Today, robotics engineering is one of the fastest-growing fields in engineering and technology. As we continue to enter the age of automation and artificial intelligence, demand for professionals with robotics-related skills continues to grow. Even so, many people wonder what exactly a robotics engineering company does. It’s not just about building robots; there are many different kinds of robotics companies that do very different things. There are generalist robotics firms that provide services across the board in all areas of robotics, but also more niche firms that focus on only a subset of services or even a single project. Here is an overview of what a typical robotics company does:
What Does a Robotics Company Do?
Every company has its own focus, but in general, these are the core activities that define a robotics engineering company.
– Designing and Building Robots – This sounds obvious, but it is one of the core activities of any robotics company. This involves everything from top-level strategy and design to individual small-scale components and their functionality.
– Developing AI and Machine Learning Algorithms – Robotics companies will often have teams of data scientists and AI specialists working with their robotics engineers to develop new algorithms for robot behavior and development. Robotics companies often specialize in a specific sector or niche, and so will only focus on a subset of AI-related work, such as in autonomous vehicles or drones.
– Creating Robotic Software and Systems – Robotics companies often focus on a specific type of software that helps to manage and control robots. This may be GUI software that human operators use to control or program robots, or it may be software used by robots themselves to perform automation and control other robots.
– Testing Robots and Producing Quality Assurance – Another aspect of robotics that goes hand in hand with AI development is quality assurance (QA). Robots will often need to be verified and tested, and robotics engineers are often involved in this process.
– Producing Industrial Automation – Many robotics companies specialize in industrial automation, which is the process of building robots that work in industry and manufacturing. This might not involve robots as we generally think of them, but rather the use of software to automate a particular process.
Build Robots
Building robots is at the core of any robotics company, and this is the most obvious service that robotics companies provide. This can be everything from designing and building a small prototype to developing a large-scale industrial robot.
Develop AI and Machine Learning Algorithms
Robotics companies will often have teams of data scientists and AI specialists working with their robotics engineers to develop new algorithms for robot behavior and development. This could include creating new machine learning algorithms for self-driving cars or drones, as well as new algorithms for robotic medical devices.
Create Robotic Software and Systems
Robotics companies may develop GUI software that human operators use to control or program robots, or software used by robots themselves to perform automation and control other robots. This could be for simple applications like a machine that picks up and sorts items, or complex software for managing a fleet of autonomous vehicles.
Test Robots and Produce Quality Assurance
Another aspect of robotics that goes hand in hand with AI development is quality assurance (QA). Robots will often need to be verified and tested, and robotics engineers are often involved in this process. This could be for a simple prototype, or it could be for a complex product that will be sold to clients.
Produce Industrial Automation
Many robotics firms specialize in industrial automation, which is the process of creating industrial and manufacturing robots. This might not involve robots as we generally think of them, but rather the use of software to automate a particular process. An example of this might be software used to control a factory or warehouse.
Conclusion
Those are the core activities that define a robotics engineering company. This is a rapidly expanding field, with many new and exciting discoveries and innovations happening all the time. As we continue to enter the age of automation and artificial intelligence, demand for professionals with robotics-related skills continues to grow.
