What can you tell us about Industry 4.0? And about Industry 5.0?
While Industry 4.0 focuses on digitalisation and increasing productivity and efficiency, Industry 5.0 focuses on sustainability, resilience and puts people back at the centre of attention. Industry 5.0 is thus understood as a paradigm shift rather than the next stage of Industry 4.0. It asks the central questions of how technology can serve people and what meaningful interaction between people and machines looks like. The goal here is to protect the autonomy and well-being of people and to view technology as a tool that relieves us humans and makes us more resilient to crises.
Another central component of Industry 5.0 is artificial intelligence: in the new, human-centred industry, AI is intended to expand the range of uses for technologies and machines and make them accessible to all. At Micropsi Industries, we see AI as a means to drive the democratisation of technologies such as robotics. We use AI to make robots more flexible, adaptive and intelligent so that they can better serve humans in manufacturing operations. At the same time, AI makes commissioning robots easier: with a little practice, any employee can train and use AI-controlled robots – even for complex tasks. We set ourselves the goal of removing the barriers to entry for robotics for companies of all sizes.
Tell us, three strengths of collaborative robotics with a focus on the manufacturing sector
Collaborating robots (“cobots”) have three key advantages: they are more user-friendly than their larger colleagues, the industrial robots. In addition, they are usually more space-saving, can be integrated into existing lines without a safety fence and can even be used as a mobile set-up at different machines and workplaces as required. And they pay for themselves more quickly overall than previous robot models, usually after less than a year.
All these advantages can be summarised under the guise of democratisation: Cobots democratise robotics by making it accessible to all companies in the manufacturing sector for the first time. This trend is currently being continued by the combination of cobots with artificial intelligence. AI controls and vision systems for robots make cobots even easier to operate and allow them to take on even more tasks in manufacturing. AI-controlled robots relieve employees of additional, repetitive tasks for which traditional industrial robots were previously too rigid and inflexible. This applies, for example, to activities in assembly, which have many unforeseen variances.
3 Tips for the Automation/Robotisation/Digitisation of a factory
- The question of ‘why? Digitalisation and automation are the next two disruptive phases that will bring about many changes in the world of production. Essential, however, is the question of the reason why one wants or needs to deal with the associated technologies. Usually, only a holistic view of the entire production ecosystem helps to make the right conceptual and strategic decisions for the production of tomorrow.
- Focus on people: The “dark factory” – i.e. the factory in which production is fully automated in the dark without the intervention of people – is a myth. The production of the future will still be dependent on human skills and abilities for a very long time, if not always. Unlike in the first industrial revolution, people today are no longer just muscle carriers, but rather contribute their knowledge, experience and creativity. That is why intelligent production solutions must also support people and be tailored to them – not the other way around.
- When implementing digitisation concepts, the focus should be on added value after people: Only when digitalisation creates real value does it make sense and find acceptance. Digitisation as an end in itself ties up resources that could be better used for other investments.
Which cobot manufacturer is most commonly found in the industry?
This question is not easy to answer. Depending on the requirements, complexity and application, different manufacturers dominate the market. KUKA brought the first certified safe robot onto the market with the LBR iiwa; the robots from Universal Robots have probably been sold the most until today. The Danish robot manufacturer is therefore generally regarded as the current world market leader for cobots. Many of our customers also use the Danish company’s lightweight robots, which address a wide range of needs with their portfolio of cobot models. However, traditional robot manufacturers such as Fanuc or Kuka are also increasingly bringing further cobot models onto the market and thus meeting the demand for individual robot solutions for manufacturing companies of all sizes.
What impact has the pandemic had on industry?
The pandemic has shown how fragile the global supply chains are on which the production of many European companies rests. In response, local industry has brought some of its production back to Europe. However, this is only possible through a higher degree of automation. After all, the costs of operating a robot are comparably low all over the world. In addition, a lack of labour in industry can only be compensated for by flexible automation solutions.
Flexibility has also become a mantra for many companies: More flexible production that can react faster to change determines success or failure in times of crisis. Thanks to AI and software, changes in demand or internal processes such as maintenance can be forecast more reliably and earlier. More flexible automation solutions such as AI-controlled cobots can then be used to implement such adjustments in production design more quickly.
Have you been affected by the current supply crisis?
Amplified by a complicated mix of geopolitical and economic factors and the aftermath of the pandemic, global supply chains are extremely impacted. Currently, every company is affected – whether directly or indirectly. Companies that rely on electronic and semiconductor components are particularly hard hit. A look at the daily prices of these components shows that price increases of 300 percent within a week are not uncommon. As a software manufacturer of an AI solution for the robotics market and due to its platform- and hardware-agnostic orientation, the effect for Micropsi Industries is limited.
Have you been affected by the current supply crisis?
Definitely! Many companies have recognised the need to create some leeway for the unforeseen. In the future, the ones who will benefit most will be those who can translate flexibility into market advantages and also adapt decisions at short notice. Above all, software supports these processes and will play a decisive role for more resilient production. Companies that already acted and produced in an agile manner before the crisis are already benefiting from this today and currently have a clear advantage.
