Page 38 - Food & Drink Magazine March 2021

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
Robotics in a Connected World
Work-from-home policies and ongoing disruption have fast-tracked cloud-based technologies. Universal Robots has seen an increased uptake in Industry 4.0 to meet demand, manage uncertainty and improve productivity.
THE world has become increasingly connected. Almost 60 per cent of the entire world’s population and more than 90 per cent of the developed world is now online. It is hard to imagine life without the internet – no smartphone, online banking, streaming music or podcasts, Netflix, social media, or email.
Connecting humans through the internet has dramatically expanded our individual reach, our capacity to sell globally and
our ability to help others wherever they are. Particularly in a post-COVID-19 world, where this may be our only way to connect with those around us.
Manufacturers operating in both the consumer and business worlds are bringing out new technologies to the meet ever-changing needs of their customers. In Australia’s manufacturing sector for instance, we are seeing a notable uptick in Industry 4.0 technologies, largely due to disruptions caused by recurring lockdowns and the need for ongoing productivity.
Through cloud-based technologies, manufacturers can connect their equipment and their processes on the shop floor, without the need for on-the-ground support. Benefits include real-time analytics, predictive maintenance, online support and diagnostics, cloud backups, and more.
Further to this, robots and collaborative robots (cobots) are getting a lot of attention
these days as the answer to social distancing and ongoing productivity in the workplace. Their ability to be programmed and used remotely is also in high demand.
CLOUD ROBOTICS
A recent Deloitte report cited the rise of automation in the manufacturing sector. It states that in 2018, humans carried out 71 percent of tasks, but this is forecast to drop to 58 percent by 2022. The report also found that although 75 million jobs will be eliminated, 133 million new jobs will be created.
On ‘local shores’, Robotics Australia Group recently ran a request to creators of robotics and robotic technology to complete an Australian Government’s survey on artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems capability. Once completed, the map will be shared with Australia’s digital economy and technology ministers and agencies, to highlight areas of strength and
38 | Food&Drink business | March 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au