Automate 2024 Preview: Robotics, Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Motion Control

April 2, 2024

The organizers of Automate 2024 expect this year’s conference and trade show to be the largest yet.

Hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the robotics and automation event showcases the latest solutions in robotics, vision, artificial intelligence, motion control and related automation technologies.

More than 30,000 registrants, 200 speakers and more than 800 exhibitors the trade show and conference will this year take place at McCormick Place, in Chicago (May 6-9, 2024).

Learn About the Current State of Robotics Markets

No analyst can foretell the exact extent to which record attendance—or for that matter, the pace of automation—will impact manufacturing decision-making. But the event provides a hub where attendees can assess how market forces meet innovative automation and robotics that are seeping into the broader production processes.

Data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) paint a seemingly ominous picture on the current state of robotics in the United States.

After record orders in both 2021 and 2022, robot sales in North American declined by 30% in 2023, reported A3. Companies purchased 31,159 robots in 2023, compared to 44,196 ordered in 2022 and 39,708 in 2021. These orders represent automotive (15,723 robots sold) and non-automotive companies (15,436 robots sold).

A3 stated in a press release that these figures represent a 34% drop in sales to automotive OEMs and automotive suppliers over 2022 and a 25% total decrease in all other industries.

What’s Behind the Numbers?

In the accompanying video, A3 President Jeff Burnstein contextualizes the robotics outlook over the past year, and also shares his expectations for this year’s Automate event.

Burnstein elaborated on the implications of the following topline trends for the U.S. markets:

Technology and AI: AI takes on Manufacturing’s “Unsolvable” Challenges
Industry Growth and Business Impact: Robotics and Automation Accelerating Adoption and ROI
R&D and Innovation: Mobile Robots and Collaborative Robots are Driving Industrial Innovation
The Speed of Change: The Factory of the Future is No Longer in the Future

What’s New at Automate 2024

Automate is North America’s answer to the International Symposium on Robotics (ISR), where attendees connect with a cross section of the industry from manufacturing to logistics, to healthcare and consumer electronics.

Burnstein told Machine Design that, among the highlights, attendees can look forward to a panel discussion on current advancements in humanoid robotics and leadership panels with industry executives on latest trends.

New this year, an Automate Startup Challenge will feature 10 startup companies pitching their solutions to a panel of judges and competing for a $10,000 prize.

A women’s empowerment forum is also new this year. In spite of all the great jobs available, said Burnstein, the industry has delayed tapping into the market’s full potential.

“We need as many smart minds as we can get involved,” said Burnstein.

Click here to learn more about Automate 2024.

About the Author

Rehana Begg | Editor-in-Chief, Machine Design

As Machine Design’s content lead, Rehana Begg is tasked with elevating the voice of the design and multi-disciplinary engineer in the face of digital transformation and engineering innovation. Begg has more than 24 years of editorial experience and has spent the past decade in the trenches of industrial manufacturing, focusing on new technologies, manufacturing innovation and business. Her B2B career has taken her from corporate boardrooms to plant floors and underground mining stopes, covering everything from automation & IIoT, robotics, mechanical design and additive manufacturing to plant operations, maintenance, reliability and continuous improvement. Begg holds an MBA, a Master of Journalism degree, and a BA (Hons.) in Political Science. She is committed to lifelong learning and feeds her passion for innovation in publishing, transparent science and clear communication by attending relevant conferences and seminars/workshops.

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