Bipedal robots step into the scene

Bipedal robots step into the scene

Jul 10, 2025 | bipedal, bipedal vs humanoid, Humanoids, Industry 4.0, Industry News, robots that walk, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

There’s been a lot of buzz over bipedal robots in recent years.

Companies like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Unitree and others have developed powerful algorithms and leading edge hardware to make what was once science fiction a reality. There are now an increasing number of walking (and sometimes talking) upright robots that get around on two legs. These tend to be humanoids, but they are bipedal.

There’s a certain cool factor to seeing robots that walk like people. But the push for bipedal robots is also driven by infrastructure: Factories and other settings where such devices might be deployed have been built for people. So robots that can walk and are roughly human size can work in such spaces without infrastructure changes.

“With the automobile, we had to build roads,” said Jonathan Hurst, Chief Technology Officer of Agility Robotics, in an explanatory video. “With legged robots we’ve already built the infrastructure. Legged robots are going to change the world as much as the automobile did.”

As the saying goes, time will tell. But before we proceed, it’s worth mentioning that bipedal doesn’t necessarily mean humanoid.

“A humanoid typically mimics the human form – so it has a head, torso, arms and legs,” explains Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales.

“Bipedal simply means it walks on two legs, but it doesn’t need to look human. So while most humanoids are bipedal, not all bipedal robots are humanoids.”

Below: Agility’s Cassie – a bipedal, non-humanoid robot. Immense R&D went into developing this machine, with many of the lessons learned applied to its current Digit humanoid

THE BIPEDAL-HUMANOID CONNECTION

 

As the video illustrated, bipedal robots aren’t necessarily humanoid (though they can be). But since the non-humanoid versions don’t have arms or manipulators, what are the use-cases?

First off, they’re critical tools in the R&D space. Before any company attempts a full-blown humanoid, it needs to perfect locomotion, balance and gait. That, of course, requires intensive hardware and software development. Many in the research space don’t have the time or resources to build from scratch. By starting with an existing bipedal robot they can rapidly start working on improving algorithms, adding autonomy stacks, machine vision, etc.

“Achieving stable and efficient bipedal locomotion is really the first critical milestone – so it involves doing things like balancing the gait, being very energy efficient and knowing how to recover from various disturbances,” says Corbeth. “But once that’s dialed in, you can build advanced capabilities on top of it, things like manipulation or autonomous navigation. So starting with a bipedal platform can help clients achieve their ultimate goals much sooner”

Not surprisingly, clients for bipedal, non-humanoid platforms are often in the R&D space.

“For anyone specifically researching bipedal locomotion, these devices make sense,” he adds. “It allows them to really focus on research and control, computer vision and AI applications. It’s an accessible platform for labs to really accelerate their work on humanoids.”

In other words, perfecting a bipedal platform is critical in the development of full humanoid robots.

 

RISE OF THE HUMANOIDS

 

We recently took a dive into humanoids here.

To recap briefly, humanoids are on the rise because their form factor allows them to integrate with existing infrastructure. With arms and manipulators/end effectors, they can carry out many of the tasks that humans perform. Bipedal design means they can climb stairs or navigate other obstacles. Even humanoids with wheels or tracks can now carry out these manoeuvres.

“Humanoid robots have become one of the most frontier topics in the field of robot research [1],” states this research paper. “Owing to the human-like structures and strong environmental adaptability [2], biped robots can directly operate the tools and vehicles used by humans, showing wide application prospects in fields such as home service, industrial manufacturing and environmental detection [3]…Ongoing research…shows great potential in human–robot collaboration and autonomous operation [6].”

Many of the tasks bipedal robots will eventually carry out aren’t even fully known yet, as these new commercial products are very much – despite some really impressive machines – in the early stages of adoption and deployment. It’s a safe bet that every company currently selling bipedal or humanoid robots is hard at work in the lab on the next generation. There’s a lot of development in the pipeline.

