summary
Two conference presentations, one on AI real-time data and another on Industry 4.0 trends, reflected the importance of workforce development as reshoring accelerates in North America .
Festo Didactic, the learning arm of automation supplier Festo, exhibited for the first time at the Festo booth at Automate 2023 to highlight the importance of workforce development as reshoring in North America accelerates. The company also hosted two conference presentations. One was about artificial intelligence (AI) real-time data and the other was about Industry 4.0 trends.
Festo LX, the Festo Learning Experience, is the company’s new online learning portal. Festo LX focuses on the growing need for more individualized learning by providing modular resources for technical training. These resources can be individually incorporated into a course or an entire learning path. Existing courses can be modified as needed to meet employer and school requirements, and new text, image, or video content can be easily added. This course definitely motivates students to learn by using different instructional formats such as videos, animations and simulations.
“Workforce professionals and educators need to understand key challenges and align their career paths to succeed,” said Ted Rozier, director of digital, advanced technology and robotics at Festo Didactic. says. In a presentation on how organizations can use real-time data from robotics and automated manufacturing components to drive AI-based solutions, Rozier discussed the types of data that need to be collected, how frontline workers should be in the AI environment. The skill sets for success in , and the technical competencies that educational institutions should incorporate into their curricula today.
“Manufacturers are now using automation and data exchange between robots and machines to maximize uptime, shorten lead times and reduce scrap,” Rozier said. “Students and educators need to understand the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the emergence of applied AI to help manufacturers succeed,” said Rozier.
The Festo booth showcased Festo Didactic’s Robotic Manufacturing Production System (MPS) training station. This training station is used to teach students about robotic material handling, machine vision and safety. With automation components from Festo and a vision system from SICK, its 360-degree safety awareness package consists of two of his area scanners integrated via a safety PLC. The MPS Robot Station is a comprehensive curriculum and hardware package that integrates into any robotic platform to teach the fundamentals of robotic safety and risk reduction.
In addition to the learning system, Festo will showcase UR+ certified multi-axis solutions for Universal Robots. Beyond his 6 axes of UR cobots, up to 4 additional axes of motion are added.
About the author
Lenny Bassett is Editor-in-Chief Intec Contributing editor for magazines and Automation.com, and ISA publications. Bassett is an experienced writer, editor, and consultant on industrial automation, engineering, information technology, and infrastructure topics. She holds a BA in Journalism and English from Indiana University Bloomington and is based in Nashville.
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