The need for automated solutions continues to accelerate, and organisations in diverse sectors such as warehousing, food production, pharmaceutical and e-commerce are looking to capture the operational, productivity and reliability benefits intelligent automation technology can deliver.
 

For operations containing assembly, material handling, kitting, order fulfilment, machine tending and more, automation plays a pivotal role in helping organizations to enhance operational efficiencies, quality, and throughput, which will help drive growth in today’s fast-paced digital world.
 

Automation comes in all shapes and sizes, and the way one company might implement an automated solution might vary drastically from one company to the next. Every organization has different needs and expectations, so understanding what options work for their specific situation is key. Every year brings new technologies and ways to adopt them, so let’s take a look at some of the current trends within intelligent automation.

 

Robotics as a Service (RaaS)

With automation technologies evolving in real time, and large capital investment not always being feasible for some organizations, the “as a Service” model has begun to become an alternative strategy to lower the risk of implementing a solution. Smaller or medium sized companies who might not have the cash flow to spend on a large capital investment, or have a variable SKU set which might not justify a dedicated automation solution, now has the ability to access these solutions via RaaS options and absorb the cost more as an operational expense. The options typically include a pay-per-event based pricing model, such as per pick, hour, or month. One such company, Formic, allows the ability to leverage the RaaS model on any automation project from any Integrator.
 

Also, for companies worried about purchasing a new technology that may become outdated quickly, the RaaS model ensures they will always stay up to date, and not have to purchase updated models or software updates every few months or years. 
 

This approach – now increasingly used by many companies – de-risks decision-making by linking cost investment to tangible benefits, as opposed to paying upfront for an intelligent automated solution that may prove inappropriate or inadequate in the future. This allows companies to scale automation up and down as their demand sees fit.
 

Simulation & Digital Twins
 

A digital twin is a real-time virtual simulation of a real-world physical system or process that serves as the digital counterpart for system simulation, integration, testing, monitoring, and maintenance. 
 

As with RaaS, the digital twin affords a level of assurance in that the automation system can be rigorously tested, assessed, altered and confirmed before the physical solution must be made. The tests and iterations can also be done quickly, since the adjustments do not have to be machined or built physically, and can help potential issues to be designed out at an earlier and less expensive stage.
 

Digital Transformation
 

There are currently three major waves happening within the digital environments of automation. Currently, the first wave happening today is with the connectivity of assets.  To use consumer goods as an example, think of connecting your phone to a Bluetooth enabled device, such as a sprinkler controller at your home. The second wave (that is currently emerging) would be adding intelligence within an environment.  Now the sprinkler device is able to use your phone to pull weather data, and determine how much water to use, and when to turn the sprinklers on. The third wave (coming in the near future) would be autonomously controlled ecosystems. Now the phone is telling the sprinkler there is rain happening for the next four days, which also relays to the thermostat to change the A/C temperature, and also sends an email to your lawn service that you’d like them to skip a week to allow your property to properly dry, all without you having to manually do anything.
 

This level of machine learning and artificial intelligence will bring manufacturers and e-commerce facilities towards the goal of the “lights out” factory.