Taking advantage of the growing popularity of private 5G networks and a marked decline in the cost of robotic devices, more and more manufacturers — large and small — are turning to robotics to increase productivity, improve operational efficiency and enhance factory floor safety.
The use of robots in manufacturing is expected to only increase as supply chain disruptions, skilled labour shortages and cost pressures continue to loom over the industry.
From Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to robotic-assisted capabilities like digital twins and predictive maintenance, robots can now be found at every stage of the manufacturing process, across all industries. In fact, the International Trade Administration has reported that a 1% increase in robot density correlates with an 0.8% increase in productivity, among all industries.
To take full advantage of the power and possibilities of robotics, manufacturers must first understand why the convergence of emerging technologies like private 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and edge computing is so important to the industry.
Then, by learning about the new and innovative use cases for robotics, manufacturers can make a solid business case for embracing this fast-maturing, increasingly affordable technology.
Use cases for robotics and automation in manufacturing
Robotics in manufacturing continues to evolve, with many exciting use cases now being incorporated on factory floors.
For example, 3D printing allows manufacturers to use robots to produce complex parts, components and products more efficiently. By creating products on demand instead of in large batches, warehousing and production costs can be better controlled while still producing goods that meet customers’ exact specifications.
Robotics can also significantly improve workers’ health and safety conditions: robots can take on dangerous tasks and help reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.
The importance of private 5G to manufacturing
Private 5G, which offer faster speeds and lower latency than prior generations of mobile technology, is already helping manufacturers revisit and improve how they operate. Private 5G, for example, can bolster a manufacturers’ visibility into their supply chain and inventory, driving more efficiency in warehouses, logistics and transportation. And private 5G lets manufacturers leverage other advanced technologies to maximize the performance of robotics, such as:
- Edge Computing: As manufacturing becomes more digitized, more data is created. Edge computing helps robots access and analyse massive amounts of data in near real time to help improve processes and enable predictive maintenance, allowing for true “data-driven decision-making” and better automated response.
- Augmented and Virtual Reality: AR overlays digital information onto the real world so workers can view and interact with virtual objects in the physical environment, while VR creates a fully immersive digital environment. Both can be used for training, visualizing complex processes, and for collaborating with remote team members.
- Digital twins: Virtual representations of physical assetscan be used to simulate their performance, allowing manufacturers to identify problems, optimize processes and perform tests without taking the physical robot offline.
- Predictive maintenance: By pairing predictive analytics with robotics, a system could identify a potential maintenance issueand then automatically trigger a robot to execute the repair, all without human intervention.
- Sensors and control systems: Emerging capabilities include LiDAR sensors that create 3D maps of an environment, force sensors that detect contact, and other sensors to detect sound and infrared radiation.
- Internet of Things (IoT): By facilitating the exchange of information with other systems and devices, such as other robots, sensors and control systems, a “smart factory” can support a just-in-time manufacturing process that ensures seamless coordination across the all facets of operations.
Learn how Verizon 5G Edge can help create “the connected factory” and make it possible to fully realize the power of manufacturing robotics.
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