The Future of Automation: Key Enabler for the Vision of Future Factories

The world of manufacturing has never been as dynamic as it is today. Automation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Edge Computing (Edge) and Augmented Reality (AR) is driving a new chapter in the industrial revolution. The journey and progression of industrial machines from steam engines to control devices androbots are exciting and at the same time a bit concerning.

Today, it is not merely about operational automation anymore. Instead, it is more about how capabilities such as awareness of the self, intelligence, and predictive prowess can shape the future of industrial automation. As automation of today is gradually becoming unable to meet future requirements, there is a dire need to reimagine the automation solutions.

A recent Frost & Sullivan series of four white papers, The Future of Automation, including A Primer and the three technologies of Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing, and Augmented Reality, provides an insightful perspective on the impact of these technologies on the automation solutions of future factories. The white paper series delves into the key aspects that are driving the market currently and some of the challenges that are restraining faster adoption of these technologies in the field of industrial automation. Finally, the paper is designed to give a utopian vision of advanced industrial control systems.

“Innovation has played out, but fundamental designs have not witnessed a major overhaul. However, the automation of yesteryear is slowly becoming untenable for realising future needs. This requires reimagining automation across all facets, starting from design, engineering, deployment, and operation,” says Karthik Sundaram, Industrial IoT Programme Manager at Frost & Sullivan. “Envisioning the future of factories must first begin with a vision for the future of automation, an approach that has been relatively less explored in the industry today.”

In particular, the three trends of AI, Edge, and AR have been identified as factors that can strongly influence automation in the following ways:

1. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform human-centred engineering models into automated systems, facilitating continuous operational learning and resulting in productivity gains that can exceed existing human-led approaches.

2. Edge computing can help expand PLC functionalities with additional computing power and personalised operational needs without sweeping changes to production architecture.

3. Augmented reality will be the HMI of the future, enabling operators with high transparency and superior insights into controllers, machines, and production processes.
The Future of Automation – A Primer

The subsequent portion of this white paper series outlines how the future of automation can be redesigned using the three technology themes mentioned above driving a new chapter in the industrial revolution.
Artificial Intelligence on the Shop Floor

This document envisions how AI will be a critical technology in shaping the future of intelligent automation and its impact on manufacturing. The document further throws light on what AI has thus far been able to achieve and what more can be reached in the context of industrial automation.

Augmented Reality in the Future of Automation

This part of the white paper series intends to show the value of augmenting digital scenarios on the shop floor. The document demonstrates how augmented reality is emerging to become the next big thing in the context of industrial automation and how AR can seamlessly connect experts from machine and plant manufacturers with their colleagues from service and maintenance.

Moving to the Edge

This white paper evaluates the potential benefits of bringing shop-floor automation closer to the cloud and helps explain some of the key benefits and applications of Edge Computing from an industrial standpoint. It enlightens some of the opportunities from the Edge for industrial organisations, analyses the state of their readiness to adopt the technology on a larger scale, and exposes the barriers that hinder the progress.

“With the convergence of advanced technologies, industrial automation is expected to go through a phase of explosive growth in the coming years. Emerging technology paradigms such as AI, Edge, and AR are poised to drive the evolution of control process automation from the early days of control switches and relays to advanced control systems,” Sundaram concludes.

For further insights into the value of, and vision for, The Future of Automation, download a complimentary copy of the white paper series here.

This white paper series was produced in collaboration with Siemens AG

Related Articles


Changing Scene


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • Implementing Functional Safety Requirements

    Implementing Functional Safety Requirements

    The Safety Functional Requirements Specification (SFRS; sometimes referred to as SRS or Safety Requirements Specification) is the plan for the safety controls on a machine and is the second step of the safety lifecycle. The SFRS document serves as a framework for the safety control system design, is informed by prior work done in the… Read More…

  • From Endress+Hauser, 24/7 Digital, Plant-Wide Health Monitoring for Rockwell Systems Optimizes Workflows and Processes

    From Endress+Hauser, 24/7 Digital, Plant-Wide Health Monitoring for Rockwell Systems Optimizes Workflows and Processes

    Endress+Hauser’s Asset Health Monitoring Solution–Rockwell Edition, now available for installation, provides operators with a centralized, digital overview of plant-wide device health to avoid unscheduled shutdowns and accelerate troubleshooting. It not only presents early visibility of problematic devices but distinguishes itself by adding likely causes and remedies to such a report so problems can be fixed… Read More…