Tompkins Solutions partners with Soft Robotics to deliver revolutionary AI-enabled technology to the logistics industry
Tompkins Solutions, a leading supply chain consulting and material handling integration firm, has announced a partnership with Soft Robotics, a provider of innovative robotic automation solutions. This collaboration will deliver cutting-edge AI-powered robotics to logistics operations worldwide, enabling them to address ongoing supply chain issues and optimize order fulfillment. Initially introduced to the food industry, Soft Robotics’ mGripAI™ solution leverages AI-enabled 3D vision and soft grasping technologies to perform high-speed picking, sortation and packaging of a wide variety of items. This unique combination of advanced technologies enables industrial robots to replicate the sensory, cognitive and dexterous abilities of human workers, allowing warehouse operations to automate labor-intensive processes while increasing productivity and capacity. “We’re excited to team up with Soft Robotics to bring this proven technology to the logistics industry,” said David Latona, CEO of Tompkins Solutions. “As supply chains continue to face complex challenges and disruptions, AI-enabled solutions like mGripAI will play a critical role in helping companies increase efficiency, reduce costs and meet growing demands.” “After experiencing overwhelming success in the food industry, we’re now delighted to apply our no-code robotic picking and inspection solutions to applications across a variety of new industries,” said Mark Chiappetta, CEO of Soft Robotics. “We look forward to partnering with Tompkins Solutions to help organizations optimize their supply chain operations and gain a competitive advantage.” Tompkins Solutions will showcase mGripAI, along with other industry-leading warehouse automation and robotics systems, at its booth (#A11323) at MODEX 2024, March 11-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
AGILOX North America to showcase their autonomous vehicles at MODEX Trade Show in Atlanta
AGILOX North America has announced its participation in the upcoming MODEX 2024 in Atlanta Booth C7492. The company will exhibit its autonomous mobile robots, providing attendees with a firsthand look at the future of material handling and logistics. With a steadfast focus on customer success, AGILOX is set to unveil a new addition to its portfolio, demonstrating its continued dedication to supporting clients on an ever more integrated automation journey. The forthcoming product promises to showcase the latest advancements in technology, reinforcing AGILOX’s position as a leader in the industry. “We are excited to present our autonomous vehicles at MODEX, showcasing the latest advancements in material handling technology,” said Andreas Boedenauer, CEO at AGILOX North America. “Our goal is to offer solutions that enhance operational efficiency in logistics environments.” AGILOX’s fork-based vehicles revolutionize the world of AMRs, focusing on ease of use and scalability, allowing users to integrate AMRs and adjust workflows seamlessly. The vehicles comply with the UL 3100 standard, marking a milestone in safety and reliability. The certification underscores AGILOX’s commitment to meeting the highest industry standards for autonomous systems, ensuring safe and efficient operation in diverse industrial environments. To showcase the AGILOX AMRs and their capabilities, the company invites industry professionals to visit them at the upcoming MODEX show in Atlanta. The event will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to witness firsthand the advanced technology and safety features that set AGILOX apart in the autonomous robotics industry. MODEX 2024, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta. Booth C7492, MODEX 2024 March 11th – 14th, 2024. AGILOX representatives will be available at the booth to provide demonstrations, answer questions, and discuss how their certified AMRs can optimize material handling processes in various industries.
New battery test & assembly system from McAlister Design & Automation
The system enables pre-pack manufacturing testing of battery cells and battery cell performance data storage capabilities McAlister Design & Automation, a subsidiary of Wauseon Machine, revealed its new Battery Test and Assembly System. This battery system enables the inspection and testing of battery cells and assembly of battery packs, commonly used in electric vehicles and consumer products. The system has been developed to support market changes and future growth. The Battery Test & Assembly system allows battery pack manufacturers to ensure the quality of their product meets or exceeds the requirements for its design. The Battery Test and Assembly System tests each battery cell before incorporating it in the pack, mitigating the number of packs that falter because of a potential issue with a single battery cell. McAlister Design & Automation designed this system in response to the rapid increase in demand for electric vehicles, power tools, and electronic residential equipment. The system utilizes industry-standard battery cell packaging, minimizing the amount of operator handling during the introduction to the testing and assembly process. Additionally, McAlister Design & Automation modeled the Battery Test & Assembly System around the 2170 battery for broader application benefits, including the many industries previously mentioned. In today’s market, data tracking and storage enables traceability and is a critical aspect of manufacturing operations. This Battery Test & Assembly system features the capability to capture, store, and analyze battery cell and pack data. This grants manufacturers the ability to trace battery pack and cell performance over the entire life cycle of their product—enabling manufacturers to manage incoming supplier quality and trace defects across their value stream. The system has a unique focus on flexibility—using vision guidance for robotic components, six-axis robots, and conveyors—allowing the system to be modified or reconfigured for varying battery sizes or battery pack configurations. The system design also features asynchronous testing and assembly stations, maximizing its throughput and minimizing the amount of time it takes to assemble a battery pack. Plus, its pre-engineered software makes for an easily scalable and adaptable system to accommodate hazardous lithium-ion batteries. The system offers integrated dunnage inspection, providing fire hazard mitigation and a safer working environment for system operators.
Tompkins Solutions to showcase robotics and warehouse automation at MODEX 2024
Tompkins Solutions, a supply chain consulting and material handling integration firm, has announced that it will be showcasing some of the industry’s latest warehouse robotics and automation solutions in booth #A11323 at MODEX 2024, March 11-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Tompkins Solutions’ newly redesigned state-of-the-art booth will include a technology area where visitors can see live demonstrations of hybrid automation solutions that are flexible and scalable to accommodate a variety of applications and evolving needs. The company’s team of experts will also be on-site to discuss the new solutions and speak with visitors about their unique supply chain challenges. Some of the specific technologies and systems Tompkins Solutions will have on display and in action at the booth include: Soft Robotics mGripAI high-speed picking solution utilizing AI and 3D vision technology Geek+ P800 shelf-to-person picking solution Tompkins Robotics tSort portable, automated unit and parcel sortation system Tompkins Solutions Cornerstone warehouse control system (WCS) “In the past, many companies may have been hesitant to invest in automated material handling systems due to the large capital expense and constantly changing demands,” said David Latona, CEO of Tompkins Solutions. “We’re excited to show how these innovative automation solutions enable logistics operations of all types and sizes to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and remain agile in today’s dynamic environment.” Visit Tompkins Solutions at booth #A11323 in Hall A to learn more about the latest innovations in warehouse automation and supply chain operations.
