How robotics and automation are redefining the future of industry

Ángel C. Lázaro Ríos, head of robotics and automation in GMV’s Industry sector, and Pablo Oliete Vivas, CEO of Atlas Tecnológico, appeared on LA HORA PREMIUMprogram to provide in-depth insight into the impact of robotics on various sectors and what the future might hold. Lázaro Ríos highlighted how this technology is evolving and how breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning are accelerating its implementation in increasingly complex and diverse applications.

He also mentioned the four major trends that are transforming the sector, including collaborative robotics, which has gone from performing simple tasks to more sophisticated applications. These types of robots, capable of working side by side with humans, are opening up new, previously unthinkable opportunities in industries. Mobile manipulators were also mentioned as a key solution for precision tasks in dynamic environments. Furthermore, the application of AI and machine learning is driving greater autonomy in robots, improving their ability to learn and adapt. Finally, humanoid robots, thanks to their physical similarity to humans, are being introduced in sectors where adaptation of environments is minimal, facilitating their implementation.

However, he also addressed the current challenges facing robotics in key sectors, arguing that the main challenge is in the area of transportation and logistics, where the full automation of processes is still a long way off. He noted that autonomous systems, especially in the agricultural sector, offer great business potential, while sectors such as hotels and restaurants are already enthusiastically embracing robotics. In all these fields, a common denominator is the shortage of manpower to perform jobs that are often difficult or unattractive to humans, such as the inspection of refineries or the monitoring of agricultural silos.

Lázaro Ríos stressed that Spain is among the ten countries with the highest robot installation figures, reaching a margin of 31%, according to data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Although China, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Germany are leaders this field, Spain has made significant progress in its adoption of robotic technologies.

GMV, for its part, is driving the sector forward with its groundbreaking uPathWayplatform, which has already been set up for the management and application of autonomous mobile robots in sectors such as energy, logistics, and agrifood. One of the key features of this solution is the “opportunistic inspection” module, which uses a visual AI agent to autonomously detect anomalous situations during robot deployment. This development makes it possible to identify and record incidents in real time without the need for a detailed object model, a crucial breakthrough in operational efficiency.