBM put "Watson" on television's Jeopardy! against former champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings... Using a robotic finger to press his buzzer, Watson beat the champs for a $1 million prize.
Watson went on to compete on shows Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Wheel of Fortune, and Survivor. And now, taking it a step further, Watson is now reviewing case histories at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, learning to make diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
IBM business chief Manoj Saxena says 90% of nurses in the field who work with Watson now follow his guidance.
As robots get smarter, the types of jobs they can do is virtually unlimited...
Tipping Point #2: Stunning Technological Advances
Thanks to stunning technological advances, the things robots are now able to do are amazing.
For example, researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new sensor that is sensitive to the level of one gram. This gives today's robots a very gentle "touch" and makes them versatile and incredibly nimble.
In addition, scientists at Stanford University have developed artificial skin that gives robots the ability to "feel" objects as light as a butterfly.
Armed with these technologies, robots are able to do a variety of tasks requiring dexterity.
They can now fold towels, change tires, and even mix drinks.
In many cases, robots are so sophisticated, they can perform tasks well beyond the capabilities of the most dexterous humans...
Take a Philips Electronics factory, for example, where a robot arm endlessly forms three perfect bends in two connector wires and slips them into holes too small for the eye to see.
"With these machines, we can make any consumer device in the world," says Binne Visser, an electrical engineer who manages the Philips assembly line.
And get this: Technology has become so sophisticated that robots are now able to drive cars... legally!
Google has developed robot cars that are now officially legal in California. Armed with video camera, radar sensors, a GPS, a laser range-finder, and a computer system... the fleet of 12 cars (mostly Toyota Priuses) have already logged over 300,000 miles of driverless travel on California's highways.
California Governor Jerry Brown calls the autonomous cars "science fiction becoming reality."
Here's the incredible thing: Robot drivers react faster than humans, have 360-degree perception, and do not get distracted, sleepy, or intoxicated.
And it's not just cars...
Congress passed a law that will open national airspace to unmanned aircraft by 2017.
More and more, technology is taking robots beyond the abilities of humans.
Of course, until recently, the cost of robots made them prohibitive for most people to use.
Not anymore...
Tipping Point #3: Dramatically Declining Costs
As technology improves, the cost of robots has declined.
According to Kiplinger, the cost of robots has experienced dramatic declines over the past few years.
Consider the new sensor developed by Harvard University... Not only is the sensor better than previous sensors, but it is also ten times cheaper than anything on the market.
Bottom line: Robots are getting smarter, more sophisticated, and cheaper.
Put that all together, and what have you got?
That's right: a wave of new robots that are not only affordable for the masses, but are able to accomplish advanced human tasks.
Let me introduce you to one now.
Meet Baxter, the New Face of America's Workforce
tao-robots-baxterStanding six feet tall, Baxter represents a whole new generation of industrial robots.
At first glance, he seems like something out of The Jetsons. But he is absolutely real...
First, Baxter is small, agile, and nimble.
He has cutting-edge sensors and a 360-degree sonar camera. That means he can detect when humans are around him. In fact, when a human approaches, Baxter slows down his work pace and even "looks" at the human using his cartoon-like face.
Consequently, Baxter is safe to work right next to humans. No need for special integration or protective cages.
Baxter is also extremely flexible. He is pre-programmed to do a variety of tasks. That means he can go from job to job without costly reprogramming.
The incredible thing is Baxter is smart and can be trained to do different jobs.
That's right, he can be "trained."
It's almost as if he has a brain. All you need do is take his hand and show him what you want him to do: pick something up, put parts together, etc. And because of his intelligence, he can be easily moved from task to task, job to job, all with a simple training session!
Baxter is almost like bringing another human into the workforce. He is agile, gentle, flexible, and smart. He is easy to use and can adapt to changing job requirements.
In other words, he is ideal for the small manufacturer.
But the best part is his price tag...
Most industrial robots cost a minimum of $50,000 and run well over $80,000. The robot system could cost anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000.
