Defects in sensors and malfunctioning robots can spell trouble, especially in healthcare, where the stakes are always high. Scientists have developed software to diagnose defects in sensors and also be able to compensate for the detected defects in real-time. This new development has created waves among healthcare tech circles, which continues to invest heavily in developing healthcare automation products for diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation purposes.
Robotics systems are transforming healthcare at a fast pace; in fact, their potential to change the entire ecosystem is huge. However, there have been cases of distortion affecting the performance of such systems. In robotics, distortion may be due to the impact of external noise, which may affect software signals, or overheating, or other electromechanical factors—even efficient systems are not spared from experiencing such issues. For many years, scientists have been confounded by the loss affecting automation control processes. They had failed to take into consideration the dynamics of robots and the complex mathematical transformations in play. Any deviation had to be corrected manually after a full cycle of regressive testing. The newly developed software module includes a range of mathematical controllers, identifiers and filters that can detect defects in a system and compensate to preserve the required level of accuracy. More importantly, the new module can be applied to all types of robots.
When it comes to tasks that are repetitive and require strength, robots are the ultimate solution. For instance, in neurological rehabilitation programmes, robots play a major role in the exercise regimen. Robots are used to rebuild motor skills, such as walking or grasping, which may require practice and repetition of exercises. Robotic systems help in “reprogramming” the motion sequence in the brain, thereby helping patients and therapists to overcome—within a short period—issues or difficulty in walking, poor postures, limb movements or even impaired cognitive functions.
Robots, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI), are revolutionising healthcare. For instance, the use of AI in detecting diseases, such as cancer, more accurately and in their early stages helps in reducing treatment expenditure. The stage is set for Augmented Reality to play a role too—along with robots and AI—in taking healthcare to the next level. It is estimated that the overall market has been growing at a compound rate of 17% annually. By 2019, the market will be worth US$135bn. Researchers have pointed out that much growth taking place in Asia, Japan and China.
The sheer growth of opportunities rising due to robots, AI and AR is redefining the healthcare landscape. Trends have shown that a majority of patients are willing to interact with such technologies in different phases of their hospitalization. These technologies have long been seen as promising areas of healthcare. The continuous developments taking place in this field are just the beginning of a promising future ahead.
Source : Page 22, https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/healthcare/publications/ai-robotics-new-health/ai-robotics-new-health.pdf