Evolution of Car Manufacturing: History of Robotics in the Automotive Industry

Industrial robots have revolutionized the modern automotive industry since 1960’s. It is an established fact that robots have redefined the automotive industry, flipped its coin over and made the biggest mark, but it took decades for manufacturers to adapt to this change.  

The modern idea of the robots was first presented in a play in 1921, where robots were assigned to help humans. But these robots eventually revolted. The real-life technology soon began to follow course with the story unfolded in the play.

The idea of devices that work automatically to serve the humans for different purposes has long been in existence.  The fictional ideas incorporated the real-life challenges to achieve the possibilities and thus the tech industry started to accumulate ideas and came together to create some of the first automatons (automatically moving objects).

Industrial Automation

After 1945, in U.S., the idea of automation accelerated. WWII presented them with the need to improve ideas for better output, which led to the making of the first computer and the circuits that truly started the race for automation industry.

Early industrial robots had basic tasks to perform which helped humans from taking on mundane, dangerous and laborious tasks. However, innovators have since then been able to create more technologically enhanced robots. With external sensors and more applications, today, the robots can perform much more complex tasks such as grinding, polishing, painting, assembly or welding.

Robots have enhanced the quality and quantity of the automotive industry. These robots are able to perform tasks as minute and repetitive as 0.5 mm round the clock, which helped manufacturers to create cost-effective control systems that are more powerful and productive compared to their human employees.

This efficient way to optimize production rate led to the automotive industry to embrace robotics which had proved promising results not possible before.

Impact of Robots in Automation Industry

Robots have helped increase vehicle production by average of 15.86% in the U.S. annually, since 2010.

The higher production rate by robots led to the growth in the automotive industry which ultimately led to increase in the employment ratio.

The U.S is the third most densely populated country in robotics with more than thousand units working in automotive industry, while China has the largest car market in the worlds, producing more than 23 million vehicles in the 2014 alone.

The robots continue to be utilized at the record-breaking pace, creating vast opportunities for people, new jobs and turning imagination into reality.

The new possibilities have changed the demands of consumers, making robots a necessity that can meet efficient and reliable manufacturing processes while making the automotive industry more approachable and cost-effective globally.

As manufacturers continue to create better products and stay competitive, you can expect robots to continue playing a crucial role in creating new and better possibilities for us by further revolutionizing the automotive industry.

Headquartered in Zamudio, Spain, we’re passionate about all things robotics and provide you with refurbished robots, robot spare parts, robot welding systems and lasers machines.

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