In the 1970s, robots primarily played a role in industrial settings, assisting with tasks such as welding and material handling. They revolutionized the manufacturing industry by introducing automation and robotics to factory settings. Unimation's robots quickly gained popularity and were adopted by major automotive companies, such as General Motors. The success of Unimation played a significant role in shaping the future of robotics and automation in various industries.
Japanese firms have been at the forefront of humanoid robot development, with companies like Honda creating ASIMO, a robot capable of walking and performing tasks12. Other companies, such as Toshiba and Sharp, have also developed cleaning robots. Japan's robot industry has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with a focus on creating robots for disaster relief and other practical applications, as well as advancements in walking and movement technologies.
The primary focus of robotic process automation (RPA) today is to automate repetitive, rules-based tasks previously done by humans, such as data entry, invoice processing, and customer service. RPA aims to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and free up human resources for more valuable work.