Feature

Can a robot do that? Should a robot do that?

My editorial comment this month looks at whether certain tasks can be automated but more importantly, should they be automated?

05/11/2018 14:27:09

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I came across something interesting the other week – to ensure its car seats remain comfortable and sturdy after thousands of miles, SEAT
employs a team of engineers to sit down all day. That’s right…all day! The engineers are tasked with reproducing the action of getting in and
out of the car 6,000 times in a week. This means each tester is asked to repeat the method 700 times a day to
ensure the resistance of the foam and fabric of the future car seat.

I can’t help but wonder, that surely this task can be automated?
Is this not the kind of repetitive job that robots have been designed for?

The answer is, yes.

Read the full article in the November issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.