RightHand Robotics introduces the RightPick™ 4 System
The next-generation autonomous robotic piece-picking system for warehouse order fulfillment. Building on its industry-leading predecessor, the RightPick 4 system can handle items up to 25% larger and 50% heavier, significantly reducing the need for human intervention. RightHand Robotics, a data-driven, autonomous robotic picking solution for order fulfillment, announced the launch of its next-generation solution, the RightPick™ 4 system. The picking system revolutionizes the level of autonomy and reliability of robotic order fulfillment in modern warehouse operations and distribution centers. The RightPick 4 system showcases enhanced AI-based software algorithms, an upgraded sensor suite, and newly designed hardware that enables a larger picking range of item SKUs, advanced item handling capacity, and increased system autonomy. With improved picking and grasping techniques, the RightPick 4 system maximizes reliability and enables faster integration through novel approaches in both software and hardware. “Retailers continue to have challenges with growing demand for faster and more accurate order fulfillment, in part due to ongoing labor challenges. With the launch of the RightPick 4 system, we have created a new piece-picking solution that delivers increased autonomy, reliability, and serviceability,” said Brendon Bielat, VP of Product & Marketing. “We have trained our system by leveraging more than a petabyte of operational data, gathered for over eight years from picking tens of millions of items around the globe. This massive amount of data has helped us create a smarter, more robust solution for real-world fulfillment challenges.” The RightPick 4 system is reducing the need for human intervention by deploying advanced gripping strategies to pick and place more items, even those it has never seen before. With improved smart grasp and suction seal quality detection, RightHand Robotics can enable autonomous piece-picking for market verticals such as general merchandise, office supplies, apparel, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and 3PLs. Powered by RightPick™ AI, the RightPick 4 system is continuously learning and improving on the overall range of items that can be picked successfully. “We are thrilled to unveil RightPick 4, a product realized through collaboration with customers and partners. We have hardened our product with a focus on reliability and autonomy so that our customers can increase their operational capacity without being hindered by labor volatility,” said Brian Owen, President & CEO. “The total market potential for the RightPick 4 system is staggering, especially in global, post-pandemic logistics. It’s no longer just early adopters approaching our technology. The general awareness of robotic piece-picking has increased, and omnichannel retailers are realizing it’s a necessity. The RightPick 4 system is a competitive advantage with a quick time-to-value for stakeholders within the supply chain.”To learn more about the RightPick 4 piece-picking system and how it exceeds demand with best-in-class features and capabilities, visit RightHand Robotics at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, at booth #C6479. You can also visit the RightHand Robotics website to learn more.
Compact IDEC XA/XW emergency stop switches enable improved safety
Expanding robotic and industrial equipment applications call for small form factor emergency stop switches. IDEC Corporation has expanded its line of emergency stop (E-stop) switches with new XA/XW series short-body models. These industrial-grade and outdoor-rated models are designed in the space-saving size essential for robotic and industrial equipment applications, with innovative features to meet the increased requirements of international safety standards. Modern E-stop challenges While E-stop switches have been a fundamental design and safety element of automated systems for decades, two factors have prompted an update of these devices. The first factor relates to the proliferation of smaller-scale automated equipment with increasingly limited onboard space but a need for E-stop functionality. Examples are robot teach pendants, mobile robotics, production machines, and industrial vehicles. The second-factor concerns revisions to safety standards. Safety standard ISO3691-4 (2020) requires E-stops to be accessible from both ends and both sides of industrial vehicles, which can be difficult or impossible to achieve without compact devices. In addition, any detachable or cableless control stations—such as pluggable portable teaching pendants or wireless controllers—are now required by ISO13850 (2015) to incorporate measures for avoiding user confusion regarding whether the E-stop is active or inactive. While there are various ways to achieve this, the XA/XW E-stops change color through illumination to indicate if they are active or inactive, which is a leading way to comply with the standard. Addressing new E-stop requirements IDEC has designed the XA/XW series to minimize the installation depth behind the mounting surface. Available in industry-standard diameters of 16mm for the XA and 22mm for the XW, these new E-stops now require only an industry-leading 12.6mm of space behind the mounting surface for solder terminal styles and just 18.0mm for tab terminal styles. All devices are rated IP67/69K and UL Type 4X for outdoor installation, and they can be specified with or without illumination. Operating temperatures range from -25 to +55 or +70 °C, depending on the model. When users select the active/inactive version for compliance with ISO13850, the E-stop cap color is opaque white when the device is inactive and red when the device is active. This unique feature is designed so that users will recognize the device is plugged into equipment and usable only when the E-stop is red. If the device is white, then the E-stop is not connected. The E-stops follow a standard push-lock and pull or turn to reset action, and the top cap uses cap-color direction arrows to comply with ISO13850. The body base is high visibility yellow with an angled “escape structure” design so debris will not hinder operation, and a green ring acts as a secondary visual indication of the E-stop pressed or not-pressed status. The E-stop physical mechanism uses IDEC’s unique and patented “reverse energy structure” for an additional degree of safety, with a spring arranged to operate the E-stop if it is physically damaged in certain ways. Competitive devices can fail to drive equipment to a safe state under these conditions. Even though the XA/XW series features a compact body, the non-illuminated version offers two NC contacts for integration with safety circuits and one NO contact for illumination and/or monitoring. Contacts are rated for an industry-leading 250,000 operations at 24V and 100mA, ensuring exceptional durability. Improved safety for any application The IDEC XA/XW series is designed to meet the latest safety standards in an industry-leading small form factor rated for challenging environmental conditions. Space-saving E-stops are needed for robotics, AGV/AMR, medical devices, tabletop machines, and other industrial applications. EV chargers, power generators, outdoor conveyors, and specialty industrial vehicles all need robust E-stops that are easily installed in limited spaces. As designers are increasingly using wireless controllers and detachable pendants for these applications, the active/inactive capability of associated E-stops is a key requirement.
