What trends are affecting industrial automation?

At Rockwell Automation’s 2024 Automation Fair conference, Rockwell senior vice president and CTO Cyril Perducat highlighted three trends that are thought to transform industrial automation.

Controls engineers building machinery for factories and plants will find the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and software-defined automation (SDA) pivotal in modern industrial evolution.

AI's incorporation into closed-loop systems allows for self-learning and adaptive problem-solving, transforming traditional design and operational methodologies. Tools like Emulate3D digital twins and FactoryTalk Design Studio Copilot streamline system design and PLC code development, ensuring performance validation before deployment.

AI also strengthens quality control and predictive maintenance through capabilities like FactoryTalk Analytics VisionAI and GuardianAI, providing defect detection and anomaly prediction directly within existing systems. Learn more in the full article from Control, and keep up with Automation Fair coverage here.