Robotics: Road Ahead for Mechanical and Physical Necessities, Bridging Artificial Intelligence, and Integration Challenges

Abstract

On behalf of the ASME Robotics Technology Group and its Working Groups, this paper provides a preview of their recently published 2024 ASME Robotics Roadmap. The onset of Industry 5.0 and its coexistence with Industry 4.0 are moving robots and manufacturing from traditional automation into the “smart manufacturing” realm. With conflicting priorities of productivity and safety, building mutual “trust” between robots and humans will require bridging the sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) with the mechanical-n-physical necessities to successfully augment the robot's awareness and intelligence. To this end, the ASME Robotics Technology Group convened several working groups to produce a robotics roadmap that embodies the mechanical engineering aspects. The roadmap was written with the aim (1) to embody mechanical and physical necessities and bridge the gaps between AI and integration challenges; (2) to identify critical trends, top-of-market challenges, and knowledge gaps; and (3) to identify opportunities in the journey path to get there and in strengthening the mechanical engineering footprint in robotics technology. While robotics cuts across many technological areas, industry segments, and applications for the greater good, the focus is on identifying what are the enabling technologies and science needed for: human–robot physical interaction and beyond physical; robot-to-robot and robot-to-(autonomous) machine collaboration; increasing robot repeatability and accuracy; space-based robotic manufacturing and assembly; human-centered manufacturing; risk and safety aspects of robotics; and what should ASME, government, and industry do to advance robotics. The roadmap is to serve as a guidepost for ASME robotics activities, its membership, and the robotics community-at-large.