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Industry 5.0: Hype or an Unprecedented Chance for Collaborative Robots, Asks IDTechEx
Following the release of the brand new IDTechEx report, “Collaborative Robots (Cobots) 2023-2043: Technologies, Players & Markets”, Yulin Wang (Technology Analyst at IDTechEx) explores Industry 5.0 and the impact on the collaborative robot market.
Collaborative robots, commonly known as cobots, have gained significant momentum over the past decade. Cobot refers to robots that work shoulder to shoulder with human operators without a physical fence or cage. Thanks to this feature, operators can enter the coworking space without shutting down the entire production line, minimizing the downtime costs. Whilst historically, cobots have not been as popular as industrial robots, in recent years, several drivers have been proposed to accelerate the adoption of cobots, including industry 5.0, smart factory proposals by large automotive manufacturers, and increasing demand for production reshoring.
As one of the pioneers of adopting automation in production, automotive manufacturing by far is the largest market for robots; however, one of the pain points of large automakers is that if one industrial robot malfunctions, the entire production line needs to be closed to ensure the safety of human operators during the inspection. This process could lead to a significant downtime cost. However, cobots can be ideal solutions as human operators can efficiently and safely work next to them without affecting other robots. Audi has announced its ‘smart factory 2025’, where one of the key points is to enhance the human-robot interaction (HRI), and many other global car makers such as Volkswagen and Nissan also have proposed similar plans. These plans are believed to drive a rapid increase in cobot sales in the automotive manufacturing industry.
The new IDTechEx report addresses the applications above with analysis including challenges, impacts of regional policies (Europe, Asia, USA), proposals from large automobile makers, market sizes, and volume sales of cobots in the automotive manufacturing industry. Source: IDTechEx – “Collaborative Robots (Cobots) 2023-2043: Technologies, Players & Markets”
Industry 4.0, as a hot topic, has been investigated for many years. However, industry 4.0 focuses on digitalization, which has proven to cause a number of social-economic issues such as concerns over replacing human operators and greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, the European Union (EU) proposed its Horizon 2020 and Industry 5.0 plan, where HRI and reducing carbon dioxide emissions are heavily discussed. Since many robot manufacturers and end-users are headquartered in Europe, IDTechEx believes this proposal will increase the demand for collaborative robots. In addition, many other countries have also introduced their plans, such as Made in China 2025, Strategy for Denmark’s Digital Growth, and A Roadmap: From Internet to Robotics, to promote the adoption of cobots.
Industry 5.0 focuses on three main areas: human-centric manufacturing, sustainability, and resilience of businesses. As the EU’s recent publication mentioned, Industry 5.0 aims to bring human operators back to production and improve manufacturing sustainability. It is widely believed that Industry 5.0 needs an increasing deployment of collaborative robots, but how exactly are they related, and what benefits would cobots bring to Industry 5.0? The chart below made by IDTechEx gives us explanations.
Source: IDTechEx – “Collaborative Robots (Cobots) 2023-2043: Technologies, Players & Markets”
Human-centric manufacturing puts a high requirement for safety in production because machines work closely with human operators. Torque sensors can be used for collision detection and force control. Human operators set the values of torque sensors in advance. When a collision occurs, the values detected by sensors will exceed the pre-set range, triggering the emergency stop function. Thanks to robustness and cheapness, torque sensors are collaborative robots' most widely used sensory systems. However, torque sensors can only detect the torque change once a collision has happened, meaning they cannot make predictions beforehand. Proximity sensors could be an ideal solution to this. The capacitance of the air gap between sensors and humans will change when the human operators are in proximity to the cobotic arm. However, proximity sensors are relatively expensive, and in order to enable the cobot to detect human operators from every direction, many proximity sensors are needed, which ultimately leads to a high cost and reduced affordability.
Sustainability refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the potential negative social impacts of Industry 4.0. For example, compared with industrial robots, collaborative robots operate at a lower speed and have a smaller footprint, leading to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Meanwhile, since cobots work closely with human operators, there will be fewer social-economic concerns over machines replacing humans.
Finally, in terms of resilience, due to the lingering impacts of COVID, such as supply chain disruption and inflation, large global corporates have started to diversify their suppliers. These impacts bring significant opportunities and challenges to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to increase their factory automation and meet the manufacturing capacity requirements of those large corporates. A few SMEs have started to install cobots in their production lines to increase their manufacturing capacity.
In summary, compared with Industry 4.0, there is no significant technology evolution in automation or manufacturing when transitioning to Industry 5.0. IDTechEx believes that Industry 5.0 would bring tremendous opportunities to collaborative robots. As the pioneer of Industry 5.0, Europe has seen a rapid increase in collaborative robot adoption, and IDTechEx believes that other major regional economies will also promote the adoption of cobots.
