NOT YOUR FATHER'S ROBOT

POLYFUNCTIONAL ROBOTS CAN DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

- DAMIEN MARTIN

They aren't quite operating at R2-D2 levels yet, but the bots, they're getting smarter. Steps beyond the typical robot that can perform a single task over and over, polyfunctional robots are bringing flexibility to the factory, restaurant, or hospital floor. These machines can learn new skills that weren't part of their original design without major reprogramming. They're highly adaptable across a range of industries, and with their ability to multitask, they deliver a much faster ROI than traditional industrial robots.

HEALTHCARE

During the Covid-19 pandemic, personal assistant robot Temi and Boston Dynamics agile robot Spot served a variety of functions that helped limit person-to-person contact that was spreading disease. They went into patient rooms with tablets so caregivers and family members could speak with patients without infection risk. They delivered food and medications to patient's rooms and restricted Covid floors. Polyfunctional robots can still play those roles, monitoring patients' vital signs and performing rote tasks to give caregivers precious time to focus on patient care. Some are even helping in the operating room with robotic-assisted surgeries.