Robots and Cobots: Integrating Robotics Securely into Everyday Life

A robotics renaissance has brought us to the dawn of a new era, with robots and cobots (collaborative robots) playing an increasingly crucial role. In both civilian and military settings, robots and cobots already offer various levels of assistance, notably in the agricultural, industrial and medical sectors. But in all of these areas, securing robots is essential to mitigate risk and ensure their safe and beneficial integration into society.

The Four Pillars of Secure Robotics

The risks related to increased reliance on robotics in critical infrastructures can be broken down into four key areas of concern: security, safety, accuracy and trust — which, taken together, entail protecting these machines from both a physical and a digital perspective.

• Security focuses on safeguarding robots from cyber threats.
• Safety prioritizes the prevention of accidents.
• Accuracy is the precursor to faultless execution of tasks.
• Trust hinges on reliable performance and human-like capabilities.

Cybersecurity Challenges in Robotics

The field of robotics cybersecurity is still in its early stages, and while significant strides have been made in developing secure robotic systems, there are still many challenges to overcome. To understand these challenges, there are four key drivers to consider:

1. Proliferation of Autonomous Robots

There are two main modes of autonomy to consider: autonomous locomotion and autonomous manipulation. The most visible instance of autonomous locomotion is, of course, the spread of self-driving vehicles, from driverless taxis to delivery robots — though it also includes many military applications. Autonomous manipulation, on the other hand, includes a broad range of tasks involving human-like dexterity — whether performed in dangerous environments like oil rigs and nuclear plants, requiring extreme precision such as robotic surgeries, or simply tedious and repetitive.

2. Integration with IoT

The integration of robotics with the Internet of Things (IoT) produces IoRT (Internet of Robotic Things) systems and networks, in which robots access real-time data, communicate with other devices and make autonomous decisions.

3. Rising Cyber Threats on Infrastructure

With robotics increasingly integrated into critical infrastructure — such as energy and water systems, transportation networks, manufacturing and healthcare — new vulnerabilities offer new opportunities to disrupt operations, steal data or inflict physical harm.

4. Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

Increased connectivity and networking capabilities of robots also increase the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches and network attacks. Protecting sensitive data collected and processed by robots will also be key in preserving privacy and trust while ensuring that legal and regulatory requirements are met.

Future Integration of Robots and Cobots

Over the next decade, robots and cobots will become increasingly integrated into everyday life, transforming how we live, work and interact with technology. Below are several key areas where robots and cobots will play a significant role — with corresponding safety and security concerns:

Workplace Automation

In manufacturing and industry, cobots will be used more commonly in factories alongside humans — helping with repetitive or dangerous tasks like assembly, packaging or quality control, and freeing humans to focus on more complex activities. Robots will increasingly act as office assistants, assisting with administrative tasks like data entry, scheduling and customer service. AI-driven robots will handle routine processes, enabling their human counterparts to focus on creativity and decision-making.

Healthcare

Look for robots to take an increasingly important role in caregiving, helping elderly clients with mobility, medication reminders and simple companionship. Cobots will provide support to medical staff in surgeries and monitor patients, improving efficiency and reducing human error. Robotic surgery systems designed to be minimally invasive will become even more precise, allowing for remote surgeries with better outcomes and shorter patient recovery times.

Smart Homes

In the realm of personal assistants, household robots will pitch in with cooking, cleaning and basic maintenance. Cobots could be integrated into home settings, assisting householders by moving objects, folding laundry and helping with chores. On the security side, robotic security systems will patrol homes and businesses — using AI to detect unusual activity, enhance surveillance and ensure safety — while drones will be used to survey from new vantage points and monitor larger areas.

Transportation and Delivery

Autonomous vehicles are here to stay. Self-driving cars, trucks and drones will become increasingly common for personal transportation and cargo delivery, reducing human error and making transportation more efficient. In a conclusive resolution of the last-mile problem, robots and drones will handle deliveries directly to the home, while cobots in warehouses will help to sort packages or load and unload products and materials.

Retail and Customer Service

If you already find self-checkout unnerving, you may want to brace yourself for the coming age of the automated store. Robots will play a leading role in humanizing that environment and walking customers through the rough spots — guiding them to products, helping them check out, even retrieving inventory and stocking shelves. Cobots could help cashiers by handling payments or assisting customers directly. More broadly, robots in a range of customer service roles — from help desks to restaurants — will handle inquiries, take orders and offer assistance, improving customer experience.

Education

Expect to see robots employed as teaching assistants in classrooms or as personal tutors for students, especially in STEM education. Their ability to adapt to diverse learning styles and offer personalized pedagogical experiences will make them a valuable educational asset. Robots and cobots could also play an important role in special needs education: helping students with disabilities and offering tailored interactions, therapies and support.

Entertainment and Leisure

Robots will facilitate and animate interactive experiences in museums and at theme parks and events — engaging and entertaining visitors to a wide variety of public attractions. Robotic pets or companions are likely to become commonplace, offering companionship to people who live alone or providing emotional support — though long walks on the beach may require some degree of customization.

Social Interaction and Community Roles

Assistive robotics will greatly enhance mobility and independence for people with disabilities. Cobots will help with tasks like lifting, navigation and even social interaction. Robots can also serve as virtual avatars — helping people stay connected to friends and family or work remotely through telepresence robots.

Advanced AI integration

As AI continues to develop, robots will become smarter and better able to handle unpredictable environments, make decisions, and learn from experience — allowing even greater and more seamless integration of robots into everyday life.

Ethical and Social Considerations

As robots and cobots take over more routine tasks, the focus of the workforce will shift and the workplace will be transformed over time. New job opportunities will emerge — particularly in the fields of AI, robotics and human-robot interaction — but the transition will demand thoughtful retraining and reskilling. As robots become more fully integrated into everyday life, it will be essential to address issues involving data privacy, surveillance and security, and safeguards must be in place to protect against misuse or hacking.

Conclusion

By 2035, robots and cobots will be woven into the fabric of daily life — supporting us in our work, assisting with personal tasks, transforming whole industries, and opening up new possibilities for accessibility, entertainment and health. While this transformation promises numerous benefits, it will also require careful management of social, ethical and technological challenges to ensure a balanced future.