Baxter costs a mere $25,000 — and because he comes pre-programmed, there are no additional costs. Baxter’s cost is equivalent to an average U.S. production worker’s annual salary.
Robots like Baxter are ideal for small businesses looking to cut costs.
According to Inc. Magazine, robots like Baxter could replace 30 million human workers in the next decade.
Already, robots are taking the workforce by storm.
And the impact they are having on companies that use them is profound.
For example, leading maker of plastic novelties Characteristix Limited has used robots to boost its manufacturing performance by over 100%.
Franklin Bronze, a producer of ceramic shells, used a robot to increase daily production from 140 to 200 parts... while cutting man-hours in half.
Australian company D&M, which specializes in spray painting, added robots to its production process and saw both productivity and profitability rise by 80%. In addition, robots are so efficient, the company reduced paint consumption by 35%.
Kverneland Group, a manufacturer of agricultural machines, has used robots to reduce production time from 180 minutes to a mere 45 minutes.
Can you see the potential here?
There is almost nothing that robots can't do... and to stay competitive, companies will be forced to either go with robots — or get crushed.
As more and more companies move to using robots, the companies that provide the robots will soar.
The upside is virtually unlimited...
Robots Work for $0.75 an Hour
The average cost to operate an medium-sized industrial robot averages 75 cents per hour.
Consequently, businesses of all shapes and sizes are scrambling to replace human workers with industrial robots.
As I mentioned, Foxconn, maker of Apple's iPhone and iPad, announced they'll replace human workers with one million robots... Amazon just spent $750 million on warehouse robots...
The list of companies turning to robots goes on and on: Staples, Gap, Crate & Barrel, Zappos, Office Depot, Saks Fifth Avenue, Toys "R" Us, and Walgreens, to name a few.
And this transition to robots makes total sense...
Why pay a Chinese worker $27.50 when a robot can do the job for 75 cents per hour?
And keep in mind that robots don't need health insurance or expensive benefits. And they don't require sick leave, lunch breaks, or vacation time.
Now, it used to be that robots weren't practical for most businesses...
Robots of the past were large, clunky, mechanical giants. They could be programmed to do a single task, and had to be kept in separate cages to protect human workers from serious injury.
In addition, when a company wanted to use a robot, they had to design their entire factory to accommodate the robot. This required both a tremendous amount of planning and an enormous investment of time and money.
Consequently, robots were reserved for very large corporations and the military.
But times have changed...
We've reached a tipping point, and robots are now ready for the mainstream.
There are three reasons for this tipping point...
The Tipping Point has Been Reached!
Tipping Point #1: Amazing Artificial Intelligence
That's right, robots are getting smarter.
For example, IBM created a robot named "Watson."
Watson can process up to 60 million pages of information per second. Pretty incredible...
In order to demonstrate his prowess, IBM put "Watson" on television's Jeopardy! against former champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings... Using a robotic finger to press his buzzer, Watson beat the champs for a $1 million prize.
Watson went on to compete on shows Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Wheel of Fortune, and Survivor. And now, taking it a step further, Watson is now reviewing case histories at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, learning to make diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
IBM business chief Manoj Saxena says 90% of nurses in the field who work with Watson now follow his guidance.
As robots get smarter, the types of jobs they can do is virtually unlimited...
Tipping Point #2: Stunning Technological Advances
Thanks to stunning technological advances, the things robots are now able to do are amazing.
For example, researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new sensor that is sensitive to the level of one gram. This gives today's robots a very gentle "touch" and makes them versatile and incredibly nimble.
In addition, scientists at Stanford University have developed artificial skin that gives robots the ability to "feel" objects as light as a butterfly.
Armed with these technologies, robots are able to do a variety of tasks requiring dexterity.
They can now fold towels, change tires, and even mix drinks.
In many cases, robots are so sophisticated, they can perform tasks well beyond the capabilities of the most dexterous humans...
Take a Philips Electronics factory, for example, where a robot arm endlessly forms three perfect bends in two connector wires and slips them into holes too small for the eye to see.
