The University of Salford is to be at the forefront of the UK’s new drive to develop space-focused AI and robotics, as a key partner in a new £29m hub.
Small to medium sized manufacturers are looking for productivity gains from their workforce and existing equipment ahead of investment in automation, according to the latest National Manufacturing Barometer.
The manufacturing industry is already one of the most automated sectors, however as the era of Industry 4.0 kicks off, a new wave of automation is set to begin.
Most manufacturers see investments in factory connectivity not just as a means of cutting costs, but as a way to increase revenue. In fact, respondents to the Annual Manufacturing Report 2017 anticipate additional revenues of £775,000 over the next 12 months because of their investments in connectivity.
The Amazon Picking Challenge, set by global online retailer Amazon, challenged roboticists to create a robot that can pick and stow twelve products from a shelf, into a bag.
Clive Hickman, chief executive of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and Jeremy Hadall, chief technologist of the MTC, outline the business changes they expect to see over the next five years as a result of automation.
