The Office of the Future May Be Designed for Humans and Humanoids

Table of Content

• Humanoid Robots Are Leaving the Factory
  
• Furniture Could Become Part of the Robotics Infrastructure
  
• Offices May Need Robot-Friendly Routes
• Humans Will Still Shape the Workplace
• The Smart Office Is Becoming Physical

For decades, office designs have been based on the simple premise that all the users of the building are people. People's dimensions and behaviors are represented in desks, doors, lifts, storage spaces and meeting rooms. Now, with the advent of increasingly capable humanoid robots, that notion may be threatened. Robots are starting to do administrative, logistical and maintenance work within offices, which may mean a whole new kind of office colleague will be required.

This might affect furniture sourcing from companies like AJ, shelf placement, and corridor width. The future office can't just have more technology. It could be physically redesigned to allow humans and machines to work together easily.

Humanoid Robots Are Leaving the Factory

The term robotics is traditionally linked with factories, warehouses and other controlled industrial environments. Such sites are more conducive to automation as the tasks are predictable and spaces can be built around machinery.

An office is a much more complex facility. Bags are left next to desks, chairs are parked in corridors, cupboards are opened and meeting rooms are frequently rearranged. In such an environment, a humanoid robot ought to be able to navigate unknown space rather than follow the same route.

That is becoming a reality with the progress of artificial intelligence, computer vision and robotic mobility. Humanoid machines are being developed that can walk through buildings, grasp and move objects, and carry out a variety of tasks. As those capabilities advance, companies might start considering using robots for tasks such as carrying documents, moving equipment, recharging supplies, or assisting facility teams. The problem is that today's office spaces were not built for these machines.

Furniture Could Become Part of the Robotics Infrastructure

Office furniture doesn't seem to have anything to do with robotics, but it might be vital.

The chair can be wheeled out of the way, or the person can walk around an awkwardly positioned desk. The environments in which robots operate must be more predictable. Clearances and layouts designed for furniture may, therefore, impact the success of furniture movement in the workplace.

An example is storage. Human-only cupboards may be equipped with handles or shelves that are not easily accessible to a robot. In the future, workplace storage will need to be standardized not only in opening mechanisms but also in the height and compartments that can be reached by humans and machines.

Even desks could change. Modern offices already utilize height-adjustable desks, modular furniture, and movable partitions. This may speed up the transition to furniture that adjusts or moves automatically when necessary for certain people — or perhaps robots.

Offices May Need Robot-Friendly Routes

The greatest change may occur at the building level. Although humanoid robots are designed to function in a human environment, this does not imply that all workplaces are equally suited for them. Potential obstacles include narrow corridors, heavy doors, breakout areas that are too crowded, and lifts that are not properly positioned.

In the future, companies could design their offices so that robots have a dedicated path for transporting goods, avoiding constant crossings of human areas. This is already the case in warehouses where automated machines move around predetermined paths.

Version in the office would likely be significantly less inflexible. Employees would still have to share lifts, corridors and communal spaces with robots. But a few nuanced design elements may help improve navigation and reduce the risk of collisions. The design for robots may also make offices more comfortable for their human counterparts, as clearer floor plans and reduced clutter might also be beneficial to them.

Humans Will Still Shape the Workplace

As humanoid robots take to the workplace, don't expect offices to start being built around machines. Human comfort, accessibility and productivity will remain the priority.

Instead, robotics may be another factor to consider alongside ergonomics, sustainability, and flexible working.

The most effective office designs might therefore be those that are based around compatibility. That a meeting room should function with five employees in it is a given, but there may be sufficient space to accommodate a service robot delivering equipment, as well. The storage system should be user-friendly for the workers and accessible to the robots. Doing so could lead to more flexible work environments.

The Smart Office Is Becoming Physical

The concept of a smart office was primarily centered on software for years. A conventional workplace was combined with cloud applications, connected meeting rooms and digital booking systems for employees. That could change with humanoid robots.

When intelligent machines begin to roam around workplaces, desks, chairs, doors, storage spaces and building layouts become part of the technology system. Physical design and Digital Infrastructure are starting to merge.

So, the office of the future could be quite similar. There will still be desks, meeting rooms, chairs and cupboards. These spaces will be different in that they will be more of a multi-user environment.

For the first time, one of those users may not be human.