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Supply: ABB
With demand for robots rising as corporations in a number of sectors search for new methods to reinforce their productiveness and competitiveness post-pandemic, ABB has compiled a set of progress predictions, key traits driving demand for robots within the coming yr.
“The pandemic accelerated far-reaching international mega traits – from labor shortages and provide chain uncertainty, to the individualized client and rising strain to function sustainably and resiliently – main new companies to look to robotic automation,” stated Marc Segura, ABB’s newly appointed robotics division President. “As know-how opens new alternatives for assembly buyer calls for, new traits will proceed to emerge that can additional drive demand in areas the place robots have historically not been used.”
Based mostly on buyer conversations, market analysis and a world survey of 250 corporations throughout a number of industries, ABB has recognized three key traits that can form the demand for robots in 2022.
1. EV revolution brings wholesale modifications to auto manufacturing
With many nations limiting and phasing out the manufacturing of combustion engine autos over the subsequent decade, the race in direction of electrical automobiles has accelerated. Producers and their provide chains should deal with the complexity of diversifying into electrical autos (EVs) alongside combustion-engine autos, to satisfy various regulatory frameworks governing EV adoption throughout the globe. The velocity and added flexibility wanted will see new and established producers transfer away from conventional linear manufacturing, in direction of modular, versatile manufacturing.
“EV just isn’t a couple of change solely within the powertrain, however a bigger transformation to a digitized automobile. This transition can even see the rising uptake of robots together with different applied sciences, together with autonomous cell robots (AMRs),” stated Segura. “This can allow producers to optimize the supply of elements throughout services and allow built-in scalable and modular manufacturing cells – strategies historically related to e-commerce and client items, however now required in automotive to make sure the required flexibility to satisfy various ranges of demand.”
One other main shift will see battery manufacturing introduced nearer to car meeting, to satisfy sustainability and regional necessities, which typically requires all-new services.
Marc Segura, president, ABB robotics division.
2. e-commerce increase will speed up
Client habits and expectations are driving corporations to search out new methods to fulfill demand, growing new channels via omnichannel retailing and adapting their manufacturing strains and distribution processes to allow personalization of each merchandise and supply. Fulfilling these necessities has seen 1000’s of robots put in worldwide the place they weren’t used simply 5 years in the past, and this speedy fee of automation will proceed in 2022 pushed by a mixture of client traits and a rising scarcity of labor.
“This development will see the expansion of lighter, smaller robotic functions, enabling the enlargement of automation into new areas of warehousing and distribution operations. As synthetic intelligence in robotics matures and studying robots turn into mainstream, count on to see these applied sciences deployed alongside AMR applied sciences, orchestrated and managed by clever software program to supply enhanced flexibility, velocity and effectivity,” Segura continued.
3. Extra robots will seem in additional locations – staff want new abilities
Smaller, extra inexpensive and easy-to-use robots are serving to to take away lots of the boundaries beforehand stopping corporations from investing in robots. That is seeing an acceleration of robots usually business and small and medium-sized enterprises as corporations search new methods to automate totally different duties.
Segura continued: “As we glance past 2022, we see an ever-greater emphasis on connectivity and information acquisition as key enablers of future manufacturing. Knowledge collected from intelligently automated processes can be analyzed by producers to make extra knowledgeable selections. On the similar time, extra superior and responsive simulation and programming software program instruments, similar to these in ABB’s RobotStudio, will cowl your entire life cycle of robotic functions – from commissioning to onstream productiveness – utilizing AR and VR instruments to simplify automation for purchasers.”
ABB acquired AMR developer ASTI Cell Robotics in 2021. | Credit score: ABB
The improved potential of robots to work straight alongside people, share duties and study via AI can be making it simpler for corporations to undertake clever automation in new environments, similar to development, healthcare laboratories, eating places and retail.
In a future with a excessive prevalence of robots in workplaces, engineers and workers will must be retrained. Extra robotic coaching can be demanded in faculties, schools and universities for the abilities to program, function and keep robots for an automatic future.
A decade of change
The traits outlined for 2022 are the newest chapter within the ongoing transformation of robotic automation, which is seeing a speedy acceleration and adoption of robots throughout business.
“Whereas automation has all the time been about productiveness and high quality – scaling up, doing extra – the shifts we’re witnessing as we speak (the best in a era) imply that flexibility and ease are key to success,” stated Segura. “Right this moment, flexibility is important – it’s a strategic want, important throughout your entire worth chain: from manufacturing and logistics via to the purpose of consumption. Robotic automation is an important enabler of this flexibility.
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