Jakub Pavlák, R&D Manager
3 min read
Today’s companies increasingly use Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve workflows, systems, and lives. In fact, AI robotics is set to grow at a 32.9% CAGR throughout the 2020s and reach $218 billion by 2030.
From robotic online shopping to algorithms identifying life-threatening diseases, this technology is a game-changer for every aspect of life.
Artificial intelligence is rising in popularity for its vast potential to automate complex processes, simulate human decision-making, augment analytical intelligence, and power robotic systems. Data shows that there are 3.4 million industrial robots in use worldwide today.
This article focuses on how Y Soft uses a robotic system, or testing robot, to relieve the burden on both our customers and our employees.
THE RISE OF THE ROBOT
Let’s look at the dawn of the robotic system (rather, the modern side of it... but if you’re into history, the first digitally operated and programmable robot was invented in 1954 🤖).
Back in 2018, Forbes reported that machines are better at repetitive tasks like analyzing vast amounts of information in short periods of time. Because our daily lives are saturated with digital tools, we process more data than ever before. With AI-powered solutions, we can release ourselves from repetitive, mundane tasks to focus on progressive projects.
Because of the benefits we’ve seen with automation solutions, more and more companies around the globe operationalized robots. In 2023, we hit an all-time high record of about 3.4 million units.
At Y Soft, we’ve focused on robot software, a market that is expected to reach $120.5 billion by 2033.
Since we founded Y Soft in 2000, we've carried out extensive manual testing on all our solutions. In 2014, our manual testers wanted to develop and progress their careers, but the manual testing was blocking them. We started looking at how we could use modern technology to release our team from monotonous manual testing.
This is where our robotic testing system, AIVA, came into existence. We believed that robots would be a more efficient way to automate repetitive activities, run long-lasting tests (since robots can operate 24/7), and run tests simultaneously.
We already worked with two technical universities in Brno, and as a result, we approached their robotic thesis students and invited them to work with us to find a solution.
The 2014 Prototype of AIVA
As part of our Applied Research and University Relations (ARUR) program, three students joined Y Soft over the summer to design, develop, test, and present the prototype. Despite the first prototype not being fit for purpose, it showed real potential.
The team worked tirelessly for another two years to develop the prototype into a fully operational testing robot. During this time, the team focused on researching related technologies and developing functionality that would add value to the testing process.
One of the most notable developments in our robot testing software was computer vision, which gave the robot the ability to react to a situation and take the appropriate action, such as capturing and confirming a message, repeating a tap, starting repair, or stopping testing.
The team also created smart actions that tell the robot to find a specific icon or button instead of navigating to certain coordinates. These actions are a huge benefit when testing on multiple devices because icons and buttons will be in different positions for each device.
The video below shows a testing robot finding and touching an icon on an iPhone, a vital requirement for testing various devices and operating systems.
Y Soft robot demo 1: Find and touch the Y Soft icon on an iPhone
A key element was the dexterity of the robot testing software. As the video below shows, some of the actions required clicking on icons and buttons of varying sizes located in specific areas of a device’s user interface.
Y Soft robot demo 2: Input your PIN at a multifunction printer to validate your ID
ENHANCING TESTING WITH ROBOTS
Thanks to our testing robots, not only has our team been able to develop their chosen careers in Y Soft, but we have also improved our testing processes. The robotic arm can carry out more activities and measure the time it takes for the software to react more accurately.
For example, robots can test milliseconds as opposed to humans who may struggle to test anything under a second. This testing means that our solutions are not just fit for purpose but deliver excellence at every stage of the tested product’s process.
Y Soft robot demo 3: Select your chosen job at the MFD (multifunctional device)
Y Soft robot demo 4: Mobile application validation and verification
Future DEVELOPMENTS
Since late 2018, our testing robot has used AI to enhance computer vision to detect what is happening on the test screen. AI has helped us with computer vision speed and accuracy.
Throughout the first years of the 2020s, we maintained our focus on the test automation framework in the robotics industry. We advanced our offering to be a software-and-hardware robotic system centered around the robotic arm for testing and debugging.
We fell in love with our robotic testing software, but in 2024, we turned a leaf. Our research and experimentation led us to the conclusion that AI and the cloud are what will truly allow us to help our customers modernize their testing ecosystem and let go of mundane, manual tests.
We have engineered a new breed of test automation, an AI-powered software platform that maximizes test reliability, streamlines testing, and minimizes maintenance even as you perform more comprehensive system tests. With the AIVA platform, you get:
Are you excited to see what we’ve built? Join our user waitlist and become one of the first to experience how AIVA makes testing easy, reliable, and efficient.
