AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
New drivers , such as artificial intelligence , Big Data and 5G , will drive governments from Asia , Europe and America to further invest in robotics . As economies reopen from the pandemic , Asia , Europe and America have adjusted their robotics research funding programmes . What are the targets of officially driven government programmes today ? This has been researched by the IFR and published in its 2021 update
“ The first version of World Robotics R & D Programs was introduced in June last year . Since then , dozens of countries have updated their robotics R & D programmes ,” said Prof . Dr . Jong-Oh Park , Vice-Chairman IFR Research Committee and member of the Executive Board . “ The five most advanced robotics countries ( South Korea , Japan , Germany , USA and China ) follow a very different strategic focus .”
According to the IFR yearbook , the ‘ Made in China 2025 ’ strategic plan is a blueprint to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of Chinese industries . To promote the rapid development of intelligent robot technology , the key special projects of “ Intelligent Robots ” are being deployed in accordance with the requirements of the “ Innovation Chain ”. The focus is on basic cutting-edge technologies of intelligent robots , new-generation robots , key common technologies , industrial robots , service robots and special robots .
Two FANUC LR Mate 200iD-7L robots handle parts between them .
“ The development objectives aim to generate continuous growth of the industrial scale . China wants to cultivate at least three leading enterprises with international competitiveness and create more than five clusters of robot-supporting industries . Our ‘ World Robotics ’ statistical yearbook shows that China reached a robot density of 187 units per 10,000 workers in the manufacturing industry – the country ranks 15th worldwide ,” said the IFR .
In Japan , the “ New Robot Strategy ” aims to make the country the world ´ s number one robot innovation hub . The rate of robotisation in the manufacturing sector targets an increase of 25 % for large-scale companies and 10 % for SMEs . A key performance indicator is an expansion of the system integrators market – they are intermediate between the user and the manufacturer . The action plan includes important service sectors such as agriculture , infrastructure and healthcare . According to IFR ’ s ‘ World Robotics ’ statistical yearbook , Japan is the world ´ s number one industrial
A FANUC CR-7iA / L collaborative robot supports assembly staff with the testing of control panels . robot manufacturer and delivered 47 % of the global supply in 2019 .
The Intelligent Robot Development and Supply Promotion Act of Korea is pushing to develop the robot industry in Korea as a core industry in the fourth industrial revolution . Focus areas are : manufacturing businesses ( with a special programme to enhance the
Top Five Robot Trends
1 . Robots learn new tricks :
Artificial intelligence software , in combination with vision and other sensing systems , allow robots to master difficult tasks . New generations of robots are easier to install and program and they are connectable . Advances in communication protocols integrate robots seamlessly into automation and Industry 4.0 strategies .
2 . Robots work in smart factories :
The future belongs to networked interaction of robots and autonomous guided vehicles - or rather autonomous mobile robots ( AMRs ). Car bodies are conveyed on driverless transport systems . With the integration of humanrobot collaboration workstations picking up momentum , robot suppliers report robots working hand-in-hand with humans without fencing .
3 . Robots enter new markets :
Connectivity breakthroughs contribute to increased robot adoption in manufacturing sectors that have only recently turned to automation . Ongoing digital transformation will lead to new business models . In the smart factory , different products are assembled subsequently by the same equipment - the traditional production line no longer exists .
4 . Robots reduce carbon footprint : Modern robots are energyefficient , directly reducing energy consumption of production . They also produce fewer rejections and substandard goods , which has a positive impact on the ratio of resource input over output .
5 . Robots help to secure supply chains : The pandemic has exposed the weakness of globalised supply chains . Manufacturers can rethink supply with a completely different outlook . Robotic automation offers productivity , flexibility and security .
competitiveness of SMEs ’ Manufacturing Sites ), selected service robot areas ( including healthcare and logistics ), next-generation key components and key robot software .
“ For the trans-governmental Full Cycle Medical Device Development project , the government is planning to budget US $ 1.07- billion ( 1.2 trillion KRW ) from 2020 to 2025 . Our statistical yearbook showed a new record stock of about 319,000 operational industrial robots in the Republic of Korea in 2019 (+ 13 %).
22 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR October 2021