The brand new IDTechEx report, “Collaborative Robots (Cobots) 2023-2043: Technologies, Players & Markets”, provides a comprehensive analysis of significant applications by end industries (automotive manufacturing, food and beverage, electronics, and healthcare and hospitality), and tasks (picking and placing, palletizing, packaging, and others). The report covers critical technologies, market analysis, and 20-year granular market forecasts by region, end industry, and tasks. The report provides an understanding of the market dynamics, competitive landscape, market outlook, and promising applications. To find out more, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Cobots.
About IDTechEx
IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.
THE VISUALS OF THE 40th EDITION OF LE FIFA AWARDED IN THE COMMUNICATION ARTS MAGAZINE CONTEST
Montreal, August 31, 2022 - Le FIFA is proud to be among the winners of Communication Arts magazine's 63rd annual design competition in the Motion Graphics (Graphic Animation) category.
A reference publication for design and visual communication professionals, Communication Arts magazine, which received no less than 3,284 projects this year, has selected the visual campaign for the 40th edition of FIFA in the Motion Graphics (Graphic Animation) category for its annual 2022 competition. The visuals will be included in the September/October 2022 issue of the magazine.
This campaign was the result of a collaboration between Le FIFA's general and artistic director, Philippe U. del Drago, graphic designer Samuel Charpentier and 3D designer Alexis Quesnel.
VISUAL CAMPAIGN OF THE 40th EDITION
“We started with 3D models of sculptures, put online free of charge by major museums, and then broke them up, deconstructed them, and reassembled specific pieces,” explained del Drago. “The result was organic, shape-shifting objects that we dressed in bright, vibrant textures. These unique objects reflect the infinite creative possibilities that the web provides by pooling knowledge and sharing cultures. I like to think that these objects are like organs that coalesce different aspects of humanity, the elements of a new, reinvented body – a form of homage to our own bodies that have been through so much in the last two years.” - Philippe U. del Drago
As a reminder, the 41st edition of the Festival will be held in theatres and online from March 14 to 26, 2023, and the activities and meetings for professionals will be held mainly from March 15 to 17.
Heidelberg Laureate Forum – Inspiring the next generation of researchers in mathematics and computer science
This September 18–23, at the 9th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF), 200 young researchers in mathematics and computer science will spend a week of scientific exchange with the recipients of the disciplines’ most prestigious prizes: the Abel Prize, ACM A.M. Turing Award, ACM Prize in Computing, Fields Medal, the Nevanlinna Prize as well as its continuation, the IMU Abacus Medal. Below are a few highlights of the upcoming program of the HLF as well as a breakdown of how to cover this unique event.
More than 25 laureatesHaving over 25 groundbreaking and award-winning researchers in mathematics and computer science in one venue is not only a thrilling prospect for the next generation of scientists attending the 9th HLF, but for anyone who has an interest in these subjects and the pioneers they have produced. Livestream their lectures and panel discussions on the HLF homepage or catch them at your leisure on our YouTube channel, which is regularly updated.
200 of the brightest young minds in their fields The HLF provides 200 selected young mathematicians and computer scientists from all around the world the opportunity to engage and exchange ideas with a vast network of peers and laureates from diverse backgrounds, all brimming with enthusiasm. Find out what drives the young researchers, what motivated them to pursue a career in mathematics or computer science and what they see as the greatest challenges of today. Leading up to this year’s HLF, we will shine a light on a select few of these young researchers in our HLFF Spotlight series, which will feature weekly releases on our HLFF Blog as well as several podcast episodes. Be sure to also check out some of the fascinating Spotlight articles and episodes from past HLFs!
Hot Topic of the 9th HLFHeadlining the week will be the Hot Topic, which this year will center on a subject of great interdisciplinary and public interest: “Deep Learning – Applications and Implications.” A panel of laureates and various experts will discuss this revolutionary field at length, with much attention on the potential applications as well as some of the ethical implications and unanswered questions inherent to the technology. The week will also feature panels focusing on fascinating issues such as “Science Communication” and “Post-Quantum Cryptography.” A full overview of the scientific program can be found on the HLF’s website.
Interactive coverageBroad, up to date coverage will be made available on the HLFF Blog thanks to a team of bloggers that will focus on various program aspects. You can also follow live coverage via Twitter @HLForum or by following #HLF22. The 9th HLF will also be accompanied by regular episodes of the HLFF Vlog, published regularly on the HLF’s homepage and YouTube channel, featuring exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the program, laureates and attendees.
