10.

9 NON-INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
The advances in robotics technology are not directed only for its use in
industries.
There has been alnost a parallel growth of robotic technology in non-industrial
environments. Robots are finding their way into research laboratories, energy
plants, agriculture, hospitals, space, homnes, textiles, services, education etc. It
may be sometimes difficult to classify a particular application into whether it is
industrial or non-industrial.
The applications of robots are only limited by the need and imagination of the
developer and theend user. Robots have almost invaded in every walk of life. The
technology is advancing rapidly and today if you think a robot cannot do
particular task or you read about it in fiction, it will become a reality tomorrow.
Different applications of robots in some diverse segments are listed below. This
list is in no way exhaustive.
Home Sector

Science fiction stories always considered robots as domestic slaves. This is going
to be a reality in near future, though many of the current domestic applications are
not much more thanexpensive toys.Some of the domestic applications possible
are:

" Sweeping and cleaning.

" Cooking.
" Entertainment.ilek
" Replacing pets.
" Garden maintenance,
"Security.
Health Care
The use of robotsin human health care has a wide scope. Robotic technology is in
Use and is going to expand in health care for:
' Patient care and monitoring,
"Surgery.
Rehabilitationprosthetic limbs and robotic wheel chairs.
microsurgery.
Microrobotscan be injected into the human body to perform
Service Sector
like:ho eoboite
Service robots cancarry outdiverse functions
 Robot Applications
" Traffic control.
. Fire fighting.
" Drive a vehicle.
" Sweep office rug, classrooms, streets etc.
" Manage shopping malls.
" Serve food in restaurant.
" Maintenance and repair.
" Disaster recovery.
Agriculture and Farms
much límited today but is
Robot'suse in agriculture and farming sector is very
going to increase. They can be used to:
" Plough fields, sow seeds and transplant sapling etc.
" Pluck, sort and pack fruits.
" Breed livestock.
" Animal shearing.
Research and Exploration
research in many inaccessible areas have been possible
With the help of robots, to face hazardous environments and remote
capabilities
because of their greater
handling capabilities. These include:
" Space exploration.
" Under-sea exploration.
" Nuclear research.
Geological exploration.
different sectors can be expanded further to
The list of tasks given above for
should
include following. Arobot
cricket, etc.
" Play football,
" Knit a sweater.
repair a puncture.
" Change a tire,
" Dispense gasoline.
" Dance.
instruments.
" Play musical
" Polish diamonds.
" Make paintings. handling,
" Talk and listen. applications, other than material
potential
Robots have many
assembly, etc. in
" Pharmaceuticals industry.
" Textile industry.
" Chemical industry.
Mining industry
Construction industry.
" Energy sector.
412 Robotics athd Control

Robots have potentialto change our economy,our health, our living style, and
the world we live in. New uses of robots bring hopes and possibilities, but also
have associated dangers and risks. In section 1.2, three laws of robotics,
postulated by IsaacAsimov in 1942 as a 3-point 'code of conduct for the robots,
were given. Looking at the developments of the past 60 years one needs to think
dothese laws stillapply, or do they need a change?