Queen City Robotics Alliance prepares at their new facility for 2024
Queen City Robotics Alliance (QCRA) recently finished updates and construction of several important projects at The Zone, a 3,000 sq. ft. practice field. On January 6, students and mentors were at The Zone where they learned about the upcoming FIRST® Robotics competition season and received their Kickoff Kits. The 2024 theme is Crescendo presented by Haas. As QCRA and Charlotte-area FIRST Robotics teams get ready for competition, they will be a part of some 3,500 robotics teams around the world participating in Crescendo, which has a theme revolving around music, sound, and performance as part of the robotic competition. New Avian Robotics 9005 team member Alex C. of East Mecklenburg High School had this to say about his first competition season. “I expected my team to be very serious and purely focused on one goal. However, this was not the case. I was greeted with many smiles and helpful advice on how to improve myself, not just as a future engineer, but as a human being in general. It is very fun being around them and I look forward to building our new robot with them.” Avian Robotics lead mentor Annette Miller was also enthusiastic. “I am so excited about the game itself. It requires lots of thinking and planning and more involvement from the team and our alliance. I feel it gives new teams like ours more opportunities to be successful. I am looking forward to lots of ‘light bulb moments’.” Last September, QCRA moved into a new, larger facility called The Zone in Charlotte’s Ayrsley neighborhood and it is a space where Charlotte area robotics teams can strategize and practice while building teamwork and organizational skills. QCRA also uses The Zone to hold after school and summer computer coding and drone camps open to all Charlotte area students. However, the former marketing research space needed some upgrades to make the space work for QCRA students. First the HVAC and electrical needed an upgrade so everyone could be comfortable through the changing seasons. Next was the creation of the robot practice field. That project involved knocking down several walls to create a 3,000-sq. ft., 16-ft. high practice field where teams can prepare their robots for competition. Locke Hudson of commercial real estate company JLL not only helped QCRA find the new facility, but oversaw the renovations and provided this update on the new space. “It’s exciting to be wrapping up the project to create a dedicated playing field area at The Zone. The completed playing field will be a unique asset for QCRA teams as there is not another dedicated field with a 100-mile radius and allows teams to have hands-on experience testing and practicing with their designs.” “This project was a team effort,” he added, “and would not have been possible without the financial backing and the partnership of our landlord’s property manager Frank Bass, GC Stocker Associates, and the significant in-kind donation of Ray Kimble who performed all of the electrical work.”
ABB acquires Sevensense expanding its leadership in next-generation AI-enabled mobile robotics
Swiss start-up Sevensense, a provider in AI-based navigation, enables the highest levels of speed, accuracy and autonomy of mobile robots, one of the fastest growing robotics markets Acquisition underlines ABB’s strategic investment focus on innovative AI solutions transforming industries, such as logistics and manufacturing ABB becomes leader in next-generation AMRs, integrating Visual SLAM technology with leading hardware and software portfolio ABB has announced that it has acquired Swiss start-up Sevensense, a leading provider of AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Sevensense was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Swiss technical University, ETH Zurich. “This marks a significant step towards our vision of a workplace where AI-enabled robots assist people, addressing our customers’ needs for greater flexibility and intelligence amidst critical skilled labor shortages,” said Sami Atiya, President, ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation Business Area. “Each mobile robot, equipped with vision and AI, scans a unique part of the building; collectively these robots complement each other’s view to form a complete map, enabling them to work autonomously in a rapidly changing environment.” The acquisition follows ABB’s minority investment in Sevensense after it joined the company’s innovation ecosystem in 2021, the same year ABB acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Following pilot customer projects in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB will integrate Sevensense’s technology into the company’s AMR portfolio, offering an unprecedented combination of speed, accuracy, and payload. The market for mobile robots is expected to grow at 20 percent CAGR through 2026, from $5.5bn to $9.5bn and ABB’s AI-powered 3D vision technology is at the forefront of this growth.1 Sevensense’s pioneering navigation technology combines AI and 3D vision, enabling AMRs to make intelligent decisions, differentiating between fixed and mobile objects in dynamic environments. Once manually guided, mobile robots with Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology create a map that is used to operate independently, reducing commissioning time from weeks to days and enabling the AMRs to navigate in highly complex, dynamic environments alongside people. Maps are constantly updated and shared across the fleet, offering instant scalability without interrupting operations and greater flexibility compared to other navigation technologies. Today, this AI-enabled navigation technology is already transforming the automotive manufacturing and logistics sectors, delivering value through faster and more efficient operations. For automotive manufacturer Ford, Visual SLAM enabled ABB AMR’s will create efficiency gains in production sites in the US, while Michelin will use the technology in intralogistics at its factory in Spain. Other automotive manufacturers will roll out the technology in the UK, Finland and Germany. “Offering more autonomy and cognitive intelligence, ABB’s unique market-proven technology paves the way for a shift from linear production lines to dynamic networks. Intelligent AMRs autonomously navigate to production cells, tracking stock inventory as they go and sharing this information with other robots, while collaborating safely side-by-side with humans,” said Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division. “With the acquisition of Sevensense, ABB becomes the leader in next-generation AMRs, offering Visual SLAM in Autonomous Mobile Robots, together with an integrated portfolio covering robots and machine automation solutions, all managed by our value-creating software.” Gregory Hitz, CEO of Sevensense, said: “This is a significant moment in our shared journey, as we introduce our home-grown technology to a wider range of markets and sectors. ABB is the ideal home for us to continue scaling our versatile platform for 3D visual autonomy, serving OEMs across the automated material handling and service robotics industries. Together, we will redefine the limits of AI-enabled robotics.” This revolutionary technology has the potential to impact robotics far beyond AMRs, leading to greater efficiency, flexibility and accuracy throughout production and intralogistics. The technology will also continue to be sold across segments including material handling, cleaning and other service robotics fields under the product name Sevensense. The Sevensense partnership highlights the success of ABB’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovations. Through its partner ecosystem and collaboration with start-ups and universities, ABB develops leading technology for the benefit of global businesses. Sevensense’s approximately 35 employees will continue to be based at its Swiss office in Zurich.
