INDUSTRY News
promises to transform manufacturing processes
Somerset-based artificial intelligence (AI) specialist, Machine Intelligence, has developed a ground-breaking machine-learning technique that efficiently identifies defects as products are created, dramatically improving visual inspections and safety in manufacturing. The technique will improve the quality of products and reduce waste, potentially saving industry millions. “Visual inspection is one of the most common and obvious checks in manufacturing, but humans get tired, make mistakes and are expensive. Numerous automated solutions already exist, but they are complicated to use and operate as a black box. Our technology works in a completely different way. It uses our own bio-inspired AI toolkit to make a unique computer solution, bridging the gap between humans writing software and machine learning. What once could have been engineered by a person can now be discovered by a machine,” said Dr Simon Harding, Machine Intelligence Company Director. The innovation has been made possible through a collaboration with BAE Systems, after Machine Intelligence was selected as a finalist of Digital Catapult’s Made Smarter Technology Accelerator Programme to develop scaleable AI for a visual-inspection challenge.
ABB COLUMN
WILL 2022 BE THE YEAR THE UK SWITCHED TO ROBOTS?
The latest news from the International Federation of Robotics provides encouraging news for the take-up of robotic automation in the UK. Whilst still sitting outside the top 20 league of nations for robots per 10,000 workers, the UK featured in the global top 15 for sales of robots during 2020, with the installed base of robots increasing by 2,205 to a total of 23,000, 6% higher than in 2019.
Although still significantly lower than in competing economies such as Germany, France and Italy, this increase nevertheless provides encouraging signs of a rising interest in robotic automation in the UK. The impact of the COVID pandemic has led to a growing appreciation of the need for firms to shore up their resilience, putting in place technologies and measures such as reshoring and shortened supply chains that can help them cope when unexpected situations arise. Another driver is the skills shortage. The combined impact of Brexit
and COVID-19 has left many firms looking for new ways to fill gaps in their workforces as workers have either returned to their home countries or have been unable to work due to sickness. In the food and beverage industry, these factors, combined with the added need to minimise the risk of potential contamination of products, has already seen a 96% increase in the adoption of robots since 2019. Financially, the conditions have never been better for companies to invest in robots. Companies can take advantage of a number of tax incentives being offered by Government. Offers on the table include the increased Annual Investment Allowance limit, raised from £200,000 to £1,000,000 for qualifying investments made between 1st January 2022 and 31st March 2023, plus a 130% super deduction offsetting tax against investments in new plant, and R&D tax credits, which can also be used to offset investments. Developments in technology are also making robots progressively easier to use and implement in a growing range of applications. Opening new possibilities for using robots on the factory floor, these developments enable companies of all sizes to boost their competitiveness through increased flexibility and productivity. There has never been a better time to automate your factory floor. See how we can help you make 2022 the year you switched to robots by calling us on 01908 350300.
Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | February 2022
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