The free webinar, Advances in Automation Technology will be presented on Thursday, October 17 at 2:00 pm Eastern. This one-hour program will look at a wide range of emerging technology, including the advances that bring motion control into the world of configuration, leaving behind costly programming. Panelists will look at machine design and machine retrofit, the digitalization of information, and the ways generative AI can ease the adoption of emerging technology.

The presenters include Eric Rice, product market manager at Festo Corporation and Jan Hennecke, product manager for Low-Cost Automation at igus, Inc. The webinar is sponsored by Festo, igus, and Mouser Electronics.

Looking at new forms of data

The webinar will cover new forms of data that include intelligent recommendations for completing bills of materials, structured configuration data for easy commissioning of motion control systems, and intelligent spare parts lists that ease maintenance efforts. “I see digital sizing and selection tools that have developed rapidly in recent years as critical tech in automation,” Eric Rice told Design News. “These tools allow machine builders to design their machines with greater precision and complexity.”

The newer industrial automation technology includes data analytics that turn IoT readings into action that can optimize production. Panelists will look at the use of cobots, AVGs, AMRs, and other automation tools and strategies to overcome the issue of worker shortages.

Related:Advanced Automation Gets Smart

AI is being used to identify opportunities that can reduce downtime and increase throughput. “You can use advanced automation to procure components faster and more efficiently, to commission complex systems with fewer errors and less troubleshooting. These tools also help users operate their machines more effectively and with better access to factory support and spare parts, ” said Rice. “As the pace of automation increases, machine builders need tools that enable them to keep up through working smarter, faster and more efficiently.”

Register here. The webinar will also be available on demand for those unable to attend in person.