Robotics is a fairly new science that holds many possibilities for our future. This field of expertise is becoming more and more useful in today's modern society. From experimental robots right out of a science fiction novel, to the car wash arms that buff your hood, robotics can be used to help our lives and help the world.
Out of the many possible careers involved in this science, I chose to research the profession of robot technicians. They can, if you will, give the robot its very “life”. A robot technician designs robots, which involves months- possibly years- of tedious work with blueprints and raw materials. They also test robots to make sure all of their hard work is functioning properly. Technicians then install these robots into whatever service, building, or company that may have a demand for them. Over time, the robot may develop problems or malfunctions. This is also the duty of a technician. He or she may need to replace or clean the broken parts. Although usually the job of a programmer, sometimes this duty falls on the technician as well.
Many people with this career are hired by the robot manufacturing companies because of their knowledge of specific robots. Over time, the technician may have gained enough experience in specific robots to teach lower level employees about them. If the technician has just begun working in this field, he can earn a salary of $21,000 to $31,000. More experienced workers that can earn between $40,000 and $50,000.
The requirements to become a robot technician include completing high school, followed by completing two years of training by a higher level employee. It is also recommended that robot technicians are skilled in science and mathematics. Of course, a desire and interest in this field helps as well, as it is constantly changing and developing.
Robotics has taken an amazing turn in our society in the past few years. We have now begun to allow humans with one or more of their limbs severed to still use that arm or leg! These life-helping machines are called manipulators because of an amazing scientific breakthrough that allows the human mind to actually manipulate the arm much in the same way someone would use their own arm. This is also a perfect example of where different careers can intersect. The robot technicians career is now falling into the career of medicine. As doctors and technicians continue to discover more ways to improve their practices, this will happen more and more.
Robot technicians, like many other careers, may involve promotions. If technicians show good leadership and good understanding of the science, then they can be promoted to a robot trainer. One of the tasks of a robot trainer is to teach a class about a specific robot that the students may specialize in. Then the trainer may be asked to drop their current occupation, or possibly be promoted to a robot programmer. After that, programmers could become the head of the robot facility because of their experience, leadership, and general knowledge of robots.
More and more we are seeing robots in our daily lives. Promising turns have brought upon “thinking robots” and robots that will listen to your every word. Robot technicians also are used here. As stated before, sometimes robot technicians are asked to become robot programmers. When making these “thinking” robots, robot technicians have their work cut out for them. They have to program nearly every possible response. This is often the longest part of robot construction. A little know fact is that the popular electronic hand-held game “20 Questions” is actually a thinking robot. It will evaluate all of your answers and, if programmed correctly, will pick the exact right answer to the item you are thinking about. This is the most basic idea of a thinking robot. Someday, this technology may serve humans by taking on the role of a therapist. Robot technicians call this work “behavioral modification” because robot technicians can actually give a robot its personality, its intelligence, and its ability to relay this information to humans and other robots. Of course, this all can lead into the world of artificial intelligence or “AI“. If you don't know what “AI” is, think back to your favorite science-fiction movie where robots have their own minds and will to do things on their own. The robot's intelligence, possibly personality, and its reasoning all contribute to its artificial intelligence.
In America, robots can be used for many different things. In Detroit, there is a very large demand for robotic assembly arms. These go on what is more commonly know as an assembly line. They are also heavily used to stamp molds on nearly every shaped metal and plastic good. Robotics in America have allowed us to look towards the future and influenced a way of life. Even now children are able to play with their remote controlled “robots” or rather, toys that are expensive and interactive. This sudden leap from robotics to toys is making us reevaluate how close to the sci-fi robots we really are. After all, if children are already using them for recreational use, then why can't adults develop one that is way more advanced?
Of course, there are skeptics that believe that robots take the jobs of human workers. In my opinion, however, robots create more jobs than they take away. Robots need maintaining, installing, construction, and programming. Companies need to be taught how robots function and how they can help their businesses grow. In Japan, there are 500 robots for every 100,00 workers. If America wants to stay industrially competitive, we must continue striving to incorporate robots in our daily lives.
Robot technicians are on their way to developing robots that can do many things that humans can do. Already we have robots that think, process, reply, move, and even have a certain personality. The robot technician's job is an important and interesting job that may one day even help society function perfectly. But we still are waiting to have R2D2 show up in our living room, and in the meantime we can all imagine in wonder about the amazing possibilities of robotics.