“Better battery life is kind of on everyone’s wishlist – the runtime of a humanoid or bipedal robot simply isn’t as long as some of the traditional wheeled or track systems. There are also other things like faster and safer locomotion and, of course, dexterous hands,” says Corbeth.

We hit up AI for some thoughts on where these machines are going. It concurs that the full benefits of bipedal robots have yet to be realised.

“While bipedal robots offer unique advantages, it’s worth noting that they are still under development, and their efficiency and practicality in certain applications are still being evaluated. For example, wheeled robots might be more energy-efficient for certain tasks on flat surfaces. However, for navigating complex, unstructured environments and interacting with human-scale tools and spaces, bipedal robots offer a promising solution.”

In addition to humanoids, InDro now offers a strictly bipedal, non-humanoid platform primarily for R&D. As with most platforms, our engineers are currently working on expanding its capabilities to enable it more fully for R&D and industrial clients. We will soon be integrating InDro Cortex, a brain-box that enables everything from remote teleoperation and sensor integration to fully autonomous and/or easily programmable missions.

“We’re looking to add our Cortex solution – the hardware and the software and the autonomy – to our humanoids and bipedal robots,” says Corbeth. “We see opportunities to integrate advanced autonomy, teleoperation and perception pipelines into this equipment…making them a turnkey solution for advanced humanoid development and real-world testing.”

Below: A great video explanation of the bipedal advantage, followed by the bipedal robot InDro now has available

Multi Modal Biped Robot

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Bipedal robots are the precursor to full-blown humanoids. Not only does the humanoid form factor work well in existing infrastructure, they’re seen by many as the ideal collaborative robots, or co-bots. People seem more at ease with something that looks vaguely human (with the notable exception of Terminator’s T800).

“The human form factor is just intuitive for people to interact with – and the similar size helps them use human tools and really fit in well in workspaces,” says Corbeth. “Some may argue as well they also kind of build trust, which is crucial for collaborative robots operating around or with people.”

And for those in the R&D space looking for a bipedal-only platform, we’ve got you covered.

We look forward to sharing more about our bipedal and humanoid robots in future, particularly once we’ve supercharged them with InDro Cortex. If you’re curious to learn more, feel free to contact Luke Corbeth.

Will Robots Replace Humans at Scale?

Will Robots Replace Humans at Scale?

Jul 7, 2025 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Robots, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

The robots are coming. And, in many places, they’re already here.

Robotic automation has long been integral to manufacturing at scale. Think automobile factories, for example. Robotic arms weld, paint, lift heavy parts – all jobs that at one point in the past were done by humans. We’re all familiar with videos of this process.

But in recent years, we’ve seen something of an inflection point in robotics. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are increasingly common, shuttling goods and lifting heavy loads. There are robots that can load and unload trucks, using special grippers or end effectors. Delivery robots are ubiquitous in some parts of the world, with China leading the pack. And then there’s drones, with companies like Zipline seemingly perfecting the art of small deliveries and shifting from solely medical deliveries to convenience items. Automated devices now unload and place containers from ships – an innovation that led to labour disruptions as longshoremen in the US protested that these machines jeopardise their livelihoods,

The list goes on. And, with the growth now of humanoid robots – which require no infrastructure changes and can carry out many tasks done by humans – the inevitable question arises: Will robots someday replace humans at scale?

It’s a big question. And, for some, kind of a scary one. So we thought we’d explore some thoughts, and predictions, with someone thoroughly in the know: InDro’s Director of Engineering, Arron Griffiths (below).

A GOOD SOURCE

 

We tapped Arron not only because he’s our Director of Engineering, but because he has lived and breathed technology his entire life. Born in Birmingham, he comes from a line of engineers and technologists that goes way back. In fact, because of his father’s profession his family was the first in his neighbourhood to have the internet, and Arron grew up with computers.

