Robots – Aide of the Future?!
In today’s world, technology sprouts each day. Something that could do your hardcore, monotonous and redundant manual tasks would be the best thing ever since sliced bread! Every cloud of technological problem holds a silver lining solution in hand. In cases where speedy and repetitive manual work persists like testing, robotic automation earns wings. Robotic evolution in today’s world plays an important role. Both to provide quality service to clients. Repetitive tasks by manual would time-consuming but robotic automation is a quick fix!
Robotics combine data with physical operations. Thus it becomes the bridge between real and virtual worlds.
There has been a huge boon in the evolution of robotics since the past five years. The rise in technology has been accelerating in the recent years to a point where a robot can mimic the tasks done by a human. It dates back to early 2005 when humans performed touchscreen testing on mobile devices. It then got replaced by robotic arms that came into being. Attracting a wide customer base to the workforce automation came into being. Software alone cannot simulate finger taps on your smartphone without human intervention. But the ‘arm’ of a robot for sure lends you a helping ‘hand’!
Jason Huggins, CTO of SauceLabs, and the brains behind Selenium. Selenium is a portable software testing framework for web applications. Also, Appium, (both popular industry standard toolkits for mobile test automation). He had created an open source design for a robot that he has named Tapster, for mobile device testing. The basic bot is built from 3D printable components. and an Arduino Controller, it does test automation for iPhone devices and is by R/GA Technical Director Sune Kaae. It is designed and built by Jason Huggins. Tapster combines expertise in automated testing with robotic hardware. and falls under the category of ‘delta’ robots, excel in providing speed and accuracy to the system. So you would want a Tapster to automate applications on your mobile devices, be it an Android phone or an iPhone.
Pretty much the time, the robotic evolution exploded, leading to the design and build of SCARA robots. The SCARA(Selective Compliance Arbitration/Assembly Robot Arm) is an assembly machine that installs parts and carries them. It imitates the actions of a human arm. It finds importance in situations that require high speed and efficiency like automobile construction factories. Also, jobs that require detailed and high precision. For instance, installation of tiny pins to carrying objects from one location to another within its range of motion.
Automation to Strike Manual Testing!
Imagine the long process of eyeball testing. It requires a tester to perform manual testing without the help of test automation. Robots are automation’s next best wave! They are hardware tools that have evolved to make the business process delivery simplified.
Manual testing is difficult in the following aspects:
- Running tests by hand is time-consuming.
- The difference in sizes and colors of GUI objects is different.
- Regression tests are time-consuming.
- Low-level interface tests are prone to errors.
- Increased oversight errors occur when tested manually.
- Not stimulating as it includes repetitive tasks.
- Can’t reuse manual tests.
- Any changes caused, the tests have to run by hand again.
- Loss of valuable time.
The Quest of Workforce Shift – Forgetting a Robot is a Machine!
Advanced technology calls for more skilled technology and less manual labor! The workforce system in industries is changing rapidly. It is true that the current automation trend seeks more skilled workers. This is a breakdown to the number of replacements in the manual workforce.
Conversely, GUI has its layout change frequently for regression testing of user interfaces. By using test frameworks to a test automation device, as programmed can produce results in no time. The benefits of automated testing are:
- Reliability: Each time a test runs, it eliminates human errors.
- Cost Reduction: Costs are reduced as the number of resources for regression tests are few.
- Reusability: The tests used again in variant versions of an application, even for different user interfaces.
- Speed: Automated systems run tests faster than human users.
To debunk all demerits of Manual testing, workforce shifts from manual to automation. Provided below is a handful of vital merits :
- Robustness: Same test results obtained for every test, without getting affected by the external environment.
- Concise: The testing is much simpler than when done manually.
- Repeatable: Tests can be run multiple times without human intervention.
- Efficient: Increased efficiency obtained in a reasonable amount of time.
- Maintainable: The test results are easy to understand.
- Independent: Each test is independent by itself as it follows the programmed steps to be executed.
Traditional HMI Saturation and it’s Effective Solution
The traditional Human Machine Interface has reached its saturation. The increasing pool of technology innovations has led to the automation of touchscreen testing for devices. Hardware for automation of products is the key solution.
The next huge leap in productivity is when manual work can be significantly reduced. In addition to this, it also reduces the operating expenditures. Amidst all products, SR-SCARA-Pro and Dimenzio originated. These products have gained high esteem to transform the next decade!
Dimenzio – A Robotic Boon
The SR-Dimenzio-Mini provides accelerated environmental end of line testing. This involves tests to confirm the quality of the device assembly. For instance, devices involved in touch screens used to check for constant acceleration, temperature-cycle and other system dependencies. An end of line testing can be performed to check for an email application. It involves logging in first. Accessing the inbox, composing emails are other functions. Also, replying to and forwarding emails. Finally, logging off from the application at the last.
The Dimenzio can operate at 70 degrees temperature and at a humidity that ranges to 90RH. It has a Teach Mode whereby the system operates. Those who do not know programming languages also can make use of the tester. It contains a replaceable stylus tip that mimics different age groups. The SR-Dimenzio-Mini can work round-the-clock for 365 days a year!
The Dimenzio has gained a foothold in today’s industrial revolution. It includes a state-of-the-art force controlled conventional stylus to ensure the safety of the DUT(Device Under Test). This ensures a non-destructive testing, predictive maintenance and process optimization. Getting its implementation up and running can also be speedy even after umpteen number of test cycles.
Moreover, despite the sophisticated nature of technology, the teaching process of the system is relatively simple and straightforward. It tests for different age groups of people including kids and adults. The conventional replaceable stylus tips imitate the touch profile of variant age groups. This includes all single finger gestures like taps and swaps, made possible with the TCP/IP APIs. The three levels of force control involved in the stylus operations offer two clicks per second with a duration of 200 to 5000 ms of touch actions.
With the SR-Dimenzio-Mini, the automation industry marches to a new tune!
Will Robots Gobble up Our Jobs – Myth Busted!
One of the ongoing fears repeatedly voiced is about the use of robots in every industry that they would replace human jobs. Well. The answer to this is Yes! To an extent that manual work is time-consuming!! But the degree of human worker displacement does not go up to the level where manual work would be completely omitted. Robots cannot replace smart workers as they need training. Well, programmed robots can perform repetitive tasks. No matter how complex the tasks are, programming or robots cannot replace the vast complexity of a human brain!
For instance, a research from the American Enterprise Institute proves the fact. It shows that while ATMs reduced and their average branches got their workers reduced from 21 to 13, the banks responded by opening up more branches.
Automation applications are designed to solve problems. They have to be taught to find the right solution and this is possible only through skillful programming by skilled workers!
In a national survey by Pew Research Centre conducted recently, among 2000 adults, fully 65% of Americans expect that within 50 years robots will do much of the work currently done by humans. On a similar note, one out of every ten workers are concerned about losing their jobs. This is due to workforce automation and these include the those who perform physical or manual labor.
So to bust the myth about robots replacing workers’ current jobs! A robot-enhanced workforce can considerably reduce the possibility of human workers. While people concentrate more on creative and problem-solving tasks, leaving the physical tasks to be automated. Also, robots are never replacements for humans! Myth Busted!!.
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