by Kanika Vatsyayan, August 9, 2021
Collected at: https://datafloq.com/read/automation-vs-robotics-understanding-difference/16958
Automation has turned to be the most trending topic in the IT industry. And therefore, terms like robotic process automation, industrial automation, and test automation have made it to the users out there, building curiosity on the concept of Automation and Robotics.
However, the confusion between these two terms has even made business people wonder that if they should invest in automation? Or robotics is the right choice to lead their business operations?
But the bigger question is, “If robotics and automation are the same thing, or are they different?”
Nevertheless, Automation being a hot topic in different industry verticals refers to several things, not just robotics. In this post, we will try to dive into every aspect of Automation Vs. Robotics to understand the difference between the two.
The Difference
Automation and Robotics are terms that are used interchangeably quite often but are not always applied in the right manner. However, if you need to transform your business using any of these technologies, it is vital to understand the basic difference between the two terms and learning how they can benefit.
“Automation is all about using hardware, software, and other technologies to automate tasks that are usually done through manual efforts. On the other hand, robotics is about designing, creating, and using robots to complete any desired task.”
Since overlap happens much often, they are two different terms with different approaches and use. Though physical robots can be used in automating operations, usually robots are not made to automate tasks.
For instance, the use of chatbots on a software development website is all about providing information to the customers, but this process is all about automation and no robotics.
However, a car assembling unit where different parts are used to create specific parts of the vehicle is an example of robotics powered by automation. Lastly, a robot that is designed to take care of kids or the elderly is pure robotics where no automation is done.
Automation or Robotics: What’s the best?
Now let us quickly move to the most important question that might be hitting your mind as a business owner, Automation or Robotics, what goes best for business?
The answer is it is all about your business requirements that you can identify by asking a few questions to your team:
- If there are tasks that are repetitive and boring and are done by humans?
- If there are tasks that are cutting the overall productivity?
- If the tasks are physical or virtual?
If you can discuss with your team the possible tasks that are repetitive and are disturbing your business, automation can help you streamline things. However, if physical tasks need extensive human effort, robotics with industrial automation could help you fix things. Else, if you have virtual tasks to manage, complete automation could turn to be everything you need.
Automation & Robotics: Diving into the Basics
If you need to understand the difference between automation and robotics, it would be necessary to understand the basics of these terms.
Automation: The use of computer software, machines, and technology to work on tasks that otherwise would need human efforts. There are automation tasks that range from mechanical to virtual, which might involve basic to intense complexity.
Robotics: Robotics is an engineering process that incorporates multiple disciplines meant to aim at design, program, and put robotic machines to use.
Since there are crossovers, robotics can be used with automation to carry physical tasks in the industry. But still, many automation and robotics processes are completely independent of each other.
Now, let us dig a bit more to understand the related terminologies.
Exploring Automation
Over the years, a lot of industries are quickly moving towards automation. This is why most business operations these days are being shifted to adaptive automation, business process automation, and robotic process automation. However, two of the most basic types of automation adopted by business enthusiasts include software and industrial automation.
Software Automation
When we talk about automation or start exploring the web for the term, it immediately makes us land for the software automation-related content. The information is usually created in context to tasks that need computer programming by humans but has scope for automation.
A quick example of the same could be considered as GUI automation that allows testing of computer programs by recording human actions as they explore the GUI. This recorded data is then replayed to create autonomous tests whenever any change is made to the code. Some other types of software automation include:
- Business Process Automation, or BPA, is usually a high-level strategy to streamline the business processes that helps formalizing the business process and operations using smart integrations and automation technology.
- Robotic Process Automation, or RPA, is all about using physical robots programmed to operate on tasks done by humans. Though it is not the most efficient way to complete tasks, they help simplify the business process for added productivity.
- The third we have in our list is Intelligent Process Automation or IPA, which is an extension of Robotic Process Automation that runs on AI technology to perform tasks in an intelligent manner taking over static rules.
In broader terms, RPA and BPA have dynamic differences to consider. This is because BPA is more of automating the entire line of operations, replacing the manual tasks in a factory, while RPA is adding establishing a robotic line to ease the complex or consuming operations.
Industrial Automation
When we talk about using automation and robotics in parallel, it is more of an industrial automation process. In other words, Industrial Automation is meant to control physical processes that involve systems and machines to automate the process. CNC machines are a common example of robotics in industry. However, a completely automated factory is a rare example to consider.
Understanding Robotics
In the most basic language, robots are machines that are programmed to work on a defined set of actions for the complete or partial automation of a specific activity. Robots are only one type of machine that is made to work using sensors and actuators that are programmed to handle multiple or single operations depending on the flexibility required.
As long as it is concerned with automation in industry, robots are all about technology that is used to automate physical processes. For instance, collaborative robots are made to carry on operations just like humans, while for traditional robots more programming is done to work on certain tasks that need efficiency, precision, and speed, that humans can’t achieve.
Robots: With & Without Automation
Robotics is more of a machine process that involves much complexity. For example, a fully autonomous robot used in a factory could be designed to take the manufacturing parts from one place to another based on the requirements. However, a robot designed to follow a defined line on the ground for a specific task is a pure machine or software command with no automation involved.
Software Testing & QA: Way to Enhance Performance
Since Quality Assurance is a broader term that involves software testing and compliance goals, Quality Assurance is a highly significant component of RPA implementation without which the outcomes would either be insufficient or incomplete. For this reason, Robotics Process Automation has a special place in the present and upcoming trends related to testing automation in 2021.
On the other hand, software testing is an approach to test software products for their quality, security, efficiency, functionality, and compliance. Besides, software testing has the potential to streamline all the automation processes, irrespective of the fact if they are associated with software development or manufacturing operations.
Quality Assurance and testing are done on automated systems that could help meet the compliance goals for the products. Moreover, it can help create solutions that are stable, secure, risk-free, and have zero downtime, either it is automation, robotics, or RPA.
The Crux: Robotics or Automation, What Do You Need?
Over the years, robotics and automation technology has made human lives easier. Either it is leading some industry operations or handling heavy-duty tasks in the manufacturing environment, both robotics and automation have shown exceptional potential for improving business operations while driving productivity.
Thus, making any decision between robotics and automation is something that entirely depends on the requirements of the process. We have automation, robotics, and then advanced technology like Robotic Process Automation that is made to match the efficiency of the human brain in making decisions.
Overall, deciding to invest in robotics or automation entirely depends on your requirements. This could be simplified as:
- Automating a particular portion or unit of business process
- Consider software automation to automate any virtual tasks.
- Consider industrial automation, if you need to automate any physical tasks
2.The physical tasks or operations that can be handled by robots
- If yes, go for robotics
- If no, then go for industrial automation and robotics.
Since choosing between automation and robotics entirely depends on your end requirements and business objectives, one thing that must necessarily be configured is a complete testing strategy.
For instance, investing early in some performance or automation testing services could allow you to yield maximum stability and functionality benefits of your Automation process. Similarly, robotics processes that involve extensive use of hardware and coding combinations could be tested to achieve the coherence required between the system components.
Though it may appear to be a practice adding to the overall budget of your project, taking a toll on finding an experienced software testing company could help you avoid sudden pitfalls and enjoy system longevity, no matter you choose automation, robotics, or RPA.