“My father is an internet engineer and my grandfather was a welder by trade, and then his father was an engineer and we think his father was an engineer,” says Griffiths. “There’s a lineage on my dad’s side of engineers and skilled trades we believe going all the way back to being tinkerers or something.”

So it’s not surprising that an engineer who has spent decades in robotics spends a lot of time thinking about robots. Not just the mechanics and software – but about their implications. So we asked him: Will robots replace humans at scale?

“It is basically a fear of everyone around robotics, particularly AI as well,” he says. “The answer is yes and no – and let me elaborate a little bit.”

He does so, with a long-term perspective.

“Every Industrial Revolution has caused disruption in some form or another and displaced humans from classical (tasks) in agriculture or industrial manufacturing…so there is definitely going to be a painful period where robotics is adopted, and jobs that were once held by humans get sort of outpaced.”

The driving force here, as with previous Industrial Revolutions, is economics. If a robot can efficiently carry out tasks at a lower overall cost than humans, the case is there for them to be adopted.

“But the trick is to ensure that the economy is growing at the same time. And if the economy is growing, there will always be the need for more people.”

And if the economy doesn’t grow?

“That’s the real scary part. If the economy doesn’t grow with the scale of robotics adoption, then there would be significant disruption, maybe even humans resisting robotics. But if everything grows at a good rate, I think robotic adoption will take maybe 10 years, but there will be a rough patch.”

 

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

 

Remember when Automated Teller Machines were introduced at scale back in the 1970s? There was consternation that tellers would become obsolete. That didn’t happen. Yes, they were convenient for a fast withdrawal or deposit, but ATMs can’t answer questions, can’t assist people with the many reasons they go to a bank. And so yes, every bank has one of those machines. But they also still have tellers.

The same concerns popped up when automated checkouts started appearing at retail outlets. Would sales staff and checkout people disappear? They haven’t (though it’s possible some companies have downsized their staff). But again, automation did not simply replace humans.

A big part of the reason is because human interaction is at the very core of many businesses and our daily lives – and robots are not even close to reaching the stage of handling those complex interactions. Human beings possess qualities that robots do not, at least not yet. Things like creativity, emotional intelligence, the ability to adapt to unforeseen situations.

“Humans are still always going to be needed because we’re never going to be able to get robots in the near term to think, feel, imagine, communicate quite like a human with other humans directly,” says Griffiths. “So yeah, I think humans definitely have a one up and will have that advantage for the foreseeable decade or so.”

The other thing Griffiths points out is that robotics are definitely more prevalent in more technologically developed parts of the word – and there are huge swaths of the planet where they are relatively rare and that adoption will take a very long time.

“In Western industry, we’ll definitely see a lot more automation. But in emerging markets like Africa, India, (they’re) still going to rely on humans. So it depends on where you are in the world, I think.”

The caveat? It used to always be said that robots are perfect for jobs that are dirty, dull and dangerous. That’s still true. But with advances in AI and Large Language Models (as well as the development of humanoids and other collaborative robots, or co-bots intended to work alongside humans) we are potentially at the early stages of a shift. Robots will, in future, take on more tasks that aren’t simply one of the three Ds.

Below: Agility’s Digit, showing off its ability to pick up ingredients for a pasta dinner. Yes, it’s slow. But you can be confident it will get faster, Still, we’re willing to bet most people will prefer to do their own shopping. A robot can’t make the split-decisions a human is likely to make when selecting one product over another, for example. 

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We are definitely in changing times. Advances in robotics will continue – and most of the current demand is indeed for robots that can carry out those dirty, dull and dangerous jobs. But, over time, we’ll see more of them carrying out other tasks and developing greater problem solving skills – including (with AI) the ability to communicate more easily with humans.

But are we on the cusp of an era where there will be mass displacement of humans?

