Will Kinghorn, technology adoption specialist at Made Smarter, spoke to Robotics & Automation Magazine about what he thinks it takes to win an illustrious Robotics & Automation Award.
Why did you choose to be a judge at Robotics & Automation Awards 2024?
I wanted to be involved in the Awards because they spotlight the latest developments in robotics and automation in a wide variety of industries. Being a judge allows me to see how different technologies are being applied in new ways to provide innovative solutions to problems, while also celebrating the achievements with the individuals in the teams.
How has your background in robotics and automation informed your judging criteria for the Awards?
I spent the first part of my career working in the aerospace industry developing and implementing new manufacturing technologies. Many of these projects related to automation or robotics, working with complex products which are safety critical and produced to very tight tolerances. Now I work with small and medium sized manufacturers helping them to adopt technologies such as robotics, additive manufacture, industrial internet of things, and software solutions.
Because of this, when I’m judging I look for practical applications which demonstrate benefits in the real world, have clear business cases, and show how companies have worked together to achieve these benefits.
READ MORE: Special guest host of Robotics & Automation Awards 2024 revealed!
What does robotic and automation innovation mean to you?
To me, innovation in robotics and automation means the development of a new solution to a real world problem, one that enables people to produce things faster, safer, more sustainably or at a lower cost. It needs to be pushing the boundaries of what is thought possible or combining different technologies in a new way, all while having a practical end goal in mind.
Importantly innovation is as much about the people as it is about technology, it’s key to remember and recognise the people involved in every aspect – be that the effort that goes into the development of the solution through to the end users who will interact and benefit from it.
What recent trends in robotics and automation have you found most exciting or impactful across different industries?
Many smaller companies are at the start of their automation journey, and it’s always exciting to see the first machine or robot go into a company. When employees have been involved from the start, they embrace it and make the most of it, continually looking to improve and develop how they work.
On the other hand, it’s fascinating to see the developments outside of manufacturing, like at Boston Dynamics or Disney’s research into robotics, because they’re addressing different problems but they help to progress our understanding of things like motion control and interaction with people. These can feed into new solutions in manufacturing and other sectors, generating tools which wouldn’t have existed otherwise.
How do you see robotics and automation transforming various industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture?
In many industries robotics and automation are going to be key to addressing issues facing companies such as staff shortages, material costs and availability, energy costs, and sustainability or decarbonisation. Implementing automation allows employees to focus on the more interesting tasks where they can add value, while the machine supports them, helping them to be more productive and improving their job satisfaction.
Being part of these awards has shown me that the development of new technologies continues to move at a rapid pace, and we’ll see more and more innovative use of automation across all industries.
In your opinion, how will the role of judges in awards like this evolve as the fields of robotics and automation continue to advance?
As the fields of robotics and automation continue to advance, judges will need to keep up to date with developments, allowing them to make informed decisions. It’s also likely that the solutions that are developed will interact with many more people, not just employees of the company, so how the safety and interactions with people are approached will become more and more important, broadening the number of aspects that the judges need to consider.
Innovations and achievements in robotics across many sectors will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual Robotics & Automation Awards on 06 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable industry event – and to book your table!
