Automatica 2022 Learnings: The place Robotics is Submit-Covid 

Now that “the mud has settled” on the Automatica 2022 commerce honest, it is time to take a look again at what we discovered on the occasion.

We had quite a lot of enjoyable at Automatica just a few weeks in the past. It was nice to meet up with so a lot of our companions, prospects, and trade mates. At this 12 months’s occasion, we bought a glimpse of the place the robotics trade is now, post-Covid.

The pandemic is not absolutely over but, however we may see that the trade has began accelerating once more. A number of model new tendencies are taking maintain, and lots of extra already-established tendencies are persevering with to develop.

As an increasing number of companies are in search of much more methods to automate their processes, let’s have a look at what tendencies we seen at Automatica 2022…

That is all for one more 12 months of Automatica!

After we arrived on the Messe Munchen exhibition heart, it had been 4 years for the reason that earlier Automatica commerce honest.

It is a very long time on this planet of robotics. Whereas robotic applied sciences do not advance as quickly as you would possibly suppose, 4 years is a very long time to not have a view of the trade.

This 12 months, we lined the occasion dwell on our weblog day-after-day. You’ll find all our dwell protection right here.

There are all the time many attention-grabbing and thrilling developments at Automatica. This 12 months, we had been eager to learn the way the trade has modified in the course of the world Covid pandemic.

Our normal impressions from the commerce honest

Our normal impressions had been that there was quite a lot of pleasure on the occasion. Everybody was completely happy to see one another once more after so lengthy.

It was additionally clear that just about everybody has been struggling over the previous 3 years, in several methods. There was quite a lot of new curiosity in robotics from corporations which have by no means automated earlier than. And there was an elevated curiosity from those that have expertise with automation. Folks had been in search of extra methods to get probably the most from their processes.

Earlier than the occasion, we made some predictions about what tendencies we’d see on the occasion.

Our predictions had been:

1. Provide chain fragility will lead the dialogue — We predicted that the current shake-ups of the worldwide provide chain could be prime of thoughts for many individuals. This did appear to be true. In addition to the worldwide pandemic, which nonetheless continues in lots of international locations, many individuals had been speaking in regards to the influence of the present conflict in Ukraine.

2. The e-commerce revolution will spark innovation — We predicted that the elevated demand for e-commerce corporations could be a driving pressure for innovation in robotics. This was maybe true. It is onerous to say for positive. There have been actually quite a lot of logistics and packaging functions round, which may present this pattern.

3. Labor shortages can be prime of thoughts — Labor shortages are affecting many international locations proper now, particularly in manufacturing. This prediction actually was appropriate — individuals are fascinated by their labor shortages rather a lot.

4. Building and meals can be new software areas — We predicted we might see extra building and meals trade robotic software areas. This wasn’t very apparent at Automatica 2022. Whereas there have been some food-focused functions, there weren’t a lot of them.

5. Software kits and robotics providers will lead — We additionally predicted that attendees could be extra focused on full robotic functions, not simply elements. This was actually true and additional highlights the significance of options like our vary of Robotiq software kits

What different tendencies did we discover?

What’s hottest this 12 months? Palletizing and logistics

One pattern that was exceptionally clear was that palletizing, packaging, and different logistics functions are very in demand proper now.

We noticed many various logistics-focused options at Automatica 2022. In our Robotiq sales space, attendees confirmed quite a lot of curiosity in our palletizing answer.

Logistics has been a core focus in most industries just lately, particularly following the availability chain disruptions following a number of world occasions. These disruptions have highlighted the significance of automation in logistics functions. Many corporations are seeing logistics as their key first space for automating with robots.

Cobots at the moment are transferring to “non-classic” duties

We additionally noticed cobots firmly transferring into areas that aren’t “basic” cobot duties.

For instance, welding is historically a job that has been finished by industrial robots. Welding itself is a harmful job, so it isn’t inherently secure, which is a core attraction of cobots.

This 12 months, we noticed a number of corporations providing cobots for welding functions. These capitalize on the straightforward programming of cobots, permitting welding operators to intuitively create applications for his or her welding robots.

Cellular robots are simply a part of the furnishings

At this 12 months’s Automatica, there have been maybe extra cell robots on the present ground than ever earlier than. And these robots weren’t confined to their cubicles — a lot of them had been milling round with the attendees, offering a cell approach for exhibitors to increase their attain.

We noticed drink-serving cell robots, in addition to one robotic that got here to search out you after which spoke to you.

It is clear that cell robotic is now so strong, exhibitors can confidently let the robots roam free!

What we anticipate to see within the close to way forward for robotics

Now that Automatica 2022 is over for one more 12 months, what tendencies are we anticipating to see within the close to future?

Automatica is about to happen once more subsequent 12 months. Particularly, we predict to see some bolder strikes on the subsequent occasion. Some cubicles felt a bit conservative this 12 months, maybe as a result of corporations booked them amid the worldwide pandemic.

On the subsequent Automatica, we anticipate to see a constant growth of robotic know-how. And we additionally anticipate to how the most recent entrants to the market proceed to develop their choices.

What tendencies are you most focused on following post-Automatica? Inform us within the feedback under or be part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics group.