Automation Fair 2023: What you need to know about AI, people, automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) insights

• AI fosters synergy between human imagination and technology, driving resilience, agility, and sustainability in manufacturing automation.
• Generative AI empowers faster, more efficient code creation, enhancing automation system design and troubleshooting without compromising security.

How’s artificial intelligence changing how people integrate industrial automation and controls in manufacturing automation? It’s another tool to help people more quickly and effectively automate, optimize operations and solve big challenges, such as meeting sustainability targets. Will what I’ve heard lately below help you think again about how you’re integrating AI into manufacturing operations and other automation applications?

Nick Kwiecien, data and AI cloud senior solution architect manufacturing for Microsoft, affirmed the value of generative AI integration, and Adam Gregory, platform manager, FactoryTalk Design Studio, Rockwell Automation discussed generative AI use in an upcoming version of FactoryTalk Design Studio, as explained in an Automation Fair session, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting.” Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering

AI in industrial automation serves people, not the other way around

Future success is about connecting the imaginations of people with the potential of technology, according to Blake Moret, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation. “We want to combine the technology and expertise to create outcomes to help customers be more resilient, agile and sustainable,” he said.

Cyril Perducat, Rockwell Automation senior vice president and chief technology officer, explained that it’s not just about technologies, but creating the right experiences with technologies. There’s no way to invent the future without involving people and making technology usable. The world is changing to meet supply chain demands, resource and sustainability needs, resiliency requirements, as well as people and workforce considerations, he said.

Tony Carrara, business manager, FactoryTalk Design Studio, Rockwell Automation, said as a former controls engineer, he wants to know what artificial intelligence can do for automation. He spoke in an Automation Fair session called, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting.” Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering

Generative AI applied in next-generation automation

While AI dates back to the 1950s, new applications are emerging daily. An Automation Fair session called, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting,” Rockwell Automation said it is beta testing generative AI (spoken-word instructions) to generate sample code in the next version of Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Design Studio. Citing customer security concerns, the AI prompts from customers will not be used to train the model.

The AI feature is expected to be included in an upcoming version of the software at no extra cost, said Adam Gregory, platform manager, and Tony Carrara, business manager, both for FactoryTalk Design Studio, Rockwell Automation. Nick Kwiecien, data and AI cloud senior solution architect manufacturing for Microsoft, affirmed the value of generative AI integration, saying that when Microsoft used AI in its GitHub Copilot, 88% of developers using it reported faster code was completion, 87% spent less mental effort on repetitive tasks and 60% said they were more fulfilled in their jobs.

While AI dates back to the 1950s, new applications are emerging daily, as explained in an Automation Fair 2023 session called, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting.” Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering

Why AI is important for industrial automation

As Control Engineering noted in October, citing its own “Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Automation” research, “When asked what factors are considered when deciding whether or not to implement AI-based automation solutions in industrial processes, the leading responses were: Operational efficiency gains; cost and return on investment (ROI); and availability and quality of data. Other important factors (about half or more of respondents also checked off) technological infrastructure as well as workforce impact and skill requirements.”

Rockwell Automation is beta testing generative AI (spoken-word instructions) to generate sample code in an upcoming version of Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Design Studio. Citing customer security concerns, the AI prompts from customers will not be used to train the model, as explained in an Automation Fair session called, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting.” Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering

When Microsoft used generative AI in its GitHub Copilot, 88% of developers using it reported faster code was completion, 87% spent less mental effort on repetitive tasks and 60% said they were more fulfilled in their jobs, said Nick Kwiecien, data and AI cloud senior solution architect manufacturing for Microsoft in an Automation Fair session called, “Harnessing AI for automation system design and troubleshooting.” Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering

How are you applying AI to help automation, controls and instrumentation implementations?

Mark T. Hoske is content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence in industrial automation

CONSIDER THIS

Are you increasing your job satisfaction with AI?

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.