New piCOBOT® plug & play configuration for FANUC CRX cobots
Piab continues the journey to make our foremost cobot tool family available to all end users. We now offer piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L in completely FANUC CRX adapted versions. Plug & Play in every aspect. Piab‘s clever end-of-arm-tool piCOBOT® has so far had almost a decade of prosperity on the market for cobot equipment. Parts of the success relate to the unit itself – its compact yet user-friendly design and unparalleled precision. And of course, its capacity. Despite its limited weight, only 1.5 lbs [720 g], this EOAT can lift objects of up to 15.4; bs [7kg]. In 2022, the success was followed by the even more powerful model piCOBOT®L, with a lifting capacity of up to 135 lbs [6 kg]. Since their respective premieres, piCOBOT®® and piCOBOT®L have been suited to fit several different cobot manufacturers specifically, one of which being FANUC – partner from some previous adaptations. “Following our certified piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L adaptations for FANUC’s CR4/CR7 and LR Mate 200 robots, it was natural to apply the same matched setup on their CRX range. And it’s exactly where we have landed today – true plug and play!”, says Madeleine Sheikh, product manager of Piab Vacuum Automation division. The new Fanuc CRX configuration is a full package including a software plug-in, mechanical interface, specified cabling and compressed-air hosing, which as a whole will support safe and easy-to-use cobot interaction for the end customer. Naturally, when it comes to Piab solutions, the setup is accompanied by our ever-expanding range of suction cups and accessories, ensuring tailor-made applications for any context. “Our fresh piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L packages are fully tested, approved, and certified by FANUC as CRX devices and will be sold as such”, concludes Madeleine Sheikh. Apart from being cobot equipment marketed by FANUC, piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L are available on piab.com, fully configurable with the CRX package as a complement to previous adaptations.
AMT Expands Engineering Services portfolio with Ignition Programming to drive operational efficiency in Smart Manufacturing Automation Systems
Applied Manufacturing Technologies announces the expansion of its engineering services portfolio to include Ignition by Inductive Automation, a powerful tool for advanced HMI and SCADA solutions, to address the growing need for digital transformation in manufacturing industries Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), announced that following a successful large-scale automation project, the company has become a Credentialed System Integrator for Ignition by Inductive Automation and has launched a wide-ranging initiative for certification of the engineering staff. Recognizing the need for digital transformation by AMT’s Engineering Services customer base, the company has launched the 2024 initiative to offer Ignition programming as a core Engineering Services offering. AMT has recently installed successful multi-million-dollar robotic automation systems for clients in several industries which have included software developed with Inductive Automation’s Ignition platform for advanced HMI and SCADA. “Our Ignition projects have demonstrated the immense potential for data-driven, lean manufacturing, and operational excellence, and has inspired us to integrate Ignition programming as a cornerstone of our 2024 initiative,” said AMT President Craig Salvalaggio. “Our clients valued the power of integrated data to drive lean and smarter manufacturing and achieve operational efficiency and their software engineers were impressed with the ease in which real-time status and control, historical data logging, UDTs & templates, and alarming could be implemented.” Ignition by Inductive Automation enables comprehensive digital integration in industrial settings, allowing for the connection of multiple devices and extensive data collection. The platform facilitates the creation and deployment of custom applications across a variety of industrial and mobile devices, enhancing operational efficiency.
GreyOrange and Hai Robotics Dynamic partnership advances automated robotic fulfillment
GreyOrange software together with Hai Robotics bots increase throughput, storage density and agility GreyOrange Inc., a global provider in automated robotic fulfillment and inventory optimization software, and Hai Robotics, a global provider in Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), elevate their strategic partnership, resulting in customer competitive advantages. Together, after more than two years of partnership, GreyOrange software and Hai Robotics hardware yield increased throughput, storage density and agility, resulting in accelerated customer operations and growth. In just a short span of two years, GreyOrange and Hai Robotics have completed more than 10 projects together, helping solve some of the most challenging fulfillment operations that include the largest retailer in the U.S., one of the largest fashion retailers in the world, and many other large-scale retailers across the U.S. and Europe. The two companies have come together to create a uniquely advanced offering for warehouses and distribution centers around the globe. GreyOrange’s fulfillment orchestration platform, GreyMatter™, utilizes its Multi-agent orchestration(MAO) capabilities to connect and run both Hai’s Tote to Person AMRs and GreyOrange’s Rack to Person AMRs on a single grid – unifying complex or cross-functional operations throughout a facility for streamlined operations. Hai Robotics’ ASRS – driven by Autonomous Case-handling mobile Robots (ACR) – offer unparalleled flexibility with industry-leading storage density for tote, tray, box or oversized items within an automated storage system. Hai’s goods-to-person systems can be constructed using almost any industry standard racking and containers. Systems can have varying heights up to 10 meters high, and varying container sizes and material, stored up to 5 totes deep. With such adaptable capabilities, Hai systems can be modified to help advance facilities in ways that historic automated storage technologies were previously unable to achieve. The joint solution with GreyOrange’s GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform creates a unique solution that can deliver maximized operational efficiency, increased speed to order fulfillment, and improved order accuracy. The partnership of these two companies provides a unified solution across technologies, while providing the ability to adapt to surges in demand and the ever-evolving consumer behavior. “Combining GreyOrange’s GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform with Hai Robotics‘ cutting-edge vertical Autonomous Case-handling Robotic (ACR) technology, the two companies have paved the way for solutions that are revolutionizing the industry,” said Brian Reinhart, Chief Revenue Officer, Hai Robotics. “What we’ve done together is provide end users with the throughput they need to meet their growing demand, the storage density to make the best use of their warehousing space, as well as the flexibility so that they’re not tied down in this ever-changing environment.” “The Hai Robotics and GreyOrange partnership is the perfect use case for innovation within the warehouse automation space. The industry directly benefits from our customer-centric approach to automated fulfillment,” said Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange. “This partnership combines our cutting edge GreyMatter software that orchestrates the largest and most complex robotic installations in the world with the vertical AMRs from Hai Robotics, including a first of its kind five deep storage solution.” In addition to simultaneous orchestration of GreyOrange AMRs and Hai Robotics ACRs with GreyMatter, this partnership has resulted in direct picking into on-demand packing boxes – eliminating extra touches from picking operations. The strategic partnership has also benefited the automated robotic fulfillment space with a fully integrated micro-fulfillment center (MFC) solution, boasting the highest storage density in the industry. This MFC solution offers the flexibility to fulfill orders in less than an hour, demonstrating an impressive level of efficiency.
