How great would it be if you could bring your dog to work? Job satisfaction ratings would be sure to go through the roof if workers were able to balance the pain of Excel spreadsheets with a wag of the tail from man’s best friend.
Never-ending staff meeting coming up? No problem! How bad could it be with a handful of furry pals in the room? Of course, not every work environment would be conducive to pets tagging along. For example, you wouldn’t want your favorite Aussie or Labrador running around the manufacturing floor. Or would you?
In a recent Tech Times article by Isaiah Richard, the author explains how Spot, a robot dog created by Boston Dynamics, is helping French tire company Michelin improve operations in its South Carolina manufacturing plant.
So exactly what does Spot do at the Michelin plant? According to Richard, Spot is “well-versed in going around Michelin’s facility and helping the company with various tasks…Spot’s latest responsibility…is to scan different equipment or machines that are running to create its products, and it is capable of surveying over 350 locations in the facility.”
The author notes that “Spot was also given the software called Orbit which would help it process the data it gathered before sending it over to human operators for further analysis. Michelin’s plant managers said that Spot significantly helps in these routine checks and allows humans to save time and jump right into planning on the fix or scheduling repairs instead of individually checking up on its machines.”
While Spot strolls through the factory using its advanced mapping capabilities, its thermal camera “can detect overheating machines or faulty equipment which humans may sometimes overlook or fail to properly determine.” Another manufacturer, Hyundai, has also used Spot “to help its inspection of industrial areas remotely,” lightening the load on human workers and keeping them safer.
What does the inclusion of robot dogs in manufacturing facilities mean for modern industry? While it’s unlikely that robot dogs will take the place of human workers any time soon, future workers could indeed need new skills to enable them to work effectively alongside these new advanced automation technologies.
Companies will likely need to hire new skilled workers or upskill current workers to make the most of increasing automation technologies. How can you be sure a worker has the advanced automation skills needed to excel in the workplace of the future? Many companies look for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the hands-on skills employers need.
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.
For example, SACA’s Certified Industry 4.0 Robotics Specialist certification confirms that certified individuals can succeed as a robotics technician in modern production environments that use Industry 4.0 technologies. This certification verifies that individuals can install, program, test, interface, and maintain industrial robot systems and workcells. SACA offers a wide variety of other industry-standard certifications focused on advanced automation technologies and related skills. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
