Calling AI and Cobots to the Plant Floor

The Seattle Times recently reported on the Federal Aviation Administration’s inspection of Boeing’s 737 MAX production at its Renton factory. This comes as a response to the January incident in which a fuselage panel on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 blew out mid flight. As this review takes place, one of the focal points will be to recruit additional trained workers to ensure safety supervision. In the meantime, this case represents a larger trend in the overall production and industrial field…the need for expertise. Can the addition of AI and cobots to the plant floor help?

The Rise of Cobots

As the marketing team at the Association for Advancing Automation writes, “The industrial landscape is witnessing a remarkable transformation driven by the increasing sophistication and adoption of collaborative robots.” These collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are created specifically to work with people as teammates on various tasks. Through a mix of different sensors, they are able to adapt to their environment, including present obstacles in a busy facility. Plus, they increasingly feature user-friendly interfaces and gesture and recognition.

Considering the growth of robotics in the industrial and manufacturing sector, cobots are likely to continue playing a significant role. Companies such as Coca-Cola are turning to increased use of autonomous tools. In its transition to a more Industrial 4.0 setting, Coca-Cola’s Singapore plant has introduced five new autonomous forklifts. In fact, robotic automation for warehouse operations and “makers of autonomous ground-based delivery robots,” have been a top focus of recent industry investments, according to a Association for Advancing Automation roundup.

The Benefits of Cobots

Why are cobots an important part of this upward market? There are several reasons, which Automation.com summarized in an article covering industrial welding robotic integration. For one, cobots do not replace workers, which has been an ongoing concern with the expansion of AI. They also offer the opportunity to enhance precision and efficiency. The author of the article reports that “some manufacturers have experienced 300% increases in throughput after [cobot] implementation.” But one of the most prominent benefits of cobots is their boost to safety precautions. They can be programmed to handle the most dangerous tasks of an operation. And in the future, they may be able to collaborate with skilled experts in the process of upholding product safety as Boeing faces now.

The Association for Advancing Automation points out that as AI capabilities advance, they can be used to enrich cobots’ situational and potential failures understanding. Through tech such as VR, operators can proactively train both workers and cobots to interact in certain environments and scenarios. Additionally, the sophistication of grippers will allow cobots to handle even more minute details that require fine and intricate manipulation.

Sources:

●      “FAA puts more ‘boots on the floor’ at Renton plant as Boeing slows work” - Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/faa-puts-more-boots-on-the-floor-at-renton-plant-as-boeing-slows-work/

●      “The Rise of Collaborative Robots: Transforming Industrial Automation” - A3 Online Marketing Team, Association for Advancing Automation
https://www.automate.org/robotics/blogs/the-rise-of-collaborative-robots-transforming-industrial-automation

●      “Coca-Cola Singapore to use autonomous forklifts and WOS” - FutureiOT
https://futureiot.tech/coca-cola-singapore-to-use-autonomous-forklifts-and-wos/

●      “Insights into Robotics & Automation Investment Trends Emerging in 2024” - Alex Coleman, Association for Advancing Automation
https://www.automate.org/blogs/insights-into-robotics-and-automation-investment-trends-emerging-in-2024

“Eight Reasons to Harness the Power of Cobots for Superior Welding Automation” - Emily Newton, Automation.com
https://www.automation.com/en-us/articles/february-2024/eight-reasons-power-cobots-welding-automation?listname=Automation%20&%20Control%20News%20&%20Articles

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