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  • Essay / Robots will transform our social spaces, how urban design will adapt to robots

    As cities experience a growing number of robotic workforces, the need for robot-friendly design becomes increasingly more critical. From our hawker centers to parks, the future of urban housing and mobility may well be shaped by and for the robots we live with. It is undeniable: whether we like it or not, we are witnessing a revolution in service robotics, both in the professional and personal fields. From residential floor cleaning to logistics delivery missions, robotics offers enormous benefits by improving productivity, efficiency and safety. Professional service robots are being used outside of the domestic setting and traditional manufacturing scenarios. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay They automate business processes that may or may not fall under the industrial sector. The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) forecasts an average growth rate of 20 to 25% between 2018 and 2020 for the professional services robot market, reaching a value of $27 billion. Personal service robots, on the other hand, are consumer-facing robots intended to automate tasks, primarily in the home. This could include things like standalone vacuum cleaners or window cleaners. This is a much smaller segment of service robots, but IFR still projects the market to be worth $11 billion by 2020. Most of these service robots will likely live in cities, which will present enormous challenges and cities will have to adapt. Of course, a growing robotic population is not in itself a bad thing: technological advancements, such as the cloud, IoT, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, make robot adoption beneficial and easy. However, as we adopt more and more robots, our infrastructure needs are changing. By preparing for this, policymakers, urban planners and architects can make it more likely that robots can lead inclusive lives within our society. Untapped potential for too long, much of the conversation around service robots has revolved around the fact that they are stealing our jobs and that we humans are becoming slaves to the machines. We need to reframe this discussion in terms of the potential of service robots. Many of these smart machines have the potential to alleviate the combined pressure of soaring costs, aging populations in industrialized countries and shortages of skilled workers, as well as the need to continually improve quality services and results. It is predicted that sales of all types of robots for household tasks (vacuuming, lawn mowing, window cleaning and other types) could reach almost 6.7 million units (valued at $2 billion in 2017 ) and 32.4 million units during the same period. 2018-2020, worth an estimated $11.3 billion. Other market research has also shed light on how robots are increasingly penetrating our social spaces and improving human lives. To enable service robots to contribute productively in the workplace, we need to rethink the design of their workplaces. Traditionally, the design of new contemporary spaces and everyday objects such as lighting and furniture targets the majority of the able-bodied population. Until recently, appropriate design principles have been.