Page 74 - Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

f. Robotics for monitoring underwater climate change impacts and the observation
of marine life to help protect biodiversity

Rapid advances in robotics are the key driver
behind several technological innovations within
the forthcoming 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with
robots, which are programmable machines built
with the ability to carry out a series of actions
autonomously or semi-autonomously. There are
three important factors that distinguish a robot
from similar technologies: 222

• Robots interact with the physical world via sensors and actuators.
• Robots are programmable.
• Robots are usually autonomous or semi-autonomous.

Furthermore, artificially intelligent robots can be controlled by AI programs, thereby acting as the
bridge between the disciplines of robotics and AI. These and other emerging breakthroughs within
the field of robotics have the potential to transform entire industries and existing business models.
In the context of climate change, robotics can provide several tangible benefits such as:
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• prevention of pollution and reduction of emissions through monitoring and preventing the
release of harmful greenhouse gases;
• optimization of precision manufacturing processes, thereby reducing energy consumption;
• increase in precision strength robots that minimize the need for larger, less-efficient machines; and
• eliminating product waste through more efficient use of raw materials.

Robots can also reach environments that are inaccessible to humans. By swimming through coral
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reefs, for example, or by hovering above a rain forest canopy, the emerging generation of robots can
yield powerful insights for scientists studying phenomena such as climate change and its impacts on
biodiversity.

Biodiversity comprises of all fauna, flora and microbial life on Earth. It is the foundation for the health
of the Earth’s delicately balanced biosphere. The continued health of the Earth’s biodiversity is also
critical for the millions of vulnerable people in developing communities who depend directly on
forests, rivers, lakes and oceans for their lives and livelihoods.

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