For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the 9th Heidelberg Laureate Forum, please contact: media@heidelberg-laureate-forum.org
Background The Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation (HLFF) annually organizes the Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF), which is a networking event for mathematicians and computer scientists from all over the world. The 9th Heidelberg Laureate Forum will take place from September 18 to 23, 2022. The HLFF was established and is funded by the German foundation Klaus Tschira Stiftung (KTS), which promotes natural sciences, mathematics and computer science. The scientific partners of the HLF are the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) and Heidelberg University. The HLF is strongly supported by the award-granting institutions the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (DNVA).
Press InquiriesNikolas A. Mariani Nicole Schmitt Communications Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 33, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany media@heidelberg-laureate-forum.org Telephone: +49 6221 533-384
Internet: https://www.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeidelbergLaureateForum/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HLForum
Instagram: https://instagram.com/HLForum YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/LaureateForum Science Blog: https://scilogs.spektrum.de/hlf/
2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards EARLY BIRD SPECIAL Call for Entries
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Projected Futures 5 is an intensive and experiential summer school that will challenge participants to rethink how science is communicated with society. Graduate students will be exposed to the foundations of evidence-based science journalism and then asked to experiment to create new forms of scientific storytelling.
The school issues a collaborative, experimental challenge to participants:
Show us and the world in two weeks!
One of a Kind Experience A first of its kind in the Department of Journalism, Projected Futures was designed with the World Federation of Science Journalists and the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada. Student work will be presented at a Science Journalism Summit on August 12.
AudienceLocal, national and international graduate students from any discipline with an interest in new forms of scientific storytelling and interdisciplinary experimentation. Those interested in communicating about health and medicine, in particular, should apply.
Academic LeaderDavid M. Secko, Ph.D. Chair of Journalism and Professor Concordia University
https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/journalism/programs/journalism-studies.html
The Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) is pleased to announce the list of finalists for the 2021 Book Awards.
For the general category:
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
Written by Suzanne Simard (Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada)
Science Goes Viral: Captivating Accounts of Science in Everyday
Written by Joe Schwartz (Publisher: ECW Press)
Beyond Banting: From Insulin to Islet Transplants, Decoding Canada’s Diabetes Research Superstars
Written by Krista Lamb (Publisher: Rock’s Mill Press)
For the children’s category:
Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer
Written by Donna Sandstrom, Illustrated by Sarah Burwash (Publisher: Kids Can Press)
Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats: Urban Ecology, Community Science, and How We Share Our Cities
Written by Cylita Guy, Illustrated by Cornelia Li (Publisher: Annick Press)
The Wolf Mother
Written by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson), Illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Publisher: Portage & Main Press)
Please stay tuned for an announcement about the winners in summer 2022, including SWCC’s newest award: The Paradigm Prize for underrepresented perspectives in science writing.
For more information, please contact:
Katelyn Brown, General Manageroffice@sciencewriters.caWebsite: https://sciencewriters.caFollow us on TwitterLike us on Facebook
The Science Writers & Communicators of Canada (SWCC) was founded in 1970 as the Canadian Science Writers’ Association by a small group of science and medical reporters who recognized their role in helping other Canadians better understand rapid changes occurring in our world. Today, we are a national association that welcomes media professionals, communications officers in science and technology-related institutions, technical writers, and educators – all of whom are involved in communicating science and technology to non-specialist audiences.
Banff Centre has just launched two upcoming Literary Arts programs; Computational Writing and Literary Journalism. Please find the program details below and should you have any questions or know anyone who may be interested, kindly get in touch.
Computational Writing 2022 | In Person
This self-directed residency will allow writers to explore working at the intersection of computing and literary art, not only by using pre-developed tools but also by directly undertaking programming. The residency will consider how computation can be means for reflecting on one’s own writing process as well as for processing anything from small, curated collections of words to large text corpora. This program provides thematic teaching from faculty members Lillian-Yvonne Bertram and Nick Montfort, along with Q&A sessions, public events, and one-on-one workshopping.
*Financial Aid of 100% is available to cover tuition, and 50% is available to offset food and accommodation costs.
Program Dates: April 25 – May 7, 2022 Application Deadline: February 9, 2022 Please visit the program page to learn more and apply.
Literary Journalism 2022 | In Person
This two-week residency encourages the exploration of new ideas in journalism and experimentation in writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of nonfiction and to assist the writers in their completion. Faculty members Charlotte Gill, Carol Shaben, and Michael Harris will discuss ideas, experiences, and obstacles that participants may be encountering with their literary journalism. Writers will have time to work on their manuscripts, receive individual consultations with faculty, and participate in group discussions.
*Successful applicants will receive 100% scholarship to cover tuition, on-site accommodation, and on-site meals.
Program Dates: July 4 - 16, 2022 Application Deadline: March 9, 2022 Please visit the program page to learn more and apply.
