Do Opportunities Exist for AI and Machine Learning in Fluid Power?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become a part of conversations in almost all walks of life. Although not new, advancements in these technologies is enabling their use in a range of industries and applications as well as continued assessment of additional use cases.
But what about in the hydraulics and pneumatics sector? Is there a place for AI and ML in the fluid power industry?
The general consensus the Power & Motion team has heard to date is that, yes there are use cases for these technologies but they are not yet widely adopted by the industry as a whole. During a presentation at the National Fluid Power Association's (NFPA) 2024 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference, Mike Marks of Indian River Consulting Group said the results of a survey conducted of NFPA members indicated many are still taking a wait and see approach when it comes to AI.
From what Marks presented and others in the industry have noted, how best to apply AI and ML to fluid power systems and business practices remains the question at hand for many.
In a webinar with Power & Motion, Frank Latino, Global Product Manager, Electric Automation at Festo Americas, pointed to three benefits he sees to deploying AI in fluid power applications:
- improving maintenance processes,
- increasing product quality and
- lowering energy consumption.
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Using AI and ML in combination with other technologies offers opportunities to better monitor and assess performance metrics so anomolies can be detected faster and maintence practices improved. Integration of these technologies into various types of design software is becoming more common as well, helping to speed up design iterations and thus development of final products.
Given the potential opportunities offered by AI and ML, but slower adoption of it in the fluid power industry thus far, we are seeking input from those developing hydraulic and pneumatic systems on whether you are currently using artificial intelligence and machine learning in your designs or see opportunities to do so at some point in the future.
Take our quick 4-question survey below to provide us with your thoughts on the topic which will help us with future content on the subject of AI and ML.
And if you have even more information you'd like to share on the subject, you can reach out to me directly at [email protected].
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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