Automatica 2022 Learnings: The place Robotics is Publish-Covid 

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

We had a whole 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, clients, and business pals. At this yr’s occasion, we obtained a glimpse of the place the robotics business is now, post-Covid.

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

As increasingly companies are on the lookout for much more methods to automate their processes, let’s examine what traits we seen at Automatica 2022…

That is all for one more yr of Automatica!

Once we arrived on the Messe Munchen exhibition middle, it had been 4 years for the reason that earlier Automatica commerce truthful.

It is a very long time on the earth of robotics. Whereas robotic applied sciences do not advance as quickly as you may assume, 4 years is a very long time to not have a view of the business.

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

There are all the time many fascinating and thrilling developments at Automatica. This yr, we have been eager to learn the way the business has modified in the course of the international Covid pandemic.

Our basic impressions from the commerce truthful

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

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

Earlier than the occasion, we made some predictions about what traits we would see on the occasion.

Our predictions have been:

1. Provide chain fragility will lead the dialogue — We predicted that the latest shake-ups of the worldwide provide chain can 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 have been speaking in regards to the affect of the present struggle in Ukraine.

2. The e-commerce revolution will spark innovation — We predicted that the elevated demand for e-commerce firms can be a driving power for innovation in robotics. This was maybe true. It is arduous to say for positive. There have been definitely a whole lot of logistics and packaging purposes round, which may present this pattern.

3. Labor shortages might be prime of thoughts — Labor shortages are affecting many international locations proper now, particularly in manufacturing. This prediction definitely was appropriate — persons are eager about their labor shortages rather a lot.

4. Development and meals might be new software areas — We predicted we’d see extra development and meals business robotic software areas. This wasn’t very apparent at Automatica 2022. Whereas there have been some food-focused purposes, there weren’t a lot of them.

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

What different traits did we discover?

What’s hottest this yr? Palletizing and logistics

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

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

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

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

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

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

This yr, we noticed a number of firms providing cobots for welding purposes. These capitalize on the straightforward programming of cobots, permitting welding operators to intuitively create packages for his or her welding robots.

Cellular robots are simply a part of the furnishings

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

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

It is clear that cellular 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 yr, what traits are we anticipating to see within the close to future?

Automatica is ready to happen once more subsequent yr. Particularly, we predict to see some bolder strikes on the subsequent occasion. Some cubicles felt a bit conservative this yr, maybe as a result of firms 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 traits 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.