Utility Power & Water Robots, Electric Power & Water Leaders magazine, Nov2019

E D I T O R ‘ S N O T E
Robots have
significantly taken over
the majority of the
sectors of the
industry, may it be the oil and
gas industry or the
construction industry. Their
applications in the industry
have proven to be virtually
limitless, from stacking bricks
in the construction field to
exploring oil reserves in
extreme environments.
Designed to ease the human
workload, robots are now
becoming more visible in the
field, especially in the power
and water industry.
Utility Power & Water
Robots
Office Automation in Utilities
Some of the major applications
of robots in the workplace
include taking over the human
resource department, auditing
department, and the
accounting department.
In the human resource sector,
they are particularly useful in
automating the leave, payroll,
and benefits processes.
Meanwhile, in the finance
department, automation helps
in cutting the operational costs
by doing the job of a team of
employees all by itself.
The audit functions of
automation are also useful in
securing the data of their
employees.
Reduce Operational Cost
Aside from helping automate
the workplace and reduce
operational costs, robots also
play a vital role in the
workplace, particularly in
keeping workers and
equipment safe and free from
risks.
They are dispatched to the
field first, where they inspect
the area for possible faults and
health risks before allowing
any humans to enter the field.
They are equipped with
high-end sensors, such as
thermal cameras and infrared,
and specially designed
algorithms that are capable of
replacing the human
inspectors.
This is exceptionally handy,
especially in heightening
workplace safety.
Challenges in Power
and Water
While it is easy to see how
beneficial the fully automated
system is, there are still
challenges that may have
been overlooked. But once
these challenges are
overcome, it is no longer
surprising that the future of the
utility sector is in the hands of
these robots.
With continued improvements
and innovations, we can see
more of this technology being
commercialized in the near
future.
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