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Factory of the Future On the Path to an Autonomous Facility

By Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Sandra Häuslein | Translated by AI 6 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

ABB STOTZ-KONTAKT GmbH
ABB AG
FAULHABER Drive Systems
SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

A clear comparison with autonomous driving illustrates the path toward autonomous plants. A look at the stages of development shows how AI is shaping the future of manufacturing and what role engineering plays in this process. 

In both autonomous driving and industrial production, there is growing skepticism as to whether full autonomy is always desirable.(Source: © Hypnotics 14 – stock.adobe.com / AI-generated)
In both autonomous driving and industrial production, there is growing skepticism as to whether full autonomy is always desirable.
(Source: © Hypnotics 14 – stock.adobe.com / AI-generated)

The concept of autonomous driving has long been firmly established in the collective consciousness. The technological journey from simple cruise control to driverless robotaxis is often cited in the automotive industry as the ultimate benchmark for innovation. But what happens when this blueprint is applied to mechanical and plant engineering? In a recent presentation, Dr. Marco Ulrich, head of the “Digitalization & Software Technologies” research department at the ABB Corporate Research Center in Mannheim, outlined precisely this vision. He compared the milestones of autonomous plants with those of autonomous vehicles, thereby providing a compass for engineers in the industry that is both pragmatic and forward-looking.

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