Our ultimate goal through the COVID-19 pandemic is to keep our community healthy and safe while we serve our artists, leaders, guests, and audience members. With this in mind, our programs are subject to change with the everchanging landscape that we currently face, and more details on our COVID-19 protocols can be found online here.
It's been my privilege to serve as president of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada for the past 21 months, a role I'll be relinquishing at the Annual General Meeting on October 5.
It's been an eventful 21 months, dominated by the pandemic, of course, but also overlapping with the SWCC's 50th anniversary celebrations.
As I prepare to step down, and knowing that Thanksgiving is just a few days away, I'd like to give thanks to everyone who has helped make my tenure as president a smooth one. (I won't mention names because I would inevitably omit someone.)
First, heartfelt thanks to the members of the Board for your hard work, dedication, and friendship.
Thanks to the committee chairs and committee members. Your work is often invisible, but it shouldn't be unacknowledged. Whether organizing the annual conference, rejuvenating the membership, running the book awards or handling digital media -- you provide the services that keep us relevant to our membership.
Thank you to past presidents and board members for your wisdom, historical knowledge and patience in answering sometimes silly questions.
Thanks to our bookkeeper, and to our former and current general managers, for keeping the SWCC running smoothly.
Thank you to our sponsors, who have faith in us and our goals.
And finally, thank you, our members, for your involvement and commitment.
Looking at the list of board members who are staying on, and the ones who will be presenting themselves for your ratification at Tuesday's meeting, I believe that we are well positioned to begin our next 50 years with a diverse combination of experience, enthusiasm and energy.
It’s been a privilege to have served you as president. Thank you for providing me with that opportunity.
Terry Lavender
I’m delighted to introduce Katelyn Brown as the new SWCC General Manager.
Katelyn joined us starting August 1, 2021 and will transition into the role as current General Manager Nikki Berreth prepares to return to school (and to work on her novel) in September.
We’ll miss Nikki, who has been a steady hand on the SWCC tiller since 2019 and wish her all the best in the future. Nikki: we hope you can come to the 2022 annual conference so we can say a proper goodbye and thank you!
Katelyn, who attended McMaster University, comes to the SWCC from the World Molecular Imaging Society, where she was previously the sales and society relations manager. I’ll let Katelyn describe herself:
My name is Katelyn Brown and I am delighted and grateful for the opportunity to join the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada team! I am excited to use my skills and experience to connect and foster growth in all areas of science throughout Canada and beyond by building a strong sense of community and value. I am hopeful to engage with current members and future prospects through traditional communications and social media.
I look forward to making this transition as seamless as possible for everyone, as well as developing strong relationships with everyone. If there is ever any pertinent information that I need to know, please always feel free to reach out. I am very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to meeting you all!
Katelyn and Nikki will be working together during the transition over the coming few weeks, before Katelyn takes over sole responsibility for the role on September 1. As usual, if you need to contact us, please use the office@sciencewriters.ca email address.
Terry Lavender President
The Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 SWCC Book Awards.
Wanted! Criminals of the Animal Kingdom
Relax, Dammit!: A User’s Guide to the Age of Anxiety
Uncertain Harvest: The Future of Food on a Warming Planet
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives
This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes: How Science is Tackling Unconscious Bias
Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You've Never Heard Of
SWCC would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Timothy Caulfield, Heather Tekavec, and Susan Batori. The two winning entries will each receive a $1,000 prize.
On behalf of the Book Awards Committee, we also want to acknowledge the volunteer judges for their time, effort, and thoughtful deliberations over the past five months.
We look forward to reviewing more outstanding examples of science writing when the competition reopens for submissions in September 2021.
TIMOTHY CAULFIELD is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and health policy issues has allowed him to publish over 350 academic articles. He has won numerous academic and writing awards and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Trudeau Foundation, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He contributes frequently for the popular press and is the author of two national bestsellers: The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness and Happiness, and Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash. Caulfield also has a strong social media presence and is the host and co-producer of the documentary TV series, A User's Guide to Cheating Death. (Source: Penguin Random House Canada, 2021)
HEATHER TEKAVEC discovered while working as a preschool teacher that children's books were a lot more fun than adult books. In addition to books, Heather enjoys writing short stories, articles and poems for children's magazines, such as CRICKET, Chirp, Highlights and Totline, and has delved a few times into writing scripts and directing live theater. Heather lives in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
SUSAN BATORI is a Hungarian illustrator, graphic designer, and character design addict. Watch out — no one, not even her boyfriend or cat, is safe from becoming a funny character in an illustration. If you aren’t careful, she just might use you as inspiration. (Source: Kids Can Press, 2021)
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