The FutureList – Step into the Future

logo-futurelist

Insights

Coverage of top innovators and technology trends from across The FutureList community

From Inspection to Programming: The Role of Robotics in Manufacturing Efficiency

By Eric Kamande

As industries across the globe continue to modernize, automation is becoming increasingly central to maintaining productivity and efficiency. The robotics sector, which was once dominated by complex, specialized machines used by large corporations, is now experiencing a transformation. Companies of all sizes are leveraging robotics to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance performance. Industrial robots—ranging from those used in precision tasks to those that perform inspections—are leading the charge in reshaping manufacturing processes.

The International Federation of Robotics predicts that by 2030, over half of all production workers will be working alongside robots, underscoring the critical role automation will play in shaping the workforce. Yet, this rise in robotic adoption is not limited to major corporations; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also recognizing the immense potential of automation. In fact, many are now exploring robotics to address talent shortages, improve quality control, and boost overall operational efficiency.

While some sectors have seen sluggish adoption, robotics is now making its way into even the most complex and traditional industrial processes. Two companies, are at the forefront of this shift, each contributing groundbreaking innovations to the robotics space in unique ways.

ANYbotics: Revolutionizing Industrial Inspections with Smarter Robotics

Founded in Zurich, Switzerland by Dr. Péter Fankhauser, ANYbotics has emerged as a leader in autonomous robotics, specializing in AI-driven inspection solutions for industries like energy, chemicals, and mining. Their flagship product, the ANYmal robot, is designed to perform highly detailed and efficient inspections in hazardous and difficult-to-reach environments.

ANYbotics has garnered significant attention from major industrial players, including BP, Equinor, and Petrobras, who rely on the company’s cutting-edge technology to enhance operational safety, reduce costs, and increase productivity. The autonomous nature of ANYmal allows it to operate without human intervention, enabling 24/7 monitoring and inspections across a wide array of industrial settings. Equipped with environmental sensors for temperature, gas detection, and acoustic monitoring, the robot integrates AI analytics for advanced anomaly detection, making it an invaluable tool for critical industries.

A key differentiator for ANYbotics is its scalability. With $60 million in recent funding, the company is expanding its reach to the U.S. market and strengthening partnerships with industry giants like AWS and Siemens Energy. This positions ANYbotics to redefine how industrial inspections are conducted globally, empowering industries to improve asset management and minimize risks.

T-robotics: AI and Adaptability in Industrial Robotics Programming

Founded by Asad Tirmizi and based in San Francisco and Trondheim, Norway, T-robotics is transforming how industrial robots are programmed. Traditionally, industrial robots have relied on point-to-point programming, where engineers manually specify each position for the robot to move between. While effective, this method is time-consuming and lacks flexibility, especially for environments with complex or dynamic tasks.

T-robotics has developed ActGPT, an AI-driven platform that enables robots to be programmed using natural language. Instead of requiring detailed, manual code or instructions, operators can simply communicate tasks to the robot conversationally. This approach eliminates the need for specialized technical expertise, opening up the potential for non-programmers to interact with and control robotic systems. ActGPT can process multi-modal data from visual inputs, haptic feedback, and spoken language, allowing robots to not only understand their tasks but also adapt to unforeseen challenges in real time.

The company’s technology is robot-agnostic, meaning it can integrate with a wide range of commercial robotic arms and other systems. This flexibility is a game-changer for manufacturers, as it allows existing robots to be easily retrofitted with AI capabilities without requiring complete overhauls. T-robotics’ solution enables manufacturers to increase robot utility, reduce downtime, and drive operational efficiencies across various use cases, including machine tending, assembly, and material handling.

Through its partnership with ABB, one of the world’s largest robotics and automation companies, T-robotics is advancing the application of conversational AI in the robotics space, simplifying the interface and driving the next generation of industrial robot operations.

In conclusion, the innovations driven by companies like ANYbotics and T-robotics are emblematic of a larger shift in manufacturing, where the capabilities of robots are expanding beyond simple automation to more complex, intelligent, and adaptable systems. The rise of AI-powered robots that can learn from experience and interact with humans in more natural ways is changing the way industries approach everything from routine maintenance to high-level decision-making.

Get innovation insights from The FutureList weekly. Subscribe to our newsletter here