Siemens expands its SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE servo-drive system for extra-low-voltage material handling and manufacturing applications
User benefits include seamless network integration, integrated drive safety, versatility, easy installation and commissioning Siemens is extending its drive portfolio in the extra-low-voltage range for 24–48V EC motors with its new SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE. The new product line with UL- and CE-marked components consists of the PDC (Profidrive Control) servo drive in conjunction with a flexible range of motors and connecting cables from product partners, along with the TM (technology module) format with servo and stepper drives in compact 20mm width that can be used in conjunction with distributed or open controllers. Simple connectivity to Siemens programmable logic controllers (PLCs) helps significantly reduce the engineering workload, while integration into Siemens automation technology via its TIA Portal makes for simple commissioning and servicing. Attributes such as smart encoders and one-button tuning add to its plug-and-play startup. Communication takes place over PROFINET using PROFIsafe and PROFIdrive profiles. The new Safety Integrated function SLT (Safely Limited Torque) limits torque by monitoring motor current in running operation. To address its customers’ requirements with maximum flexibility, Siemens utilizes product partnerships with companies such as Dunkermotoren, ebm-pabst, Harting and KnorrTec when it comes to the motors and cables used with MICRO-DRIVE. Other third-party motors can also be utilized with support for various encoder types. SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE PDC focuses on higher performance applications with 100W and 600W units that permit side-by-side rail mounting. They are available in standard (hardwired Safe Torque Off (STO)) and fail-safe versions. STO, SS1, SLT, SLS, and SSM Safety Integrated functions are available with the MICRO-DRIVE PDC100F variant. SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE TM units are designed for basic performance in industries with a focus on compactness and simple safety requirements. They are available in 280W-rating and come standard with hardwired Safe Torque Off (STO) safety functions. In addition to servo, TM units feature new modules to control stepper motors with or without incremental encoders. Machine builders and users will benefit from a compact design, easy wiring and installation to ensure top performance. Both SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE PDC and TM systems are suited to a wide range of diverse applications such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), conveyors, shuttles, storage and retrieval machines for warehousing systems, diverters, assembly machines, and industrial positioning applications. The Siemens Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal is used to configure drives and motors quickly and easily including the activation of safety functions with a Fail-safe PLC via PROFIsafe. Machine operating data can be transmitted directly to the controller from MICRO-DRIVE and transferred to Cloud-based platforms such as MindSphere over MindConnect.
Episode 443: AI Integration & Visibility: Boosting warehouse performance with Arvist
In this episode of The New Warehouse podcast, Kevin welcomes Nilay Parikh, the founder and CEO of Arvist. By leveraging AI, Arvist focuses on harnessing the power of data to enhance safety, productivity, and quality in the supply chain. Parikh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in AI technology, offering unique perspectives on its practical applications in warehousing. In this engaging conversation, he delves into how Arvist’s solutions are shaping the future of warehousing, addressing current challenges, and setting new standards for operational efficiency and safety. AI Integration for Enhanced Warehouse Safety Parikh discusses Arvist’s innovative approach to using AI for proactive warehouse safety measures. Arvist’s technology can identify potential safety hazards and compliance issues in real time by analyzing data from existing security cameras and systems. Parikh explains that instead of looking at accidents after they happen, the Arvist AI platform proactively spots risks, allowing immediate corrective action. This approach not only enhances the safety of workers but also fosters a culture of prevention, fundamentally transforming traditional safety management in warehouse environments. AI-Driven Operational Efficiency Arvist’s AI platform offers a significant leap in operational efficiency for warehouses by harnessing existing data sources like security cameras, WMS, and ERP systems. This includes optimizing loading dock operations, enhancing inventory management, and streamlining workflow. Parikh highlights a case where their AI solutions significantly reduced loading dock bottlenecks, demonstrating the practical impact of their technology on day-to-day operations. Future of Warehouses with AI Integration Looking into the future, Parikh envisions an increasingly integrated role for AI in warehouse operations. He anticipates AI not only complementing existing automation technologies but also paving the way for more advanced solutions. He envisions a warehouse environment where AI-driven systems work seamlessly with robotics to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity and accuracy. This vision points to a future where warehouses operate optimally, driven by intelligent algorithms that continuously learn and adapt to changing demands and environments. Key Takeaways Proactive Safety Measures: Arvist leverages AI to enhance warehouse safety proactively. Operational Efficiency: Integrating AI with existing data sources streamlines warehouse operations. Future Trends: AI will drive more sophisticated and efficient warehouse management. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 443: AI Integration & Visibility: Boosting Warehouse Performance with Arvist
Warehouse automation market to return to growth in 2024
Following a slowdown in revenues in 2023, the global warehouse automation market will experience some growth in 2024 and return to high growth in 2025. Brownfield sites and upstream vertical markets are driving the market for warehouse automation. Interest rates are having a significant impact on vendor’s investment decisions for warehouse automation. According to the latest research by market intelligence firm Interact Analysis, warehouse automation order intake will begin to grow again in 2024 after the market suffered a tough 2023, albeit at a low rate. From 2025 onwards, revenues are expected to return to double digit growth. Warehouse automation revenues will increase in 2024 and return to high growth rates from 2025 onwards. As a result of the pandemic and record low level interest rates in 2019/2020, we saw a significant increase in e-commerce orders which led to an uptick in warehouse construction and therefore, an increase in warehouse automation sales. However, now that e-commerce sales have slowed down and interest rates have gone up, the market has seen a decline in warehouse construction which has led to a corresponding slowdown in warehouse automation investments. Order intake for fixed automation will have contracted by around -8% in 2023, but order intake for mobile automation is expected to grow by 38% over the year, providing a buffer against the overall market decline. The slowdown is being felt most in vertical markets with high exposure to e-commerce such as general merchandise, grocery, and apparel. These are often referred to as downstream verticals because they are downstream in the supply chain and closer to the consumer. On the other hand, upstream verticals like durable manufacturing have performed relatively well, driven by the trend towards near-shoring and the resulting construction of factories in the US and Europe. The durable manufacturing sector in fact is expected to have been the fastest growing vertical market for warehouse automation in 2023 with a revenue growth of 6%. Rueben Scriven, Research Manager at Interact Analysis, comments, “The rise and fall of warehouse construction has led to a corresponding increase and decrease of end-to-end warehouse automation