Today, there are 3 million industrial robots in operation in factories around the world. This is a new record, which means that from 2015 to 2020, the average annual shipment of robots increased by 13%. Looking at the whole of Europe, Germany has the largest share of the European robot stock with 33%, ranking 5th in the world, after China, Japan, South Korea and the United States. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the robotics and automation industry is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing industries.
In this article, we explore with you the key trends in robotics for 2022, provided by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), and showcase some of the companies’ successful use cases for this trend.
Trend 1: New application areas
In addition to the typical industrial manufacturing fields, robotics continues to occupy new fields such as e-commerce, services, logistics, construction and agriculture. According to a research report by the International Federation of Robotics, its development is driven by new consumer formats and trends and the shortage of workers and skilled workers.
Example: flexible construction of bridges;
German steel construction company SIBAU Genthin develops and produces large steel bridges for train routes. Welding of huge components is currently carried out on stationary equipment and takes up a lot of space. By combining driverless transport systems and robotics, flexible, decentralized processing of these components is possible. This location-independent manufacturing method will become increasingly important to the construction industry.
Trend 2: Ease of Use
In the past, deploying robots was a complex task, but a new generation of robots is moving towards simplicity and ease of use. There is a clear trend in user interface, allowing the use of simple icon-driven programming and manual guidance of robots. Robotics companies and some third-party vendors are bundling hardware packages with software to simplify operations. This trend may seem simple, but solutions that focus on complete ecosystems add tremendous value by reducing effort and time.
Example: Co-welding without programming
The Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Mechatronics in Germany has developed a collaborative robot solution for Moderne Industrietechnik MIT to replace the previously manual welding process. The process is partially automated, with humans and robots working together as a team. Employees have the flexibility to set up collaborative robotic arms without programming new tasks.
Trend three: education and training;
In robotics and automation technology, we must invest more in education and familiarize the next generation with these foundational skills as early as possible, and there is a growing consensus among governments, industry associations and companies. In addition to internal employee training, external education is also making an important contribution to the long-term goal of data-supported manufacturing. Robotics courses offered by robot manufacturers such as ABB, FANUC, KUKA and YASKAWA in more than 30 countries attract between 10,000 and 30,000 participants each year.
Robotics is making the working conditions and environment of factory workers better. More and more people want to work in a modern environment. Training opportunities in robotics are a win-win strategy for companies and employees: boring, dirty and dangerous tasks can be automated, while employees learn key skills for future industrial work scenarios and increase their skills throughout their careers. income.
Trend 4: Manufacturing for the future
When the International Federation of Robotics released its robotics trends in early February, the devastating effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war had not been taken into account. But trade tensions and the coronavirus pandemic are pushing manufacturing back closer to customers. Supply chain issues have led companies to consider automation as a solution to grow their nearshoring business. More and more companies are investing in robotics and automation to bring their manufacturing closer to customers and become more flexible.
Example: Manufacture of spare parts in own factory
At this year’s Hannover Messe, German equipment manufacturer Duspoor demonstrated for the first time the automated processing of complex materials. The artificial intelligence-based grinding system is 40% faster than traditional methods, which means that the company can produce its own important tool for packaging window frames. This solution shows the advantages of automation here: the company produces its own tools, reducing the need for external supplies. chain dependencies, and logistical costs can be reduced or avoided altogether.
Trend 5: Intelligent Data Analysis
Starting in 2022, the International Federation of Robotics believes that data will be a key driver of future manufacturing. In the future, robotic systems will record production and process data, analyze it and make autonomous decisions based on it: they correct their position, identify errors or maintain themselves.
Example: Virtual Production – Acceptance Testing
Amixon GmbH, a leading German designer and manufacturer of high-end industrial mixers, mixers and dryers, has developed a virtual production acceptance testing solution. Each individually manufactured mixing unit is precisely dimensionally inspected before delivery. Usually this is done on site in Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Virtual inspections are now possible with digital measuring instruments. For this purpose, the robot carries a measuring head with 3D component measurement and a fully automatic deviation analysis. Customers see and inspect their products in person – even when they’re not on site. This saves international customers of amixon GmbH especially long journeys.
Trend 6: Network Dimensions
The robots of the future are highly networked technological systems. Industrial exchanges can already take place in different locations and between different actors. When we talk about the safety of robotics applications, we must focus on both functional safety (safety) and information safety (security) – for example, an integrated safety and security risk analysis at the beginning of the development process. Especially in the field of grid and factory construction and automation technology, it is very important to combine these two capabilities more in product development.
Example: Thinking about functional safety and information security in robotics
A survey by Fraunhofer IEM shows that many companies still pay too little attention to safety in their product development. A structured approach combined with effective software tools can help companies identify conflicts and synergies between functional safety and information security. Fraunhofer IEM combines robotics expertise with the expertise of an IT security team. A research project is currently underway that aims to integrate approaches to functional safety and information assurance in development and to design corresponding tools.
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