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AI plus automation- a combination that is revolutionising industry
It's quickly becoming a part of our lives: AI. But in some areas it is more revolutionary than others. - In automation, the difference has become enormous, says Micael Amandusson at KUKA Nordic. In a collaboration with Microsoft, the company has seen somewhat astonishing results.
3 April 2025
Collaboration that makes a difference
Even for a seasoned automation expert like Micael Amandusson, the rapid development is overwhelming. - ‘What we're seeing now are things that I would never have thought possible a year ago, or even six months ago. Fantastic, you could say. KUKA, one of the leading robot manufacturers and a company that has been involved all the way with the automotive industry's transition to electrification, has been selected to participate in a collaboration focused on AI together with Microsoft. The company has put this into practice in some concrete contexts. Among other things, when it comes to their expert database.
Connected with CoPilot
It contains a lot of examples of questions and dilemmas that customers have encountered. The database thus contains countless solutions, but is large and somewhat difficult to understand. It requires both routine and a certain amount of patience to manage it. Or perhaps you could say it took patience. Because since it was paired with CoPilot, everything is different. - Now you can go in and write in your own words what the problem looks like, and you can be specific. He gives an example. - Let's say you want to weld two millimetre thick steel sheets with a 600 millimetre long welding joint... Micael Amandusson types into the prompter. In less time than it takes him to type, everything is ready. In a matter of seconds, the programme delivers initiated suggestions for robots, software and more, plus a ten-point list of suggestions on how the questioner can move forward and learn more.
Even faster simulations
KUKA has also linked AI to its simulation software, KUKA.Sim - a programme that is very capable in itself. For some years now, it has been possible to simulate entire automation lines, with different types of robots, self-driving platforms, conveyor belts and the like. KUKA.Sim allows an integrator to build up all the functionality in just one day. Everything is done on a regular laptop, which can then be taken to the customer and even create a FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) completely - virtually.
KUKA.Sim - With KUKA.Sim you can evaluate and optimise your automation solutions even before you build them - quickly and easily.
Optimising energy consumption
In KUKA.Sim, it is also possible to obtain detailed data on how much power the production cell's constituent parts will draw, and then optimise energy consumption. All before a single robot is ordered. Now, with AI applied to the programme, everything is lightning fast.
- Just type into the prompt what you want. A robotic cell that welds exhaust pipes with certain specific dimensions that you upload as a CAD file, or an intricate palletising line with several different tasks. Just type in exactly what you need,’ he says. ‘In no time, the operator gets moving graphics of what the cell will look like, what robots and other equipment are needed, and more. - You also get a completely usable programme code, which you can use immediately,’ says Micael Amandusson.
Create a dialogue with the application
How reliable is it? Micael Amandusson says that the delivery is very good, although he thinks there could be a need for quality control for the queries made to their customer database. - ‘But when it comes to the robot code that KUKA.Sim produces, I've tried it many times, and it always comes out right. He says that the AI services work best for those who create a dialogue with the program. - Ask your question, reason and converse... ask follow-up questions. Micael Amandusson believes that with the breakthrough of generative AI, the world has entered a new industrial order, comparable to the greatest technological leaps in history. - This changes everything. But, he says, the question is how ready customers are for this brave new world. In the not too distant future, however, he will find out.
Micael Amandusson, channel manager, KUKA Nordic
- This changes everything. But, he says, the question is how ready customers are for this brave new world.
In the not too distant future, however, he will find out. - ‘We'll be launching these features this summer,’ says Amandusson.
Surprised. - I never thought we would get this kind of solution so quickly, says Micael Amandusson, channel manager at KUKA Nordic about the results of KUKA's AI collaboration with Microsoft.
