What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel the research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation. (250 Words 15 Marks)

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the integration of robotics into various sectors has become increasingly prevalent, offering promising solutions to alleviate the burden of laborious tasks. Particularly, there exist certain areas of prohibitive labor where the utilization of robots holds immense potential for sustainable management. These domains often entail repetitive, hazardous, or physically demanding activities that are not only resource-intensive but also pose risks to human workers. From manufacturing assembly lines to hazardous material handling in industrial settings, and from agriculture to healthcare, robots are revolutionizing the way tasks are performed. By leveraging robotics technology, businesses can enhance efficiency, ensure consistency in operations, and mitigate workplace injuries.

However, the effective deployment of robots in these areas necessitates substantial advancements in research and development. Premier research institutes play a pivotal role in driving such innovation forward. Initiatives aimed at propelling research in these institutes should focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government agencies. This collaborative approach can facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise, accelerating the pace of innovation. Additionally, investment in cutting-edge facilities and infrastructure tailored to robotics research is crucial to provide researchers with the necessary tools and platforms for experimentation and prototyping.

Moreover, initiatives should prioritize addressing key challenges such as sensorimotor control, human-robot interaction, and autonomous navigation in dynamic environments. By incentivizing research in these critical areas through grants, fellowships, and collaborative projects, research institutes can attract top talent and stimulate groundbreaking discoveries. Furthermore, initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the research community can foster creativity and perspectives essential for addressing complex societal challenges. Ultimately, by fostering a conducive environment for substantive and gainful innovation, premier research institutes can pave the way for the sustainable management of labor through robotics technology.

Tag: Awareness in the field of IT, Computer, Space, Robotics, Nanotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights.   

Decoding the Question:   

• In the introduction, Write your answer by defining robotics in brief.   
• The Body.    
• Discuss prohibitive areas where robotics can be applied.   
• In the second part of the answer discuss various initiatives which can propel research in premier institutes.   
• In conclusion, try to write about the needs of the National Robotics Mission.   

Answer:     

Robotics is growing leaps and bounds in recent times in areas which need increased precision, reducing human elements, faster work, and flexibility in switching from one task to the other. There are talks in the market of deploying robotic inventions in the area of prohibitive labour like manual scavenging, sewage treatment, underground mining, rescue relief and rehab in times of disaster, at battle-sites to reduce casualties, etc. Robotics is a growing technology and has various applications in recent times in areas which need increased precision, reducing human elements, faster work, and flexibility in switching from one task to the other. There is growing use of robotic inventions in the area of prohibitive labour like:    

• Manual scavenging and Sewage Works: Manual scavenging is one of the social evils which is still practiced.  In India, there are still more than 50000 manual scavengers and in this process every year thousands of people die due to inhaling toxic gases from sewers. To avoid this and save precious lives, it is very essential to apply robotics like technology.    
• Underground Mining: Underground mining is another very risky job with accidents like mine collapse, flooding and fires. Applications of robotics will increase efficiency and completely end many casualties.    
• Rescue and Relief in Disaster: Robots are very useful in times of disasters. As they can be used for rescue, refile and life saving missions. Sometimes humans cannot reach very difficult spaces, but robots can reach and give accurate information, which can be used for saving lives.    
• At battle sites: Without use of human’s robots can be used to fight war. As we have seen there are many nations doing research in this field where robots can be the next national security providers. In war-like situations robots are very helpful especially giving timely treatments for injured soldiers and even they can be used to bring them back to camp for treatments.  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) – ‘Daksha’. It has stair-climbing capability and can be used primarily for handling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).    
• Deep Sea Exploration: Deep sea exploration is gaining new heights nowadays. India’s EEZ and new blue economy policy can be effectively aided by robots and related technologies. Undersea exploration is a very complex task and for the execution of these complex tasks India needs world-class robotics technologies.    
• Studying Glaciers: Studying glaciers in the Himalayas continuously and real-time collection of data through Artificial intelligence-based robots will reduce the cost of deploying a satellite in a particular area for a longer time.    

Various initiatives to propel the research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation can be as follows:  

• Invite certain eminent scholars in the robotics area every year.   
• Allocating funds specifically for R&D to address the shortage of funds.  
•  Not only funds but proper infrastructure should also be provided to attract eminent scientists from the country to stay in the country and do research.   
• Incentivizing innovation is done at a personal level – e.g. – Agribot – an agricultural robot to work in fields.   
• Giving it the sunrise status for extending tax sops for 20 years as was done to promote the IT sector.   
• Giving tax and nontax benefits, in general, attracts international companies to establish their research centers in the country.   
• Use Make in India to promote the robotics sector in the country  

Therefore, a national mission on Robotics is the need of the hour which should focus on creating a larger ecosystem, and infrastructure, to promote robotics technologies and their applications in different fields. Promoting robotics may generate employment and most importantly entrepreneurship in, which can have very potential to change overall R&D in the country.    

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