Page 12 - AUTOMATED - Issue 7 Tech transplants
P. 12
ISSUE 7
Robotics leading nations can help tackle some of the most
insight from prominent topics in the industry.
the experts We are in an intensive dialogue with the European
Commission and the European Parliament, to bring
In an exclusive interview across the topics that matter to the industry and to
for AUTOMATED, find the right balance in the regulatory framework to
Jonathan Wilkins talks to support instead of hinder the innovation process.
Dr. Susanne Bieller, AUTOMATED: What are the main changes you have
project manager at the seen in the industry over the last five years?
European Robotics Bieller: The industry is becoming much more focussed
Association (EUnited on IT, especially with the introduction of the Internet of
Robotics) about the way Things. This is paving the way for increasing use of
the industry is changing and the role that artificial intelligence, machine learning processes and
SMEs and start-ups are playing. digitalisation.
The collaboration between humans and robots on the
AUTOMATED: Tell me a little bit about the vision and factory floor is also becoming more accepted. Robots
objectives of the European Robotics Association. are making their way out of their enclosures and can
now be found working in close proximity to the human
Bieller: EUnited Robotics is the only robotics workforce.
association specifically organised to serve the robotics AUTOMATED: How do you see the robotics industry
industry in Europe. We provide a networking platform developing in the next decade?
for all industry stakeholders, from robot manufacturers Bieller: The trends that are emerging now will
to component providers and system integrators. continue to evolve over the next decade. Trends such
as the Internet of Things are just starting off. I expect
Our networking opportunities provide the industry it will take another five to ten years until technologies
with the chance to find out more about future trends, like this are broadly used across industry.
challenges and the potential of digitalisation. We With smaller and more affordable robots, decreasing
believe that the robotics industry is at the centre of the costs for system integration and robots becoming
move towards a digital future, so we want to make more intuitive in use, the technology becomes more
sure companies are doing all they can to become a accessible to smaller businesses and start-ups. We can
part of the movement. redesign many applications.
AUTOMATED: What do you think is the biggest
“The robotics industry is at change to come?
the centre of the move VIt has to be the increasing acceptance of
towards a digital future” human-robot collaboration. All major European robot
manufacturers are introducing robots that can work in
AUTOMATED: How is the European Robotics sync with the human workforce. If applications like this
Association helping Europe become a leader in the continue to flourish, we can expect work cycles to
robotics industry? speed up and precision to increase.
AUTOMATED: What role do small businesses and
Bieller: In my opinion, Europe is already leading the start-ups play in the robotics industry?
way. Countries such as Germany, France and Bieller: SMEs and start-ups are known for being more
Switzerland are introducing some of the world's most agile and innovative than larger businesses. This
cutting edge technology. By working together, these suggests that these companies might be more likely
to adopt newer trends, such as collaborative robotics
12
Robotics leading nations can help tackle some of the most
insight from prominent topics in the industry.
the experts We are in an intensive dialogue with the European
Commission and the European Parliament, to bring
In an exclusive interview across the topics that matter to the industry and to
for AUTOMATED, find the right balance in the regulatory framework to
Jonathan Wilkins talks to support instead of hinder the innovation process.
Dr. Susanne Bieller, AUTOMATED: What are the main changes you have
project manager at the seen in the industry over the last five years?
European Robotics Bieller: The industry is becoming much more focussed
Association (EUnited on IT, especially with the introduction of the Internet of
Robotics) about the way Things. This is paving the way for increasing use of
the industry is changing and the role that artificial intelligence, machine learning processes and
SMEs and start-ups are playing. digitalisation.
The collaboration between humans and robots on the
AUTOMATED: Tell me a little bit about the vision and factory floor is also becoming more accepted. Robots
objectives of the European Robotics Association. are making their way out of their enclosures and can
now be found working in close proximity to the human
Bieller: EUnited Robotics is the only robotics workforce.
association specifically organised to serve the robotics AUTOMATED: How do you see the robotics industry
industry in Europe. We provide a networking platform developing in the next decade?
for all industry stakeholders, from robot manufacturers Bieller: The trends that are emerging now will
to component providers and system integrators. continue to evolve over the next decade. Trends such
as the Internet of Things are just starting off. I expect
Our networking opportunities provide the industry it will take another five to ten years until technologies
with the chance to find out more about future trends, like this are broadly used across industry.
challenges and the potential of digitalisation. We With smaller and more affordable robots, decreasing
believe that the robotics industry is at the centre of the costs for system integration and robots becoming
move towards a digital future, so we want to make more intuitive in use, the technology becomes more
sure companies are doing all they can to become a accessible to smaller businesses and start-ups. We can
part of the movement. redesign many applications.
AUTOMATED: What do you think is the biggest
“The robotics industry is at change to come?
the centre of the move VIt has to be the increasing acceptance of
towards a digital future” human-robot collaboration. All major European robot
manufacturers are introducing robots that can work in
AUTOMATED: How is the European Robotics sync with the human workforce. If applications like this
Association helping Europe become a leader in the continue to flourish, we can expect work cycles to
robotics industry? speed up and precision to increase.
AUTOMATED: What role do small businesses and
Bieller: In my opinion, Europe is already leading the start-ups play in the robotics industry?
way. Countries such as Germany, France and Bieller: SMEs and start-ups are known for being more
Switzerland are introducing some of the world's most agile and innovative than larger businesses. This
cutting edge technology. By working together, these suggests that these companies might be more likely
to adopt newer trends, such as collaborative robotics
12