solutions. Greenfield sites are well suited for large and complex end-to-end solutions, while brownfield sites are better suited to smaller point solutions that automate particular workflows, such as mobile robots. Because the share of brownfield sites has now increased, the share of point solutions (relative to end-to-end solutions) has also increased. Therefore, automation vendors that can provide solutions for brownfield sites and distribution center automation projects will fare well in the short term. “Overall, our projections for 2024 and beyond are pessimistic. Although we expect interest rates to remain high next year, warehouse construction will increase and result in an uptick in warehouse automation order intake in the latter half of 2024 and in to 2025.” About the Report: The 5th edition of our Warehouse Automation report guarantees to provide the most comprehensive and detailed analysis of the market. To produce the report, we’ve spent months conducting more than 100 in-depth research interviews and analyzed more than 120 companies, looking specifically at their past, present, and future investments in warehouse automation. Available as a Standard and Premium version. The premium version contains a mid-year update to adjust forecasts made in the standard version, six months after initial release. It also contains access to product news and financial databases to reduce efforts spent by internal marketing teams in collecting this data themselves. Also included is a Warehouse Automation Services Excel which breaks out the after-sale services and provides forecasts into the different services. About the Author With over 200 years of combined experience, Interact Analysis is the market intelligence authority for global supply chain automation. Our research covers the entire automation value chain – from the technology used to automate factory production, through inventory storage and distribution channels, to the transportation of the finished goods. The world’s leading companies trust us to surface robust insights and opportunities for technology-driven growth. To learn more, visit www.InteractAnalysis.com
Motion names new Automation Intelligence GVP
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, named Mike Esposito to Group Vice President, Motion Automation Intelligence, effective immediately. Most recently, Mr. Esposito served as Director of Motion Automation Intelligence’s Engineering Assembly Solutions (EAS), having joined Motion as part of the Kaman Distribution Group (including Kaman Automation) acquisition. With over 25 years in industrial automation and manufacturing, he has developed a systems approach along with deep, cross-functional experience as an automation consumer, producer and supplier. Mr. Esposito’s experience has enabled the development of solution-driven teams focused on positioning customers and internal stakeholders to be successful. Prior to joining Motion/KDG, he held senior management roles at iAutomation, CDF Corporation, and SencorpWhite. Motion Automation Intelligence solution technologies include robotics, motion control, machine vision, digital Networking/IIoT, industrial framing, pneumatics and custom mechatronic systems. In his new role, Mr. Esposito will lead the Motion Automation Intelligence team, and his responsibilities will include the development and implementation of multi-year strategic business and marketing plans. He will report to Joe Limbaugh, Motion’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. “We are thrilled to have Mike at the helm of our automation group. With his diverse yet relevant background and technical expertise, he possesses a unique insight into the industry’s needs and operations. In addition, Mike’s leadership skills and deep passion for automation will certainly spur Motion Automation Intelligence to new heights.”said Limbaugh. Esposito is a graduate of Bridgewater State College (Master of Science in Technology Management – Summa Cum Laude) and New England Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology – Summa Cum Laude).
Episode 439: Innovative AGV and AMR Solutions from JLC Robotics
In this pre-Thanksgiving episode of The New Warehouse podcast, we welcome Jamie Callihan and Phil Denton from JLC Robotics. Jamie is the President, and Phil is the Channel Sales Manager at JLC Robotics, a company at the forefront of robotic innovations in the warehousing and manufacturing sectors. Tune in as the guests from JLC Robotics highlight their unique contributions to warehouse automation, featuring Thouzer, a robotic cart with an API, and CaPow, an innovative solution providing perpetual power to AMRs and AGVs. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in the intersection of robotics and warehouse management. JLC Robotics’ Unique AGV and AMR Solutions: Thouzer and Capow Callihan explains the company’s evolution from JLC Industrial to JLC Robotics, emphasizing their shift towards innovative solutions in robotics. Their products, such as Thouzer and CaPow, are designed to enhance efficiency in material handling and quality control in manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector. Thouzer is a robotic cart designed for simplicity and efficiency in A to B movement. CaPow offers a perpetual power solution for mobile robots, aiming to reduce downtime due to charging. These products highlight JLC Robotics’ commitment to providing practical, user-friendly solutions to common challenges in warehouse operations. Deciphering the Difference Between an AGV and AMR Denton explains, “AGVs always follow a predefined fixed path and will not make independent decisions. On the other hand, AMRs, which are more intelligent, can reroute around obstructions, constantly finding the shortest path from A to B.” Denton highlights the current market trends and the future trajectory of these technologies. “There’s still double-digit demand growth for both AGVs and AMRs,” he states, acknowledging the ongoing relevance of both systems in the industry. However, he points out the increasing edge of AMRs, noting, “As the AMR software collectively gets better and better, the setup time will be less and less. The intelligence is going to grow and grow. They’re going to get smarter and smarter and require less setup, less programming, less maintenance.” The evolving capabilities of AMRs suggest a gradual shift in the industry’s preference towards these more autonomous and flexible solutions despite the sustained significance of AGVs in specific applications. The Challenges and Opportunities in the AGV and AMR Market Denton emphasizes the growing necessity of automation in warehouses, noting that nearly every facility they visit prominently advertises hiring needs. This trend underscores how companies increasingly turn to automation for efficiency and to meet production demands amid labor shortages. Tradeshows, in particular, provide an overwhelming number of choices available to customers, making it difficult to differentiate between robotic solutions. Denton emphasizes the need for custom solutions in a market flooded with options, shedding light on the importance of understanding specific client requirements and the AGV communication standard, VDA 5050. Key Takeaways Innovative Shift in Robotics: JLC Robotics’ transition from industrial solutions to cutting-edge robotics signifies a broader shift in warehouse automation towards more sophisticated and efficient technologies. Navigating Market Complexities: The discussion on the AMR and AGV market challenges sheds light on the importance of custom solutions and the need to understand varied customer requirements. Unique Product Offerings: Introducing products like Thouzer and CaPow illustrates JLC Robotics’ commitment to addressing specific operational challenges in warehousing through innovative technology. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 439: Innovative AGV and AMR Solutions from JLC Robotics
Movu Robotics launches a gripping innovation to transform robotic piece picking
