Read the code, find the way, do the work - Simple!

In the past few weeks, through our posts, we have introduced you to some data about how people may work with computers in the future. Today we are here to discuss how these interface changes are helping humans at large and are making their lives easier.

Have you ever seen a huge warehouse where the workers go in and bring new orders to the delivery dock?   It takes time and effort for them to get to the required items and bring them out. An order may consist of more than one item for which and many workers may be required to complete the order. Alternately, if only one person is working on your order, the time to complete the order might be unacceptably long. As technology evolved, small pickup vans were used in warehouses to reduce the workload of the workers. Though this significantly reduced the physical effort required, the time aspect was still an issue for long and complex orders. Many stores strived to fix this delivery issue but there was no good way to speed up order completion. Increasing the number of workers did not help, as it increased both costs and management complexity.

To fix this problem, the most practical solution has been to bring more machines into the process.

In doing this, the big questions are:

1.    Do we have to direct the machine every time to get the required material?

2.    Will the machine just help find the item while the worker still picks it up?

3.    Will the machine be as big as a human?

The answer to all these questions is now a simple “No”.

We started this blog with “learn to talk to machines.” The next big step ahead is making the machines talk to each other as well.

What languages do the machines speak?  

One important method is called Client-Server Communication. This is a kind of the boss-subordinate relation where the. Server computer is the boss and the clients are the machines programmed to do what the boss says.

Another important aspect is the barcode. With this form of coded communication, the robots navigate their path to destination and back.

Kiva robots work in warehouse with a central computer that keeps track of all the robots and the robots read bar codes on the floor to navigate. Now, a worker can work on multiple orders at once. The robots have increased the accuracy of the order delivery, reduced the completion time, and have made possible a breakthrough to parallel order processing.  Watch the robots in action!

Machines can work tirelessly; they don’t need lunch or coffee breaks; just enough time to charge.