Industrial automation and robotics
Introduction to automation
Prof. Paolo Rocco (paolo.rocco@polimi.it)
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria
What is automation?
It is the science and the technology whose aim is to design automatic control
systems, i.e.:
endowed with increasing autonomy
able to perform tasks which are ACTUATORS
difficult or impossible for humans
PLANTS &
SYSTEMS
CONTROLLERS
SENSORS
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
What is automation?
Every time we have a machine or a device performing a task that can be
otherwise made by a human we are making automation:
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
What is automation?
Well, automation systems can also co-exist with humans:
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
What is automation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f-uChX5CVc
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
What is automation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJLMW6l303g
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation is pervasive
Automation in industry Automation in vehicles
Automation in utilities and networks
Home automation
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation in industry
Rigid automation
Pneumatic/electrical
The sequence of operations is fixed
actuation
Production process composed of a sequence of
simple operations
Large production with very small variations
Programmable automation
The sequence of operations can be changed PLC
Medium-low production batches
Between batches the production plant has to be reconfigured
Flexible automation
Production can be varied without idle times for conversion Robot
Machine characterized by high flexibility and configurability
(FMS: Flexible Manufacturing Systems)
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation in industry: elements and networks
Source: A. De Luca
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation, a risk or an opportunity?
Fonte: The European House - Ambrosetti
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation, a risk or an opportunity?
Fonte: The European House - Ambrosetti
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
A recent comprehensive study on automation
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation and productivity growth
Automation of activities can enable businesses to improve
performance, by reducing errors and improving quality and
speed, in some cases beyond human capabilities.
Automation also contributes to productivity, as it has done
historically.
This would give a needed boost to economic growth and
prosperity and help offset the impact of a declining share of the
working-age population in many countries.
It is estimated that automation could raise productivity growth
globally by 0.8 to 1.4 percent annually.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Potential of automation of the activities
Almost half the activities people are paid almost $16 trillion in
wages to do in the global economy have the potential to be
automated by adapting currently demonstrated technology.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Potential of automation of the activities
While less than 5
percent of all
occupations can be
automated entirely
using demonstrated
technologies, about 60
percent of all
occupations have at
least 30 percent of
constituent activities
that could be
automated.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Activities most susceptible to automation
Activities most susceptible to automation involve physical
activities in highly structured and predictable environments, as
well as the collection and processing of data.
In the United States, these activities make up 51 percent of
activities in the economy accounting for almost $2.7 trillion in
wages.
They are most prevalent in manufacturing, accommodation and
food service, and retail trade, and include some middle-skill jobs.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Activities most susceptible to automation
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
“Risk of automation” in the different countries
Source: OECD
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Factors influencing the growth of automation
Technical, economic, and social factors will determine the pace and
extent of automation. Continued technical progress, for example in
areas such as natural language processing, is a key factor.
Beyond technical feasibility, the cost of technology, competition with
labor including skills and supply and demand dynamics, performance
benefits including and beyond labor cost savings, and social and
regulatory acceptance will affect the pace and scope of automation.
Half of today’s work activities could be automated by 2055, but this
could happen up to 20 years earlier or later depending on the various
factors
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation and workforce
People will need to continue working alongside machines to produce the
growth in per capita GDP to which countries around the world aspire.
People displaced by automation will find other employment.
The anticipated shift in the activities in the labor force is of a similar order of
magnitude as the long-term shift away from agriculture and decreases in
manufacturing share of employment in the United States, both of which were
accompanied by the creation of new types of work not foreseen at the time.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Automation and policy-makers
Policy-makers should embrace the opportunity for their economies to benefit
from the productivity growth potential and put in place policies to encourage
investment and market incentives to encourage continued progress and
innovation.
They must evolve and innovate policies that help workers and institutions
adapt to the impact on employment: rethinking education and training,
income support and safety nets, transition support for those dislocated.
Individuals in the workplace will need to engage with machines as part of their
everyday activities, and acquire new skills
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
Exercise
Consider a few production processes in a company you know:
Are they, at least partially, automatable?
What are the skills required to the human workers?
Do you think that they can be transferred to a machine?
Source: Paperblog
Industrial automation and robotics – Introduction to automation – Paolo Rocco
