- By Drew Thompson
- June 10, 2025
- Sealevel Systems, Inc
- Feature
- Sponsored
Summary
Robotics and motion control advances reduce manufacturing costs.
Technological advances have transformed the robotics and motion control industries. This transformation has dramatically reduced the costs associated with deploying these technologies. As a result, robotics technology and motion control systems are being deployed across a wide range of novel applications. Traditional technologies, such as sensors and actuators, are being used alongside artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and edge computing to bring robotics and motion control to life.
Sensor systems. To safely and effectively work, robots and other autonomous machines need to gather and monitor information about their environment. This is done through the use of sensor systems.
Vision systems. Vision systems can be thought of as specialized sensors. Vision systems allow robots and autonomous machines to capture, process and interpret visual information from the world around them to make decisions. This is crucial for performing tasks such as navigation, inspection and manipulation.
Advanced actuators. Broadly, actuators allow robots and autonomous machines to act upon—or react—to the data gathered from the various sensor systems. Innovations in actuators—from electric, hydraulic and pneumatic systems—have led to more precise, powerful and efficient motion control.
Edge computing and IoT. The integration of edge computing and Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables real-time data processing and decision-making at the robot or individual machine level, thereby reducing latency and improving efficiency in robotic systems.
AI and machine learning. The recent advances in AI and machine learning are among the most important factors driving robotics and motion control systems. Adaptive robotics and motion control systems, specifically those that use AI and machine learning, can learn from data and adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Adaptive systems can make decisions based on patterns and trends in the data without being explicitly programmed for every possible scenario.
Industries most affected by improved robotics
Manufacturing, health care, autonomous vehicles and military/aerospace are a few of the industries and applications most affected by improved robotics and machine control systems.
Manufacturing. Taken as a whole, the manufacturing industry has benefited the most from the improvements in robotics and motion control. Specifically, improved robotics and motion control technology have completely transformed the industrial automation segment of manufacturing (Figure 1).
The traditional approach to automation and robotics, which relies on if-then-else, rule-based programming, is limited in terms of flexibility and its ability to respond to novel scenarios that fall outside of explicitly defined parameters. However, the shift toward adaptive robotics and motion control, powered by AI and machine learning, brings increased flexibility, predictive capabilities and the ability to handle complex decision-making, which contributes to more efficient and responsive processes. Essentially, AI and machine learning enable robots and other autonomous machines to learn from data, adapt to new situations and improve their performance over time. Robots and robotic arms have been adopted across the board in many novel applications as control systems have made it possible for them to carry out the precision assembly tasks that require pinpoint accuracy.
Vision systems have dramatically improved the speed of quality control and product inspections by allowing automation of many of the tasks.
Health care. The health care industry has also seen major benefits from improved robotics and motion control systems. The effect of the new technology has not been in just one specific area, but throughout the entire industry.
Using robotic surgery systems—such as the da Vinci Surgical System or one of many systems from Globus Medical—allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision, flexibility and control (Figure 2). These systems translate the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, precise movements of tiny instruments, which leads to less invasive surgeries with smaller incisions, reduced blood loss and faster recovery times.
Similarly, advances in robotics and high-speed communication networks enable surgeons to perform remote surgeries on patients located in different geographic locations. This is particularly useful in emergencies where specialist expertise is required but not locally available.
AI-powered robots and systems analyze medical images such as X-rays, MRIs or CT scans to detect anomalies such as tumors, fractures or other issues with much higher accuracy than human eyes alone.
Autonomous vehicles. Another industry segment that has seen tremendous growth from the advance of robotics and motion control is the development and manufacturing of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Beyond the changes and benefits to the manufacturing process, robotics and motion control systems are driving substantial improvements in AV functionality, safety and efficiency.
The perception and sensing functionality of AVs has grown significantly, both in terms of accuracy and in the ability to react, in the last few years. In large part, this has been facilitated by the development of high-quality sensor systems and the process of sensor fusion. Many autonomous vehicle sensors—and even whole sensor systems—have overlapping functionality. By design, this approach provides redundancy, which means that even in the case of a failure of one or more sensors, the vehicle can still operate safely. Combining real-time data from a variety of sensors and sensor types through sensor fusion reduces the uncertainty of the data set as a whole.
Another area of rapid AV improvement is in motion planning and control functionality. The robotic and motion control hardware inside AVs is now able to compute the safest and most efficient path for the vehicle while considering factors like road conditions, traffic and obstacle avoidance. Further, the decision-making in AVs can mimic human driving behaviors by enabling the vehicles to handle complex driving scenarios such as merging, overtaking and yielding.
Military and aerospace. Military and aerospace are other industry segments that have benefited from robotics and motion control system advances. Many of the same advances in consumer-grade AVs apply to military and aerospace vehicles such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) as well as seagoing drones: unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
In addition to the various vehicle-type drones, there is a whole class of autonomous combat robots currently in use or active development. This includes programs like the modular advanced armed robotic system (MAARS), or special weapons observation reconnaissance detection system (SWORDS) or the remotely operated TALON robot, which has seen widespread deployment in a variety of applications—from explosive ordnance disposal to disaster response.
There has also been a recent push to automate segments of military logistics through the use of autonomous trucks and UGVs. Specifically, to transport supplies and equipment in contested or dangerous areas to reduce the risk to human drivers and ensure reliable logistics.
The future
The rapid advances in robotics and motion control systems have significantly transformed various industries by driving down costs and enhancing performance across multiple applications. Sensor systems, vision systems, AI and machine learning, advanced actuators and edge computing are the core technologies propelling these innovations forward. These technological advances are not only transforming existing practices but also paving the way for innovations and applications. As robotics and motion control systems continue to evolve, their impact will undoubtedly expand, which will further integrate these technologies into everyday operations and strategic initiatives across diverse sectors.
This feature originally appeared in the June/July issue of Automation.com Monthly.
About The Author
Drew Thompson is a technical writer and content specialist for Sealevel Systems, a designer and manufacturer of embedded computers, industrial I/O and software for critical communications. A writer/editor by training, Thompson spends his days creating and delivering content relevant to Sealevel’s technical community and business partners.
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