Industry 5.0, Robots and 6G to Shape Automotive Sector

The automotive sector is advancing toward the Industry 5.0 transformation. While Industry 4.0 was driven by the integration of technology in the production environment, Industry 5.0 aims to merge the expertise of humans with the capabilities of intelligent machines. This transformation will impact the automotive industry by improving manufacturing processes and empowering workers, say industry experts.

“It is a return to what, at least in many respects, resembles a pre-industrial form of goods production, but one that is enabled by the most advanced industrial automation technologies out there, starting with collaborative robots,” said Esben Østergaard, Founder and CTO, Universal Robots.

Collaborative robots (cobots) are not designed to replace humans but to safely enhance their abilities, explained Østergaard. Alongside human workers, cobots allow companies to optimize operations without affecting production. With the support of cobots, workers can avoid doing dangerous and tedious tasks. While robots have been in Mexico for a long time, cobots are relatively new and it is expected that in the next three to five years the cobot market in Mexico will grow by over 50 percent.

“Industry 5.0 puts people at the center of production, shying away from mass production to focus on customization. In this age of technological advances, machines and humans work together to improve manufacturing processes,” said Abraham Sosa, Key Account Sales Manager, Universal Robots Latam, to MBN.

The customization promoted by Industry 5.0 will be supported by the use of digital twins (DT). The DT is a compilation of the physical and digital models of an object that does not exist, according to Renault. In Industry 5.0, DT will add value in the development of customized products, allowing companies to overcome issues by identifying them faster. In the automotive sector, the DT can entail the entire car including software, mechanics, electrics and physical behavior, as reported by Siemens. The value of the digital twin market  is expected to grow from US$6.9 billion in 2022 to US$73.5 billion by 2027, as reported by MarketsandMarkets.

“Digital twins contribute to the transformation of companies by accelerating the holistic understanding of their processes and optimal decision-making, as well as carrying out more effective actions,” said Alejandro Preinfalk, President & CEO Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Siemens AG to MBN.

For Industry 5.0 to unseat Industry 4.0, the use of the sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication is also essential. This network will support high-quality services, extensive IoT infrastructure, AI capabilities and other requirements that this transformation will demand. Technological players have identified and are planning to capitalize on this opportunity. Qualcomm, for example, recently told MBN that it is working on the generation of this technology. 

Mexico Automotive Summit 2022 ECHO, hosted by Mexico Business on Sep. 28-30, 2022, will feature industry leaders to discuss this and other trends that are impacting one of the most important sectors for the country’s economy. Do not miss the opportunity to get the insights of the Mexican automotive industry directly from the leaders who are transforming the sector.

Tickets for the summit are available here. Join the future of B2B conferences now!