Industrial Automation Magazine India

Artificial Intelligence will drive new levels of autonomy in robotic applications

Published on : Tuesday 02-04-2024

Subrata Karmakar, President, Robotics & Discrete Automation, ABB India.

What are the current global trends in the use of robots and cobots in manufacturing industries?

In recent years, the annual installations of industrial robots have more than tripled, with 84% of businesses confirming plans to introduce or increase the use of robotics automation in the next ten years. The potential for cobots to revolutionise worker productivity is highlighted by various market projections that indicate strong growth as more companies invest in collaborative robotics. According to a report by a research firm, the cobot market is estimated to reach $6.8 billion by 2029

The global trends are as follows:

• Artificial Intelligence will drive new levels of autonomy in robotic applications: The progress in AI is redefining the possibility with industrial robotics. AI is enhancing the ability of the robotsto grip, pick and place, as well as their ability to map and navigate through dynamic environments. AI is giving robots and cobots unprecedented accuracy and speed, enabling them to take on numerous tasks at once.

• Increased demand for Cobots: Cobots that can be deployed safely alongside human workers, offer new possibilities for companies to both address skills gaps and make better use of their existing workforces. We will also see robots taking on tasks in new sectors such as food service and healthcare, particularly in laboratories and dispensaries.

• Specialist partnerships between industry and educators are vital: The rise in specialist partnerships between industry and educational institutions is a testament to proactive measures being taken to meet the evolving demands of the workforce. These partnerships are successfully addressing the growing need for workers to acquire new skills, empowering them to thrive in an increasingly automated environment.

In what ways do robots and cobots contribute to increased efficiency and productivity in manufacturing?

Incorporating robotics and automation solutions can furnish customers with the flexibility, agility, and adaptability requisite for their operations, thereby contributing to heightened efficiency. Although automation has traditionally been associated with the enhancement of productivity and quality, it has now risen to the status of a strategic requisite due to its user-friendly nature and ability to facilitate flexibility.

Robotic automation is increasingly being used to tackle monotonous, hazardous, and challenging tasks that can increase productivity, boost operational efficiency, and generate a higher return on investment for businesses. Autonomous mobile robots can navigate materials, components, and finished products between networked workstations, replacing the traditional linear production lines with more flexible and dynamic networks. By utilising 3D vision algorithms, the robots can offer greater speed, flexibility, and improved operational efficiency. The robots' flexibility, combined with the intelligence provided by the 3D vision system, makes them capable of performing various tasks such as sorting and loading small and disordered packages and packing large numbers of polygonal packages automatically. Thanks to their simple design and engineering, these robots can integrate quickly into production lines.

The cobots are intuitive and straightforward to operate without any prior knowledge, saving the customer time and effort. These are designed to work alongside humans, freeing them up to perform more skilled or rewarding tasks. Cobots can perform precise and repetitive tasks without tiring, which allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to optimise the consistency and quality of their outputs. Cobots save time and are designed for user friendliness. They can be programmed and operated without requiring specialist robotic or software knowledge.

How can manufacturers effectively integrate robots and cobots into existing workflows? Do these replace human labor or create additional opportunities?

Seamless integration requires modernisation. One of ABB's modern products, GoFa, is designed to work alongside humans with advanced safety features that include force and speed limitations. GoFa can operate near human workers without compromising safety. This collaborative capability enables seamless integration into existing workflows, enhancing productivity and efficiency without the need for extensive safety barriers.

 The automation of unique tasks will lead to a new economy that fosters human creativity. Robots won't replace humans; rather, humans were performing tasks that robots should have been doing during the early years of industrialisation. As technology advances, humans can focus on advanced research and development tasks, while robots can handle tasks, they are best suited for – repeated, hazardous, and dull work. The future economy will likely offer jobs that are more suitable for humans, minimising workplace injuries and mental stress.

What skills are required for workers to effectively operate and collaborate with robots or cobots?

Human-robot collaboration is now becoming an optimal option for manufacturers to enhance quality and productivity. The Factory of the Future is a co-working space because of the human-robot collaboration. Consequently, an amalgamation of the intellectual skills and artificial intelligence of human and robots respectively can offer innumerable performance benefits.

Cobots are based on lead-through programming, allowing even someone without specialised training to program the robot and have it running in minutes. This involves programming by demonstration, where a person guides the Cobot's arms and grippers through the required series of movements to perform a specific task, such as putting two objects together. These motions are recorded on an ordinary smart tablet through an interface with intuitive icons, creating a program.

This approach contrasts with traditional programming software, which requires each point-to-point movement to be recorded into a sequence. The ease-of-use of Cobots removes a key entry barrier for new robot users and is particularly attractive to small and medium businesses that can benefit from their flexibility and scalability for growth.

How are manufacturers addressing the need for training and upskilling their workforce in the era of robotic automation?

The evolving work environment is characterised by the growing integration of automated technologies, necessitating a new generation of tech-savvy employees capable of effectively collaborating with these systems. Both present and future workers confront the task of aligning their skill sets with automated technologies to harness them for enhanced efficiency.

Drawing upon its wealth of experience and array of robotic solutions, ABB is actively engaged in assisting educational institutions in delivering training for robotic and automation skills to equip students for the workforce of the future. Through participation in various global projects, ABB seeks to educate students at all levels, spanning from schools to universities, about the transformative potential of robotics across a spectrum of industries, including engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and product design. ABB's latest endeavor, the ABB Robotics education package, has been meticulously crafted by industry professionals to empower students from diverse backgrounds to excel in the realms of robotics and automation. Additionally, ABB offers eligible employees’ reimbursement for educational courses that equips them to work in the automated environment.

How well do robots and cobots contribute to the flexibility and adaptability of manufacturing processes?

Today, robots are playing a critical role in making the manufacturing industry more sustainable. The remote-control capability of robots allows organisations to deploy human operators where it is most convenient, even at different company locations or off-site. Robots are more flexible than traditional machines because they can be programmed to carry out new tasks as needed. The integration of cobots is anticipated to bring significant changes to the workplace of the future. With its digital features such as easy programming, cobots can be easily controlled and handled even by individuals without prior experience or expertise in robotics. This not only reduces installation costs but also requires minimal space, which is particularly beneficial in limited work environments.

 

(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented.)

Subrata Karmakar is the President of Robotics and Discrete Automation business for ABB in India. Robotics and Discrete Automation is writing the future of flexible factory and smart machines by providing value-added solutions in robotics and machine automation.

Subrata has spent close to 30 years at ABB, having worked in different roles including business operations, sales and marketing, strategy and product management across India.

He brings extensive experience in Robotics automation across market segments like automotive, metals, consumer segments, electronics and machine automation. Subrata holds a Bachelor’s in engineering and has undergone various leadership trainings