Art is always among the most popular class with elementary school students.  What child doesn’t love to draw or paint?   Getting the chance to use one’s imagination while playing with vibrant colors and textures in the art room is about as much fun as can be had in school apart from recess.  For many students, this enjoyment of painting develops over the yearsand by the time these students reach high school, they have not only developed as artists, but also as technicians expert in using both paint materials and paint tools. In some cases, this education continues as the student becomes a professional painter, making a living from the skills and knowledge acquired during years of art class at school.

A robot in the classroom. Image courtesy of OTC.Edu

Recently, some schools have begun combining art and science classes to give students a new perspective on how different disciplines can work together. As a result, young people are being exposed to new concepts, including art robotics, much earlier than ever before.  The concept is simple: combine lessons from classes like geometry and physics with art and you’ll open an entirely new world to students.

This kind of education has a number of benefits with regard to painting. On the one hand, the student is able to enjoy new and creative ways to paint (art) while learning concepts like viscosity and reflection (physics).  Should the student grow to be a professional painter, this knowledge will be of great benefit.  Just as importantly. the student is being exposed to the rapidly changing world of paint work; no longer are they thinking of only brushstrokes and canvas, but rather working with new technology to accomplish the paint job in new ways.

Science fairs are another wonderful place to see art and paint robotics on display together. One recent fair in Michigan saw a pair of siblings, aged 12 and 9, show off a robot that painted letters using programmed X and Y coordinates.  Furthermore, there are a number of new devices that blur the line between toy and industrial machine.  These products help expose young people to the robotics and innovation at their disposal for paint.

A robot draws a picture of Albert Einstein. Image courtesy of Detroit News

What does this mean for the modern professional?  In short, it means that future generations of painters will approach the business of painting with a different perspective and new ideas. Instead of being trained that brushes and rollers are the primary tools of most paint jobs, they likely will conceptualize the work differently, wondering first what automated or mechanical processes are available via paint robotics.  Only after these tools are exhausted are they likely to think of the current solution: a painter with a brush or roller applying the paint by hand.  Is this a stark change to our current view of professional painting? Absolutely. But generally, these innovations and changes are meant to improve painting for both professionals and clients by providing better work with less associated time and cost

Robots in the classroom show students what is possible for paint and drafting in the future. Image courtesy of the Local.de

Like many industries, the paint sector will continue to change as available technology changes within it. However, not every innovation or development will just be the result of robotics or machines; a great deal of change will come from the people that choose painting as a profession. They will view the world differently than modern painters and will address problems like consistent coating thickness and paint adhesion with a different set of ideas then ever before.  Just as you brought a new set of best practices to the paint sector, they will do the same.  If you are anything like me, you can’t wait to see the future of professional painting unfold.  Click here to learn more about the amazing advances taking place every day in paint robotics!