Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Future of robotics discussed at Industry Forum", Industrial Robot, Vol. 26 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1999.04926bab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Future of robotics discussed at Industry Forum
Future of robotics discussed at Industry Forum
Keyword Robotics
Speakers at the 1998 Robotics Industry Forum predicted a bright future for robotics due to a variety of market drivers. A record number of 180 industry executives attended the Forum, sponsored by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), to hear about the latest robotics trends and applications and to network with their peers (see Plate 1).
According to RIA President Charlie Duncheon, market drivers including customer needs and demands, technology enablers and business enablers point to a bright future for robotics. Duncheon, who is Sr Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Adept Technology, cited the following key customer needs and demands:
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product cost reduction;
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product miniaturization;
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product quality;
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product lead time to market;
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product life cycle.
"Product life cycles and lead time to market are continuing to decrease", said Duncheon. "For instance, the life cycle of some cellular phones is only six months. Boeing is reducing its product introduction cycle from 60 months to 12 months. Robotics will play a key role as more companies strive to get their products to market more quickly, while still maintaining high quality and reasonable cost".
Senior technology leaders from FANUC Robotics, Adept Technology and ABB Flexible Automation gave their perspectives on the future of the industry during a session on technology directions.
Dr Hadi Akeel, Sr Vice President and Chief Engineer of FANUC Robotics, listed the following technological drivers as having an impact on robotics:
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The growing power of the microprocessor and the parallel reduction of digital processing costs.
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The advent of low cost, easy to apply micro-sensors.
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The advent of testing methodology for software reliability.
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The advances realized in the PC environment and the availability at low cost of multi-tasking operating environments and powerful off the shelf drivers.
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The relative maturity of software for graphic processing, speech recognition, digital communications, and real time control for a variety of interface devices.
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The fast paced developments in the technology of micro-machines and micro-machining processes.
Other Forum topics included automation trends in Japan and case studies on robotic applications in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
Plans for the 1999 Robotics Industry Forum are already underway. The event will be held at Disney's BoardWalk Resort in Orlando on 3-5 November 1999.
"Next year will be a big one for RIA as we celebrate our 25th anniversary", said Donald A. Vincent, Executive Vice President of RIA. "The Forum will be an important part of our anniversary celebration. We're constantly tailoring the event to highlight the areas of most interest to the leaders in our industry".
Plate 1 The RIA Forum
To order proceedings from the 1998 Robotics Industry Forum or to find out more about attending or presenting a paper at the 1999 Robotics Industry Forum, contact RIA at 734/994-6088. Information about all RIA conferences and workshops can be found online at www.robotics.org. Founded in 1974, RIA is the only trade group in North America organized exclusively to promote the robotics industry. Its more than 170 member companies include leading robot manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms.