Automation Expo 2024 Impact of AI and Robotics
Published on : Sunday 04-08-2024
The theme of the 17th edition of Automation Expo is ‘Impact of AI and Robotics in Process Automation and Factory Automation’.
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Automation is a journey, not a destination, and the path we choose will shape the world we leave for future generations. This quote is attributed to Christopher Steiner, author of ‘Automate This – How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World’, a 2013 book described by Amazon as ‘frightening, faschnating’. Frightening, because of the fear that the human element is gradually being removed and replaced by robots and artificial intelligence; fascinating because it indicates that automation is not a one time solution that addresses all the pain points at once, but rather a continuous process that requires constant upgrades as new developments bring in more devices and applications. But more than the above two attributes, automation has another significant impact, that of conserving resources, cutting down waste, making processes safe, removing the drudgery of manual labour, and above all, dramatically improving productivity.
According to a recent market report by Precedence Research, the global industrial automation market size was USD 213.53 billion in 2023, expected to reach USD 233.81 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow to USD 529.16 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2024 to 2033. This is a phenomenal growth that not only indicates the potential for positive developments, but also the need for adequate platforms to bring the latest development in terms of products and solutions to the end user industries.
One of the leading platforms that have been performing this role is Automation Expo, a biennial event launched in 2002 in response to the emerging need for such a forum to bring the Indian automation industry – vendors and users, consultants and system integrators – together for mutual benefit. The overwhelming success of the first five editions held as biennial events led to the show becoming an annual feature from 2011. The year 2024 now marks the 17th edition of this show, marred only by the Covid-11 pandemic that saw no show in 2020, and a digital – online only – event in 2021.
The theme of the 17th edition of Automation Expo is ‘Impact of AI and Robotics in Process Automation and Factory Automation’, a topic that has been trending for some time now. Though automation has been a work in progress from the very first industrial revolution that originated in the 18th Century, the advent of Industry 4.0 has added a big boost with the convergence of advances in robotics, the evolution of collaborative robots, the era of connected devices, the science of data analytics and the power of artificial intelligence.
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Growth factors
What exactly are the factors that are driving this growth of industrial automation? At the outset, it is the same old reasons – increased efficiencies, systematic work flows and enhanced productivity; also improvement in quality, thus higher reliability and cost competitiveness. For the workers, automation leads to reduced hard work and a safer working environment as machines and robots take over the physically demanding tasks, especially those of repetitive nature, and often in hazardous working environments.
In recent years, the growing deployment of robots has caused concerns in many quarters about unemployment. It is also a fact that the countries with the highest robot density – the number of robots per 10,000 people. Japan, Korea and Singapore are the top 3 that come to mind. In fact a report produced for the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) estimated that six countries studied (USA, Germany, Japan, Korea, Brazil and China) 9 to 12 million new jobs were created thanks to robotics between 2000 and 2016. The fact is robots do cause jobs displacement, especially of repetitive tasks where they are far more accurate and highly productive, but they also lead to job creation where human skills far surpass robotic capabilities. A recent UN report in fact corroborates this: “Throughout history, technological innovations have enhanced the productivity of workers and created new products and markets, thereby generating new jobs in the economy. This will be no different for AI, 3D printing and robotics.”
The fact is while the first robot deployed in industry way back in the 1960s was a mere pick-n-place device, robots today are performing complex tasks like cutting and welding, machine tending, production and assembly, material handling, quality control, palletising and packaging, and more. The example of the automobile industry, one with the highest deployment of robots, is a case in point. Without robots, there would not be enough cars made to fulfill the demand, apart from making them far more expensive to produce.
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Automation Expo – where vendors and users converge
With a rich history spanning 16 editions, Automation Expo has continually evolved, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of industrial automation. “Automation Expo was a natural extension of our magazine, Industrial Automation, which we had conceived in the early 1980s covering the area of electronics and instrumentation. The magazine had good subscriptions and readership and was also well received at various exhibitions. As technology advanced from general electronics and instrumentation to Controls and Automation, and later to Robotics, and to present day AI, there was no forum in those other exhibitions to focus on these areas,” says Dr M Arokiaswamy, Managing Director, IED Communications Ltd and the founder of this iconic event.
The annual event is now a thriving forum for technology, and a great platform for networking. “Automation Expo showcases the power of collaboration between solution providers, i.e., vendors, engineering companies and actual users of the technology. Year by year, it has been able to showcase marvellous progress in terms of technologies on display, new product launches, response from users and consultants and this year would be no different,” says Dr B R Mehta, Chairman of Board of Governors for Automation Expo 2024. An industry veteran with over 52+ years of experience in the refinery & petrochemicals industry, Dr Mehta, a retired Senior Vice President with Reliance Industries Ltd, is currently Director, Projects at Waaree Group, Mumbai.