Movu Robotics, a supplier for designing, developing, and implementing innovative and easier warehouse automation solutions, announces the launch of the innovative Movu eligo robot picking arm. A fully integrated robotic bin-picking solution, developed in close collaboration with Righthand Robotics, Movu eligo can automatically piece-pick from a single-SKU source bin and place the individual items into multiple mixed-SKU destination bins. Developed to close the gap between manual and fully automatic pick operation, Movu eligo provides warehouse operators with a huge step forward in order picking. It also provides a solution for labour shortage issues, with a robot that can work through inconvenient work hours at a reduced cost but with higher pick accuracy and quality. Other key benefits include: Reliable and effective robotic picking of up to 600 items per hour at any time; Enabling the picking and placing of a wide variety of SKUs; Providing a unique plug-and-play sub-system that is integrated with the Movu escala bin shuttle, resulting in an innovative end-to-end automated solution from storage to picking; Easy way to automatically pick SKUs that are suited for robotic picking, store the bins and then finish the order with a manual pick when the time is convenient Reduced cost per pick, resulting in a strong Return on Investment (ROI). Provided with seamless integration as a pick station option for the Movu escala bin shuttle, the Movu eligo combines advanced software with intelligent grippers and machine vision to ensure reliable throughput. Gently grasping an item from a bin retrieved from the escala while picking, the robot then places the item in a delivery bin. Providing feedback on grasp success, the intelligent grippers ensure an accuracy of 100%. In addition to a low gripping failure rate, the Movu eligo reduces the number of manual ‘touches’ required for order fulfilment or replenishment and can reach a pick success rate greater than 99%. Able to achieve 600 picks per hour, depending on the specific implementation, the robot can pick goods up to 2 kg and with dimensions of 1 cm minimum to a maximum of 30 cm. Being completely product agnostic gives it the flexibility to handle changing product mixes. The robot arm stands 2.2 metres high and has an operating radius of 1.3 metres. A safety interface makes robotic work cells safe when human interaction is required. Driven by software, the system leverages machine learning to continuously improve picking. Movu eligo runs on a plug-and-play Application Programming Interface (API) which integrates directly with the Movu escala bin storage solution. This user-friendly complete solution allows the seamless integration of robotic and manual picking operation for maximum efficiency. Movu escala interacts with overlying Warehouse Management Software (WMS), Warehouse Control Software (WCS) and Warehouse Execution Software (WES) as needed to mission the piece-picking operations. By planning tasks for the robot such as robot arm movements around the source and destination bin exchange phases, the software optimises pick cycle times to maximise throughput. Real-time operational data is presented to staff stationed away from the active systems to resolve exceptions quickly and efficiently. Performance dashboards enable warehouse operations to visualise current and historical data. Available with full 24/7 support, the Movu eligo allows customers, particularly those involved in pharmaceuticals, apparel, e-commerce, manufacturing and kitting, to realise the benefits of reliable robotic piece-picking without worrying about integrating all the elements. Stefan Pieters, CEO of Movu Robotics, commented: “Movu eligo is the next level for Movu Robotics to offer innovative and easier Automation solutions to our customers. It is a data-driven, intelligent piece-picking platform unlike any other. Automating the conventionally manual operation or piece picking results in a lower cost per pick, leading to a strong return on investment. Integrated seamlessly as a workstation for the Movu escala bin storage system, eligo offers a flexible and scalable automation solution for predictable and accurate order fulfilment, adding value for warehouses pursuing improvements in efficiency, productivity and customer service levels.”
AI finds the route out of planning and scheduling problems and into unrivalled service delivery
There’s no escaping it—service delivery is a key business driver and not just for Amazon, but across asset-intensive industries where getting day-to-day planning, scheduling, and routing managed competently, and fully optimized, is becoming the make-or-break point for many businesses. According to a PwC report, 55% of customers would stop buying from a company that they otherwise liked after several bad experiences. It’s become a tough balancing act for businesses to optimize this need for customer experience with employee engagement, meeting SLAs, and not impacting bottom line costs. For Bob De Caux, VP Automation at IFS, it’s all about harnessing a PSO (Planning and Scheduling Optimization) system, powered by the latest AI and ML technologies to take the employee and customer experience to the next level. Excellent service delivered on time, and with a smile on the face of customers and employees alike, is key. In today’s service economy, customers demand rapid responses, flexible appointment slots, and guaranteed first-time fixes. Yet with skill shortages continuing to impact businesses attempting to roll out servitization initiatives and organizations looking to support outcomes-based service, field service teams often find themselves seriously stretched. Dispatchers are frequently overburdened and under a lot of pressure as they must manage many different scenarios. But service delivery doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Service optimization becomes even more essential when it comes to assets, where service delivery, parts, and logistics often require complicated planning and scheduling, and the bellwether of successful management of all those pieces is a powerful AI-enhanced PSO (Planning and Scheduling Optimization) solution. A truly optimized schedule can mean the difference between operating profit and loss, so it’s important that businesses pinpoint crucial areas for improvement. Asset-intensive businesses that leverage the capabilities of AI-enhanced PSO can streamline operations, enhance service delivery, optimize resource allocation, and improve customer satisfaction. When time is of the essence, ensure the right technician is always on hand The intensity and complexity of a service dispatcher’s work means decisions with different contexts need to be made quickly to maximize efficiency. The primary reason why optimization in the moment matters comes down to the impact of delays on customer experience—such as when customers cancel, appointments run over, and parts need to be allocated. Businesses need a system that can react in minutes, not hours. This is where the importance of AI-powered optimization demonstrates its value, as an effective system can do in fifteen minutes what some systems need overnight to compute. An AI-enabled PSO system can schedule large amounts of jobs in real-time to ensure the right engineer or field worker is in the right place at the right time and with the right skills and parts to successfully complete any job. AI PSO technology has the capability to continuously analyze real-time events, considering everything from job location to duration, technician availability, skills, parts, tools and other dependent tasks to automatically deliver highly optimized plans in seconds. AI can go one step further to enhance the experience of the dispatcher by giving them information they can understand, particularly when something goes wrong. The dynamic route optimization function of PSO technology assigns jobs to technicians that will optimize drive time by taking the most efficient route and assign jobs that are as close together as resource availability will allow. The system achieves this by using AI to calculate time needed to complete each task based on existing data for each technician, so that an appropriate timeframe is given to jobs that are more complex or have a larger scale. This guarantees that there is enough time for completion and prevents costly overruns. Prioritize where it counts to keep employee morale high Prioritizing jobs is difficult when multiple tasks are coming in continuously and encompass a wide range of different geographical regions. Service dispatchers are forced to firefight, which can be highly stressful and likely to negatively impact employee retention. Added