Industry 4.0 is just around the corner, and thanks to advancements in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), a number of other industrial revolutions are also progressing. As a result, over the coming years, factories will operate very differently. Here are just a handful of the cutting-edge innovations that will make it possible for factories to become smarter, along with some instances of factories and warehouses that have already started putting them into practice. An experienced engineer who maintains an AI service for random live chat will share some great technologies that can change the factories’ operation in the future.
Audi smart factory: the factory model of the future
When Audi demonstrated their smart factory in 2017, they were ahead of the competition. New manufacturing techniques are being used in the factory that will soon spread throughout various industries. These include drones for transportation, 3D printers for making parts, and virtual reality headsets for the design process. It has been predicted that the new procedures will result in a 20% improvement in productivity.
NASA’s robotic glove: wearable technology for workers
The use of a robotic glove created by NASA for use in factories was announced by General Motors in 2016. The glove’s design was developed with the use of the International Space Station in mind. The glove has numerous advantages. The ease of work in the hands of the workers is one of the key advantages. Additionally, it makes it easier for workers to carry and grip heavy objects. Humans are more likely to wear robotic gadgets like these gloves than robots, even though robot workers are increasingly popular.
Preferred Networks AI: Creating thinking machines
Preferred Networks, an innovative Japanese business, has raised $2 billion in funding. Previously recognized for its art coloring app, the company is currently starting a Deep Learning application in the manufacturing sector. Toyota and Fanuc Corp., two significant producers of industrial robots, are collaborating with the startup. Although it can take a programmer days to teach industrial machinery to carry out certain duties, deep learning enables them to learn much more quickly and effectively.
SecondHands: helping people maintain other robots
SecondHands is a robot that offers a second pair of hands to people while servicing other robots. It accomplishes exactly what its name implies. It is a component of the Horizon 2020 program, a European project designed to advance technology while also generating employment. Using action detection and 3D position estimation, SecondHands will be able to help without being asked. It not only facilitates the transfer of instruments but also provides beneficial guidance regarding the best course of action.
Dex-Net: creating super dexterous robots
Software called Dex-Net, developed by Berkeley professor Ken Goldberg and his student Jeff Mahler enables robots to detect and arrange complex forms with lightning speed. Two arms and a 3D sensor are on the robot Goldberg and Mahler used to test the software. The program allowed the robot to quickly classify objects that it had no prior knowledge of and handle them with dexterity. Incorporating this kind of software into systems for industrial manufacturing could result in huge efficiency benefits.
The Ocado warehouse: staffed by robots
The Ocado warehouse may serve as a prototype for future warehouses. A group of robots is used in the automated warehouse to move and swap out product crates. When necessary, the autonomous robots may refuel at charging stations. Robots and humans prepare the goods for transportation once the products have been chosen and carried to a collection station by the robots.
JD.com’s fully automated warehouse: another look at the future
JD.com, a leading internet company in China, only showed its fully automated, robot-controlled warehouse last year. As many as 9,000 orders can be processed in the super-efficient warehouse in an hour. High-performance image scanners and self-guiding forklifts are only two examples of the technology used in the warehouse, which can easily handle a workload that would typically need the labor of 180 people. This is merely one illustration of the potential of Industry 4.0.
Robots for recycling: reducing waste in a smart way
Apple just recently demonstrated Daisy, a recycling robot that can deconstruct an iPhone and allow the components to be reused. It is possible that other makers of smart devices will do the same. A device like Daisy has two advantages. It first enables users to securely get rid of their old smart devices. The second benefit is that it saves money by reusing components from previous models rather than having to source new ones.
Additive manufacturing technology: the quality of 3D printing keeps improving
3D printing is one of the major manufacturing innovations. This technology will enable factories to generate parts and components more quickly than ever before. The MX3D six-axis robotic arm is a current and fascinating illustration of how 3D printing technology might transform the manufacturing business. Almost at any angle, the mechanical arm can print and build complex metal structures in the air. This increases the structural integrity as well as the speed at which components or things can be produced.
TE Connectivity: sensors’ significance in the workplace
It is crucial that the right structures are put in place in factories as they gradually fill with autonomous robots to prevent any accidents. Sensors that allow for machine-to-machine communication are one of the main elements of this technique. One business that produces advanced sensors that can transmit data between industrial machinery and smart gadgets, assuring seamless operation, is TE Connectivity. Companies like TE Connectivity and their outcomes will be crucial as factories become smarter.