The robots are coming
In this issue of Motion Control we have a fun story on Cassie the robot that broke the world record for the fastest 100 metres by a bipedal robot. Cassie was trained using machine learning, but the world has since launched into a new era of AI. Now a team of programmers at Boston Dynamics has fitted its robot dog, Spot with ChatGPT and text-to-speech modulation. I was watching a viral video showing it answering enquiries about its automated tasks in real time after capturing vast amounts of data. The researchers ask a question using the context of the mission. ChatGPT interprets the question, summarises all the files, and formulates the answer. The voice-enabled interface allows it to respond verbally, and even follow instructions. A quick search will get you to the video.
The world is about to change
When Bill Gates says something, everyone listens. In his book The Road Ahead, he says: “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten.” I was looking at his most recent Gates Notes blog − ‘The age of AI has begun’ − where he writes that even bigger changes are coming. He says he’s seen only two revolutionary technological advances in his lifetime. The first was the graphical user interface in 1981. Remember when you had to type in a command at the C prompt C:> to do anything on your computer. Forty-two years later he has the same feeling that the whole world is about to change. He reckons the development of AI is as fundamental as the impact of the microprocessor, personal computer, internet, and mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it and businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.
But amongst all the hype there are grave concerns that this generative AI is spiralling out of control. The European Union is already preparing legislation on AI that will require companies like OpenAI to disclose copyrighted material like the books, photographs and videos they use to train their systems. Personally I think that’s a good thing,
World class expos
It’s so good to see everyone out and about at the expos again. The Africa Automation Technology Fair has just been held again after a four-year break, and was a huge success, with lots of examples of the latest innovations in automation technology. Hanover Messe 23 is another one pushing the boundaries after a layoff. Still on expos, in our last issue we had a story on the then-upcoming prestigious International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE). I have been following its progress and by all accounts it was a blockbuster, with huge strides having been made in the last three years.
The fluid power industry is not typically thought of as being innovative, but nothing could be further from the truth, and electrification and automation are making their mark. The combination of electronic control with the power, density, and the heavy lifting capabilities of fluid power make it unique. The top trends covered at IFPE were digitalisation, connectivity and energy efficiency in fluid power systems. Electrification is at a turning point and was the most evident trend, with many new electric powertrain solutions on display. OEMs and component suppliers have made huge progress in the three years since the expo was last held. Today machines are smarter, more efficient and provide better control in the drive to reduce fuel use and emissions.
Sensors for safety and proactive maintenance
Sensors for IIoT were also at the forefront. There is a growing integration of sensors and other digital technologies for system monitoring and maintenance. Being able to access information remotely is giving the industry the ability to understand on a nanosecond level what’s going on inside the fluid power system. This is being applied especially to oil condition monitoring to help with proactive maintenance. Another area where huge strides have been made is in the control of the actuation of fluid powered devices to protect the safety of the operators. The environment is much safer as a result of these advanced technologies.
For me a key takeaway of IFPE is that the fluid power industry is in a period of innovation which will bring about fundamental changes in the performance, maintenance and capabilities of hydraulic and pneumatic systems – exciting times are ahead. I hope that Motion Control will keep you informed.
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