Chemical Engineering December 2020 - 11

Newsfront
AI and Position-Sensing
Drive Robotics Expansion
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and improved technologies for providing robots with
positional awareness have driven an expansion of robotics use in a variety of application areas
across the chemical process industries (CPI)
R
obots have been fixtures
on discrete-product manufacturing
assembly lines for
some time, but they have
not seen the same level of penetration
into chemical manufacturing. In part,
this is because the nature of chemical
manufacturing and the complexity
and diversity of chemical processes
have not lent themselves to the incorporation
of robots to the same
degree as discrete
manufacturing.
Now, however, recent developments
in a range of different fields, such as
artificial intelligence (AI), image analysis
and others, have expanded the
possible applications for which robots
can be deployed. Several new robotics
applications can have a significant
impact on operations in the CPI.
Many of the emerging applications
for robots at chemical process facilities
involve functions known to be dangerous,
difficult or time-consuming for
humans to carry out. These include
using robots for asset inspections,
warehousing, plant security, chemical
and materials R&D, picking and sorting
operations, among others.
The expansion of robotics at CPI
sites is part of a broader trend in automation,
and is tied closely to the
so-called digital transformation that
seeks to incorporate digital tools to
improve plant operations. In general,
digitalization technologies are being
inegrated with automation and robotics
tools with the goal of increasing
plant safety, reliability and profitability.
Technology convergence
While effective at repetitive movements,
industrial robots have historically
been limited in those applications
that require data
collection from the surroundings,
autonomous
movement and decisionmaking
in direct collaboration
with humans.
Xiao Zhong, a reIBM
search
analyst with Lux
Research Inc. (Boston,
Mass.; www.luxresearchinc.com),
explains,
" Robotics in the CPI has
been driven by advancements
in the ability of
robots to better sense
and respond to their environment
and their position relative
to other objects and humans. " In addition
to improved machine-learning
algorithms, these advancements include
better camera systems, image
analysis capabilities, light detection
and ranging (LiDAR), sensors, grippers
for delicate objects and others,
adds Josh Kern, another Lux analyst.
And the improved technologies,
along with growing AI know-how and
improved automation tools, are coming
together to increase the scope
and impact of robots in the CPI.
" Integration is fundamental to maximizing
outcomes when deploying
robotics, " says Sergio Fernandes,
chemical market leader at Yokogawa
Corp. of America (Sugar Land, Tex.;
www.yokogawa.com). " The data
captured by robots become an additional
and integral piece of the 'data
lake.' Not only are we talking about
process variables (temperature,
pressure, flow, pH, composition),
but also about non-numeric data,
like images and speech. The expectation
now is for AI algorithms to
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM DECEMBER 2020
FIGURE 1. Combining artificial intelligence and robotics, IBM developed
a system to accelerate the discovery of new materials
digest photos and dialogue, and to
infer from their pattern what may turn
into personnel safety concerns, environmental
compliance risk, physical
asset integrity and health, and, ultimately,
operational profit sustainability, "
explains Fernandes.
Yokogawa's approach to creating
a platform for integrating robotics
and digitalization tools with domain
expertise in the CPI depends on all
of these. " Advancements in sensing
and micro-electromechanical technologies
make robots more functional,
less expensive, smaller and
lighter. Autonomous vehicle research
and development has lowered costs
of high-priced technology testbeds.
The convergence of all these technologies
turned robotics into one of
the main beneficiaries, " says Yokogawa's
Fernandes.
Meanwhile, ongoing workforce
challenges in the CPI and the current
pandemic situation has further amplified
the opportunities to explore
robotics in various applications. " CPI
companies are looking for ways to
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Chemical Engineering December 2020

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