PodChats for FutureIoT: Industrial automation trends in Asia

The total commercial and industrial robot base is currently estimated to be 3.5 million units in 2022, according to the International Federation of Robotics. ABI Research expects this number to grow to more than 20 million by 2030. Perhaps the even more impressive news is the forecast by ABI Research that by 2024, the industrial manufacturing sector will have installed over 15 million AI-enabled devices.“Global robot installations grew tremendously throughout 2021 and have continued to do so in 2022, reaching record levels for industrial and collaborative robots,” explains ABI research director Lian Jye Su. He concedes that this recent boom is expected to fade a bit in 2023 due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and inflation.In this PodChats for FutureIoT, Su discusses the latest trends in industrial automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in Asia.1.       Describe the state of industrial automation in Asia in 2023?2.       How has robotics technology evolved in recent years? (types and applications)3.       Beyond Korea and Japan, how are other markets in Asia adopting/deploying robotics?4.       Most “hardware” robotics use cases are designed to perform a single specific task (for example moving goods or welding components). As AI and machine learning mature, do you ever see robotics taking on more sophisticated functions? 5.       Are cobots a sign of things to come?6.       In IT, we’ve seen the rise of “as-a-service”, what will robotics-as-a-service look like?7.       The terms industrial IoT, industry 4.0 and robotics – how are all these connected? 8.       Where are the hurdles in the evolution of robots or robotics in industrial applications?9.       What is your advice for organisations looking to integrate advances in robotics into operations further?