"With these machines, we can make any consumer device in the world," says Binne Visser, an electrical engineer who manages the Philips assembly line.
And get this: Technology has become so sophisticated that robots are now able to drive cars... legally!
Google has developed robot cars that are now officially legal in California. Armed with video camera, radar sensors, a GPS, a laser range-finder, and a computer system... the fleet of 12 cars (mostly Toyota Priuses) have already logged over 300,000 miles of driverless travel on California's highways.
California Governor Jerry Brown calls the autonomous cars "science fiction becoming reality."
Here's the incredible thing: Robot drivers react faster than humans, have 360-degree perception, and do not get distracted, sleepy, or intoxicated.
And it's not just cars...
Congress passed a law that will open national airspace to unmanned aircraft by 2017.
More and more, technology is taking robots beyond the abilities of humans.
Of course, until recently, the cost of robots made them prohibitive for most people to use.
Not anymore...
Tipping Point #3: Dramatically Declining Costs
As technology improves, the cost of robots has declined.
According to Kiplinger, the cost of robots has experienced dramatic declines over the past few years.
Consider the new sensor developed by Harvard University... Not only is the sensor better than previous sensors, but it is also ten times cheaper than anything on the market.
Bottom line: Robots are getting smarter, more sophisticated, and cheaper.
Put that all together, and what have you got?
That's right: a wave of new robots that are not only affordable for the masses, but are able to accomplish advanced human tasks.
Let me introduce you to one now.
Meet Baxter, the New Face of America's Workforce
tao-robots-baxterStanding six feet tall, Baxter represents a whole new generation of industrial robots.
At first glance, he seems like something out of The Jetsons. But he is absolutely real...
First, Baxter is small, agile, and nimble.
He has cutting-edge sensors and a 360-degree sonar camera. That means he can detect when humans are around him. In fact, when a human approaches, Baxter slows down his work pace and even "looks" at the human using his cartoon-like face.
Consequently, Baxter is safe to work right next to humans. No need for special integration or protective cages.
Baxter is also extremely flexible. He is pre-programmed to do a variety of tasks. That means he can go from job to job without costly reprogramming.
The incredible thing is Baxter is smart and can be trained to do different jobs.
That's right, he can be "trained."
It's almost as if he has a brain. All you need do is take his hand and show him what you want him to do: pick something up, put parts together, etc. And because of his intelligence, he can be easily moved from task to task, job to job, all with a simple training session!
Baxter is almost like bringing another human into the workforce. He is agile, gentle, flexible, and smart. He is easy to use and can adapt to changing job requirements.
In other words, he is ideal for the small manufacturer.
But the best part is his price tag...
Most industrial robots cost a minimum of $50,000 and run well over $80,000. The robot system could cost anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000.
Baxter costs a mere $25,000 — and because he comes pre-programmed, there are no additional costs. Baxter’s cost is equivalent to an average U.S. production worker’s annual salary.
Robots like Baxter are ideal for small businesses looking to cut costs.
According to Inc. Magazine, robots like Baxter could replace 30 million human workers in the next decade.
Already, robots are taking the workforce by storm.
And the impact they are having on companies that use them is profound.
For example, leading maker of plastic novelties Characteristix Limited has used robots to boost its manufacturing performance by over 100%.
Franklin Bronze, a producer of ceramic shells, used a robot to increase daily production from 140 to 200 parts... while cutting man-hours in half.
Australian company D&M, which specializes in spray painting, added robots to its production process and saw both productivity and profitability rise by 80%. In addition, robots are so efficient, the company reduced paint consumption by 35%.
Kverneland Group, a manufacturer of agricultural machines, has used robots to reduce production time from 180 minutes to a mere 45 minutes.
Can you see the potential here?
There is almost nothing that robots can't do... and to stay competitive, companies will be forced to either go with robots — or get crushed.
As more and more companies move to using robots, the companies that provide the robots will soar.
The upside is virtually unlimited...
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'Everything works out in the end,,,If it hasn't worked out,,it's not the end'
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