Hearken to this text

This picture was created utilizing Microsoft Bing Picture Creator.

It’s time to mirror upon the tendencies from the previous 12 months whereas wanting forward at what 2024 has in retailer for the world of robotics.

2023 was an thrilling yr for innovation. The emergence of synthetic intelligence (AI) applied sciences, together with generative AI, captured world consideration and dominated headlines. Nonetheless, the adoption of generative AI for companies remains to be very a lot in its early levels and questions round how finest to harness this expertise stay on the forefront of many minds.

Digital transformation is an ongoing course of, so we are able to count on to see this yr’s breakthrough tendencies persevering with to form society into subsequent yr. However how will these tendencies affect robotics and what can the manufacturing business count on to see subsequent yr?

1. AI will set a brand new tempo of improvement in robotics

AI is reworking the world of software program improvement, making it cheaper, sooner, and more practical. Software program is a key element of automation, and with AI, software program builders will be capable to create extra custom-made and optimized options for numerous duties and challenges. If software program improvement has typically felt like digging with a shovel, the introduction of AI is like bringing two horses and a plow to the method. Nonetheless, automation experience will stay a scarce and useful useful resource within the technique of AI revolutionizing manufacturing.

It has been fascinating, and maybe stunning, to see AI altering the lives of workplace employees earlier than it touches working practices in most factories. I stay up for seeing the advantages of machine studying attain extra producers in 2024. In spite of everything, the expertise is already there – we’ve got many companions growing functions utilizing AI to permit our robots to carry out extra advanced and numerous features. For instance, AI permits robots to have human-like notion, deal with variation, transfer elements exactly, adapt to altering environments, and study from their very own expertise.

With time, these capabilities will result in unprecedented flexibility, high quality, and reliability in manufacturing.

2. Developments in robotics software program will allow extra sharing and reuse

Robotics software program is the glue that binds customers to their mechanical counterparts – a digital connectivity that transcends bodily interplay.

Software program developments are enabling a brand new dimension of collaboration – connecting the individuals who use robots. 2024 will see software program developments resulting in new ranges of sharing and reusability. Think about a world the place, as a substitute of reinventing the wheel, we leverage current software program belongings — parts, interfaces, algorithms — throughout a number of functions. It’s a precept that already underpins our UR+ companion ecosystem, streamlining innovation and lowering time-to-market. I can’t wait to see this evolve in 2024.

Submit your nominations for innovation awards within the 2024 RBR50 awards.

3. Corporations will fuse IT and OT utilizing knowledge to enhance operations

The way forward for manufacturing is intricately linked to IT/OT integration as knowledge will underpin innovation and effectivity. Analysis exhibits that the manufacturing business has been on the forefront of adopting cloud-based software program companies and we’re already seeing some prospects use these to reinforce high quality, price effectivity, and predictability. That makes me assured that 2024 will see the expansion of data-driven logistics and manufacturing methods.

Many nonetheless have an outdated view of the cloud as merely being a knowledge collector and backup operate, as we all know it from our non-public lives. However the actual potential and energy don’t lie in storing knowledge and even in linking machines. The true transformative leap comes when cloud-based software program companies join people and machines and assist producers simplify advanced processes and make smarter choices.

The advantages of this digital evolution are vital. Distant entry to manufacturing knowledge permits fast responses to points and steady automation enchancment. With dynamic methods now important, trusted cloud applied sciences provide the most recent in safety and state-of-the-art companies. Industrial Web of Issues (IIOT) corporations spotlight this development, promising improved effectivity and diminished downtime via General Tools Effectiveness (OEE) visualization and predictive upkeep.

As we method 2024, producers stand to achieve from these developments, reaching greater high quality, diminished downtime, higher predictability, and value optimization. This transition is a strategic necessity, supporting the shift in direction of high-volume, high-mix manufacturing, resilient provide chains, aggressive knowledge utilization, and sustainability objectives.

4. Logistics might be a spotlight space for robotics

Earlier this yr, Work together Evaluation checked out projected development charges in robotic shipments throughout industries. The stand-out projected development space? Logistics, the place Work together Evaluation put the projected CAGR for collaborative robotics (cobots) at 46% for 2023-2027. I’m not shocked as the marketplace for non-industrial functions is rising quick.

Like manufacturing, many logistics corporations face severe labor shortages whereas stress is rising on account of globalization, e-commerce, and complicated multi-channel provide chains. Extra logistics, warehouse, and distribution facilities will flip to automation subsequent yr to offer companies sooner and with higher accuracy.

Dealing with the problem of surging e-commerce calls for, for instance, one logistics firm we labored with revolutionized its success middle with cobots, leading to a 500% surge in effectivity and order accuracy. The automation system, adept at processing hundreds of orders each day, significantly excelled throughout peak durations, like Black Friday, the place a robotic managed as much as 4,400 orders in in the future with only a small crew for replenishment.

Robots – and the sensible use of knowledge – are poised to revolutionize logistics companies throughout the entire worth chain from incoming packages to outbound logistics.

The tempo of improvement in robotics stays spectacular – I look ahead with nice anticipation to a different thrilling yr of progress.

In regards to the Writer

Anders Billesø Beck leads the event of cobot applied sciences to maintain world companies agile, productive and revolutionary. Anders is vice chairman for technique and innovation at Common Robots, the worldwide chief in versatile automation, and holds a PhD in robotics from DTU, the Technical College of Denmark.

He’s a former elite swimmer and member of the Danish nationwide crew, and he has additionally held main positions on the Danish Technological Institute. Anders combines his scientific background with contributions to the worldwide collaborative automation business to vary the way in which the world works.