“Automation Expo has evolved to become the voice of the Industry over time. Many competing shows have fallen by the wayside, mainly because the industry – consisting of automation manufacturers, vendors, consultants, students, and most importantly users of automation, have all established a bond with this show,” says PV Sivaram, Evangelist for Digital Transformation and Industrial Automation, and Member, Board of Governors for Automation Expo 2024. “In line with changing times, the show broadened its outlook to include more and more of Discrete Factory automation. It has grown beyond a buy-sell trade show to a forum where technology-experts congregate to exchange views and build an industry direction,” he adds.
More than an exhibition
Automation Expo is more than just an exhibition. It has a lively conference programme organised concurrently (details on next page) during all four days. This includes three specially curated conferences and engaging panel discussions that bring together a diverse array of industry experts. These discussions delve into pressing issues, emerging trends, and the future trajectory of automation. Attendees can actively participate in these conversations, gaining valuable insights and contributing to the collective knowledge pool. In essence, Automation Expo 2024 is not just an event; it's a comprehensive experience that caters to various interests within the automation realm, making it a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field.
Automation Expo 2024 – Programme Schedule
August 21, 2024
· Inauguration function at 10.00 AM
· CEO Networking Nite – 6.00 PM onwards
(Entry by invitation only)
August 22, 2024
· Conference on Process Automation – 10:00 AM to 02:30 PM
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Discover the Future of Industry!
· Conference on Robotics – 2:00 PM onwards
Discover the Future of Robotics!
August 23, 2024
· Conference on Factory Automation – 10:00 AM to 02:30 PM
Innovations in Factory Automation!
· Awards Ceremony – 5:00 PM onwards
A celebration of innovation and achievements
August 24, 2024
· Workshops – 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM
Engaging panel discussions with industry experts
Speakers
Conference on Process Automation
August 22nd, 09:30 AM to 02:00 PM
Mr Venkat Sankar (Global IT Senior Director, Boston Consulting Group (BCG))
Digital Twin applications
Mr Keiichiro Kobuchi (Chief AI Officer, Yokogawa Digital Corporation)
Autonomous control AI that achieves both energy-saving operation and high-quality production
Mr Rahul Lodhe (Senior Director, SAP Labs India Pvt. Ltd)
Leveraging Business AI for Enhanced Business Value (Generative AI)
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Mr Ravishankar Sundaresan (Chief Executive Officer, Alethe Labs India)
AI/ML and Digital Twin Technologies for efficient Gas Pipeline Operations
Mr Davinder Paul Singh (Zonal Head, Indraprastha Gas Limited)
Role of Digitization, Automation and Innovation in Natural Gas sector
Ms Oindirilla Chatterjee (Manager – Digitalization, Adage Automation Pvt Ltd)
Digitalization, Data Analytics & AI in Gas Analytics
Conference on Robotics
August 22nd, 02:00 PM onwards
Mr Amit Mahajan (CMD, The Phoenix Group – USA)
AI and Robotics in Warehousing and Logistics
Mr Anand Mohan (Director, CYGNII Automation Pvt Ltd)
Vision-Guided Robotic Processes in the Automotive Industry
Mr Anuj Bihani (Managing Director, Alstrut India Pvt Ltd)
Emerging Trends in Collaborative Robotics
Mr Kiran Simha (Automation Business Head ARI, Automotive Robotic (ARI Global)
Industrial Automation & Robotics
Mr Mahendra Patil (National Head – Robots & System Engineering, Fanuc India)
Impact of AI & Robotics on Manufacturing
Mr Vijay Seelam (Founder & Managing Director, Svaya Robotics)
Breaking Barriers to Adoption of Robotic Automation
Conference on Factory Automation
August 23rd, 09:30 AM to 02:00 PM
Mr P V Sivaram (Evangelist for Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, Industrial Automation)
Talk on technological advancements on Factory Automation industry in India
Mr Anand Deodhar (Head IT, Force Motors Ltd)
Innovative use cases in the realm of Industry 4.0, highlighting successful digitally transformed businesses
Mr Lalit Kr Mishra (Regional Sales Head – Indian Subcontinent, COGNEX)
Innovative Evolution: AI & Robotics Reshaping Manufacturing
Mr Sanjay Lalwani (Data Scientist, Siemens)
The impact of Generative AI in operations
Mr Pritam Chaudhari (Business Development Manager, Dynalog India)
Defending the Future: Industry 4.0 Cybersecurity Strategies
Mr Sumit Chakraborty (Associate Vice President – S&M, Adani Logistics Limited)
AI in Logistics, Supply Chain.
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For a deeper dive into the dynamic world of Industrial Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), explore our comprehensive collection of articles and news covering cutting-edge technologies, robotics, PLC programming, SCADA systems, and the latest advancements in the Industrial Automation realm. Uncover valuable insights and stay abreast of industry trends by delving into the rest of our articles on Industrial Automation and RPA at www.industrialautomationindia.in
