The Knowledge to Decide

Robots are now prevalent across many industries, not only heavy manufacturing. Today’s robots are more precise and can be controlled remotely, which is why there is a preference for them over error-prone humans in some parts of the services industry. With over 179,000 industrial robots sold worldwide in 2013, robots are now set to conquer a new arena – the household. What is a robot? The first thing that comes to mind when the word robot is uttered is a machine that imitates a human being, such as the androids from Hollywood’s Star Wars or Terminator movies. The reality, though, is that the hundreds of thousands of industrial robots operating in the world resemble high-tech machinery more than high-tech humanoids. A robot is defined as a programmable, self-controlled device with electrical, electronic or mechanical units. Robots have some advantages over humans when it comes to work – they have better physical endurance and are more adept at working under uncomfortable or da

As drone technology matures, the business applications continue to multiply – from logistics to security to agriculture. It is only a matter of time before drones overcome the remaining technical and legal barriers and become assimilated into most industries. It is estimated that the drone industry would be worth USD10 billion by the year 2025. It is set to transform the operational landscape of many industries. For instance, a Singapore restaurant is experimenting with trials of drones to serve customers their food. With over 7,000 staff needed to keep Singapore’s booming restaurant industry ticking, drones could raise productivity. Several companies (including Amazon.com) are experimenting with the use of drones for document and small parcel delivery in big cities, as well as surveillance of crops to monitor crop health in large plantations. Drones are being used for entertainment purposes as well. The world’s first drone circus, known as “Air”, is coming to the Net