28 Sep

Robotics in India

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Content

• Institutional Framework and Government Efforts
• Challenges that robotics sector face in India
• Steps need to be taken to promote robotics in India
• Limitations of Using Robots

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• Robotics technologies are all set to change the way things are done in the industries. It is also entering into the industrial space in India in a very fast manner.
• In India, robotics is being driven by private sector (unlike the rest of Asia where government has played a very significant role in promotion of robotics).
• In short, it is proving to be the start-ups, local makers and foreign robotic companies that are creating the momentum in India. They are cultivating the market and tapping opportunities.

Institutional Framework and Government Efforts

• National Research Foundation, an autonomous body under the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has been established to boost research across segments, including AI.
• Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
  • It is a laboratory of the DRDO, located in Bangalore, Karnataka.
  • It is mainly involved in the research and development of high-quality secure communication, command and control, and Intelligent System.

• ‘Make in India’ campaign provides a crucial opportunity for the robotics sector to flourish in India.  
• Budget 2018-19 announced setting up of a Mission on Cyber Physical Systems to support establishment of Centres of Excellence.
  • To invest in research, training and skilling in robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, big data analysis, quantum communication and internet of things.
  • By DST.

Challenges which robotics sector face in India

• High cost of adoption – Capital Intensive nature of the sector
• Scarcity of talent in the field – Human Resource
  • Robotics is multidisciplinary in nature, barring students in top schools in India, the other lack the knowledge required in four to five engineering disciplines to become an expert in this field.
• Lack of innovation
  • Most of the projects being developed in India already exist in public domain
• Faculty/ research guides
  • Scarcity of good quality faculty to guide research in this area
• Industry:
  • Absence of hardware companies that can cater to the industry and the dependence on countries like China, USA, and Europe to procure the necessary components is a major stumbling block.
• Lack of high paying jobs
  • Lack of jobs in the field of robotics
  • Considering India’s socio-economic structure – availability of jobs in the domain becomes an important factor for people working on a particular subject.
  • Not many companies have high quality jobs in India in the field of robotics and this leads to lack of enthusiasm towards the sector.
• SME find it difficult to see ROI before they proactively adopt Robotics
  • This is also due to lack of examples or early adopters.

• Lack of support from government
  • Rest of the Asian countries like China, Japan, Singapore etc., look to its government to define and dictate the development and direction of industry. Indian government has completely ignored the sector.

 Steps that needs to be taken to promote robotics in the country

• Human Resource Development
  • Promoting robotics from the school level so that more students choose robotics as career option
  • Improving the facilities at college level
  • Promoting robotics industry -> India’s socio-economic condition forces students to participate in those industries where job opportunities are good.
  • Promoting Academy Industry collaboration
  • Promoting International collaboration with countries which are advanced in robotics like South Korea, Japan and USA.

• Industry
  • Providing tax holidays for the Robotics sector
  • Improving ease of doing business
  • Ensuring encouraging environments for the entrepreneurs and startups.
  • Providing opportunities to private sector in the field of defence, space etc.
  • Lack of hardware components available in the country should be seen as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to set up businesses that can supply “Made in India” components and hardware to the existing and upcoming companies involved in Robotics.

• International Collaboration
  • More international collaboration and student exchange program in colleges

• Attracting investment from Robotics industry in India: Under make in India program.

Limitations of Using Robots

• Dislocation of Economy and job loss
  • Former American president Barack Obama in his farewell Speech on 10th of Jan 2016 had said “next wave of economic dislocations won’t come from overseas. It will come from automation that makes a lot of good middle-class jobs obsolete.
  • Robots are diminishing roles for unskilled labourers. India’s largely uneducated labor force and broken education system aren’t ready for the more complex jobs that workers need when their low-skilled roles are taken over by machines.

• • Meanwhile, nations employing robotics such as China, are becoming more competitive.
• Increasing Inequality
  • While jobs at the lower levels are at risk, most gains from automation will be concentrated to the rich rather than the poor.

• Increasingly deadly wars
  • Most of the scientifically advanced countries will be using robots and other automated weapons in future. This would make wars and conflicts more deadly and one sided.

• Robots can become a danger for humankind
  • In advanced forms robots using AI and ML may take over the decision-making power and thus can challenge the existence of humans.