Robotics: A Definition
As per the recent data, robotics has grown exponentially with forecasts predicting that the industry will cross the $500 billion mark by 2030. It is an impressive figure as the statistics currently stand at $45 billion only. Although robotics has a large history, most of the current value comes from logistics, healthcare, security, and industrial robots.
When you compare robotics in India with technology-heavy countries like Japan, it might seem minuscule. However, it is only a matter of time before it surpasses the robotics level of the United States. This is because India has become a major player in robotics design and manufacturing due to its growing presence in industries.
Growth of Robotics
Robotics in India is set to become vast with strong academic research facilities and growing levels of entrepreneurship. Over the past several years, people have managed to push robotics and robokits into traditional business areas like manufacturing and production. Robotics has also seen a major rise in the fields of education, entertainment, and healthcare.
The government along with various robotics societies are working hard to encourage interaction between researchers in India and their counterparts. Robotics is a mix of various disciplines like computer science, design, and electrical engineering that contributes work for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. Robotics in India has started replacing humans in monotonous and dangerous industrial work and it is taking over our regular life.
India has started its journey to becoming a potential developer in the field of robotics. With suitable stimulation and investments, industrial robots have started to become a part and parcel of our life. In 2004, the Indian Underwater Robotics Society or IURS was started for the advancement of low-cost robotics and robokits. There have been several contributions made by IURS in advancing robotics research and education in the country through government and university interventions. Along with that, the IURS has been instrumental in improving the level of robotics in India through ground-level education and skill training, particularly among school kids with robotics for children.
As a result, many kids are actively involved in the field of robotics and automation industry with various robokits. Many new projects are being displayed every year across international forums to aid the growth of robotics for children and robotics in India.
STEM for Kids
There is no doubt that our future is going to be taken over by engineering and technology. With STEM and robotics taking the center stage, it is essential to develop the base of science at an early level. Exposing kids to the study of robotics can enlarge their minds and help them cope with science at an early age.
Practical learning of robotics for children can build and teach creativity, resourcefulness, patience, and curiosity. STEM learning is everywhere now and with robokits, children can establish themselves as innovators. Kids thrive with simple STEM activities like growing crystals, designing self-propelled cars, and making obstacle avoiding robots. While theoretical knowledge in STEM education can help with the clarity of a topic, practical learning can impart understanding about a subject.
STEM education can essentially push the kids towards a better future where they can engage in the study of robotics along with contributing towards the growth of the nation. Robotics for children with robokits push them to expand their horizons, experiment and solve complicated problems. With early STEM activities like robokits, they can learn amazing concepts along with facing a complicated challenge to help them for the future.
Robotics for Children
The 2017-18 Economic Survey featured Robotics as one of the key areas of growth that the government wanted to invest in. There have been several schemes initiated by various state governments that have implemented robots for manual tasks like cleaning sewers and manual scavenging. However, robotics in India is still at a nascent stage and is far from being developed when compared to developed countries like Japan and Germany.
In the 21st century, kids are being introduced to computers and technology that shape their careers in the future. Robotics is a field that is seeing immersive growth every day. India is on a path of massive development as robotics has already covered warehouse automation and is soon set to cover healthcare infrastructure as well.
Therefore, it is necessary for kids to have hands-on training when it comes to robotics in India. There are several programs that come with kits for kids that help them get practical training at home. Although STEM exercises might be small, they can potentially lead to something big in the future. To fully understand robotics, kids need to have a vast interest in the subject so that they can learn programming and engineering in the future.
Robots for kids also makes them familiar with numerous STEM concepts and teachers can monitor the activity for proper guidance. By solving technical challenges involved in making robots for kids, children develop in the world of science. In the long run, this is beneficial for the country as it can foster an academic and technical environment. Robotics has become so essential in our day-to-day life that it is essential for kids to immerse themselves in STEM education without the fear of pressure and grades.
Robokits for Children
While it is essential to encourage practical learning in kids from a young age, it is difficult to do so when there is little implementation at the ground level. Although conventionally science and maths are taught in schools, hands-on learning is quite difficult to implement. Therefore, there is a need to find alternative solutions at a cheaper price so that children, hobbyists, designers, small-time engineers, and artists can use the study of robotics in real life.
In such a situation, robokits are the best possible solution as these kits for kids are dedicated to supporting DIY, education, and research. There are various kits for kids available like a robotic arm kit, hexapod robot kit, humanoid kit, robot chassis kit, programmable robot kit, and even a kit for beginners. As robotics for children is one of the most creative ways to introduce technology to children, robokits can instill a sense of creativity and help them understand the fundamentals of engineering.
Activities like building an obstacle avoiding robot can foster imagination and help them grasp the concepts of programming, photovoltaics, and electrical engineering. In addition to that, robokits can also help them apply the concept to actually create their own product that will ultimately contribute to nation-building. The design and development of such products will make it possible for technology to reach the nooks and corners of India.
Future of Robotics in India
With the help of various robokits and government intervention, there is no denying that robotics in India is set to grow at a high rate. The study of robotics is slowly being implemented on the schooling level and industries are optimistic about the use of robotics across various industrial segments. There are many promising sectors like healthcare, defence, and education, where robokits can flourish. To improve the scope of robotics in India, robotics for children and kits for kids need to be present to develop the country's future. STEM education and robokits at the primary level can enhance the study of robotics at a larger scale.