to this, field workers may become disillusioned, having to deal with significant travel requirements, short notice changes to job requirements, and problems in completing allocated work. Morale across the entire field workforce is likely to suffer as a result—but asset-intensive businesses can turn the tide with AI. The right AI-powered scheduling tool can tailor the chosen approach to meet the precise needs of each business. There will typically be a need to efficiently blend appointments with reactive and planned work, so businesses will need an effective way of aligning appointment times around existing committed work. But that is not sufficient in itself. Organizations need to go beyond this to deliver target-based or value-based scheduling. This approach allows the organizations to focus their scheduling directly on the key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most to the business. An AI-powered PSO system for instance, allows organizations to layer specific values, such as company rules (KPIs) or regional rules (regulatory) over the engine powering its planning optimization to ensure that appointments are triaged effectively. This could be a reduction in the average cost per job for a white goods repair firm or an increase in the percentage of calls responded to within the target SLA (time window) by a regional ambulance service. Typically, it is a question of managing complex and even competing priorities to ensure SLA compliance and maximize profit. Cut down on wasted time and eliminate human error Service dispatchers often have to manage planned maintenance with new jobs coming on stream in real-time. To complicate matters further, many try to optimize the workforce using traditional processes, which is time-consuming and error prone. So where can businesses cut down on inefficient and time-killer tasks? Today’s enterprises continuously collect asset performance data but industries from manufacturing to service all struggle with similar dilemmas: how to put data collected in the right context and act in real-time. Autonomous enterprises that incorporate AI and ML into their processes can manage data at scale more quickly and accurately than a sole human workforce. Equally, AI and ML models with self-learning asset performance anomaly detection can deliver the predictive analytics
Movu receives “Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023” for revolutionary use of robotics in warehousing
Movu Robotics, one of the industry warehouse automation and robotics suppliers, proudly announces it was exclusively granted “The Best Use of Robotics” award at the “Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023”. The Awards, recognized as the gold standard for best practices in supply chain management, is bestowed upon organizations that exemplify excellence and innovation in the field. This year, with nearly 300 entries from over 150 unique companies, it had more entrants than ever before. This accolade, presented at the prestigious award ceremony held on November 9th in London, marks Movu’s outstanding contributions to supply chain innovation and excellence. Movu’s achievement underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of warehouse automation and robotics. A distinguished jury of internationally renowned experts from the logistics industry awarded Movu for its groundbreaking project for the customer Dematra, a pioneering logistics services company. This visionary project, a shining example of the pinnacle of automated technology in warehousing, showcases a commitment to redefining the future of warehousing and distribution. At the heart of the project stands the awe-inspiring 46-meter-tall stow Silo, a revolutionary fully automated high-bay warehouse. This technological marvel has the capacity to effortlessly house nearly 80,000 pallets and can handle an impressive 12,000 pallet movements within a 24-hour timeframe — an international premiere in warehouse automation. Key to the success of the project are the Movu atlas shuttles, self-powered 2D-pallet carriers ingeniously designed for optimal movement and organization of pallets. These shuttles work seamlessly with the specially designed stow shuttle-rack system and the local controlling system (STC). Jos De Vuyst, CEO of stow Group, expressed his pride in this achievement, stating, “We are truly honored to receive the Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023. Our collaboration with Dematra and the joint efforts of the stow and Movu teams have resulted in a highly successful project that not only demonstrates the future of warehousing but elevates it to unprecedented heights. The Dematra project exemplifies Movu’s vision to upgrade warehouses globally with easier automation, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of warehousing”. Movu remains at the forefront of innovation, committed to transforming the warehouse landscape with accessible and easier automation through which it sets new standards in automation and robotics.
Emerson’s new edge solution for faster digital transformation
DeltaV Edge Environment provides a sandbox to deploy and run applications with easy, secure, contextualized data access Global technology and software provider Emerson has launched the DeltaV™ Edge Environment, a first-of-its-kind integrated software solution that expands the capabilities of the evolving DeltaV automation platform to provide an operational technology (OT) sandbox for data manipulation, analysis, organization, and more. Teams can deploy and execute applications to run key artificial intelligence (AI) engines and analytics close to the data source with seamless, secure connectivity to contextualized OT data across the cloud and enterprise. The DeltaV Edge Environment empowers teams to deliver operational improvements tied to productivity, sustainability, and other business objectives. Valuable data in intelligent devices, machines, and systems helps enable enterprise-wide analytics, expands operational insight, and feeds the AI engines catalyzing innovation. However, OT data is often trapped beneath layers of systems and networks, adding complexity and removing meaningful context. The DeltaV Edge Environment expands the horizons of the distributed control system (DCS), creating a secure data superhighway where users can seamlessly socialize contextualized data directly with cloud and enterprise applications while also leveraging a built-in execution sandbox—a testing environment for critical innovation tasks such as generating dashboards, running applications and training AI tools. “Operations and IT increasingly rely on data from the control system to optimize production and increase intelligence for OT improvements, sustainability, and other digital transformation initiatives,” said Claudio Fayad, vice president of technology for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “The DeltaV Edge Environment is the first step in defining the control system of the future, extending the DeltaV DCS with the capability to move data and configuration easily and securely while simultaneously empowering users to drive innovation as they safely run applications and scripts inside the DCS.” The DeltaV Edge Environment helps production teams meet their need to more easily and securely engage with automation data and manipulate it into actionable information to steer digital transformation. A single, encrypted, outbound-only flow of data helps authorized users ensure they have constant access to near real-time data without the risk of users accessing the control system—a common risk with traditional custom-engineered solutions. Users can run applications for visualization, analytics, alarm management, digital twin simulations, and other needs with the contextualized data available on the DeltaV Edge Environment. OT teams will know the rich data they use is a precise replica, always up to date and fully reflective of the current operating condition. The DeltaV Edge Environment leverages open, common protocols such as OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) to provide contextualized data while standard application programming interfaces like representational state transfer architectural style (REST API) and scripting tools like Python provide the sandbox environment in which users can design and run applications.