“There will be some disruption in the future for sure,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “But, as we’ve seen with previous Industrial Revolutions and the adoption of ATMs etc, the sky didn’t fall. There will also be more jobs created in robotics, AI, and other related fields we can’t even foresee yet. Will robots continue to expand in fields where they can help humans and productivity? Absolutely. But human beings are resilient, creative and adaptable. And – though I’m obviously a fan of what robots can do – there will always be a human advantage. Yes, the robots are coming. But they’re not going to rule the world.”

InDro, by the way, focuses on custom R&D and robots for clients and our own inspection and scanning products that cater to the dirty, dull and dangerous. We’re not out to replace your job – only to enhance productivity where it’s a fit.

The rise of the humanoid robots

The rise of the humanoid robots

May 12, 2025 | Humanoids, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Did you catch the recent news?

A few cool things have popped up on the humanoid front. The first is that Hyundai Motor Group – which owns a majority share in Boston Dynamics – announced it will purchase “tens of thousands” of robots for use in its factories in coming years. It’s part of a $21B US investment in United States operations, which includes $6B “to drive innovation and expand strategic partnerships with U.S. companies” according to this news release.

Hyundai has already deployed the Boston Dynamics quadruped Spot at some facilities, but the release makes it appear that the future is humanoid.

“Physical AI and humanoid robots will transform our business landscape to the next level. Through our collaboration, we will expedite the process to achieve leadership in the robotics industry,” said Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group.

The other news of note? Both Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics (the makers of humanoid Digit) will join A3 (the Association for Advancing Automation) to develop a new safety standard for robots in the workplace. It’s said that the recent advances in humanoid robots were a key catalyst for the project.

How widespread will the adoption of humanoids be? Well, recent analysis by Morgan Stanley predicts eight million units will be on the job by 2040, and 63 million by 2050. Think about that for a minute.

Below: Atlas in a factory setting trial. Note the mistake – followed by an AI-driven correction

WHY HUMANOIDS?

 

There are plenty of robots on the market with a variety of form factors. There are wheeled AMRs, quadrupeds, fixed robotic arms – and more. So what is it about humanoids that differentiates them?

“Humanoid robots assume a human-like form factor,” explains InDro’s Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth. “It means it has bipedal or two-legged locomotion. They also tend to include dexterous hands – the ability to pick and place objects. They also ideally have some kind of autonomous functionality and the ability to interact with the environment in smart ways.”

Because of their bipedal form factor, humanoids tend to remind us of human beings (which is obviously how they get their name). Nearly all humanoids currently on the market are about the size of a human – and there’s a reason for that: Workplaces are largely built for people.

“What makes the humanoid form factor really exciting is, unlike traditional robots, the infrastructure doesn’t need to change to accommodate it. As a result, it can adapt to navigating different environments using existing equipment. This means we don’t need to retrofit factories, offices, and homes. So there’s much faster deployment for companies looking to adopt this technology,” he adds.

 

HANG ON A SECOND

 

You’ve no doubt seen videos by now of humanoids carrying out tasks. Often, these videos have been sped up. Humanoids, with rare exceptions, don’t yet move at the speed of human beings – and often have to pause to understand and perceive their environment.

But does that matter?

“The answer is kind of no,” says Corbeth. “In a lot of cases, humanoids can work around the clock. So if they’re slightly slower than humans are today, their overall productivity can still be higher. Plus, we’re still in the early phases of humanoids, so we do expect their speed and dexterity to continue improving over time.”

That being said, you can’t simply drop a humanoid into a factory setting and expect it to carry out work – at least not yet. Like a human employee, robots need training – often via remote teleoperation, coding, and additional autonomy stacks before they’re capable of punching the clock.

At InDro, we’re a North American distributor for Unitree, a leading global robotics manufacturer. In addition to its G1 and H1 (and H1-2) humanoid robots, the company has put considerable resources into its Dex5 dexterous hand. You’ll see in the video below it’s getting close to human-like capabilities – and that the G1 has impressive speed and agility even on challenging terrain.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

It’s still early days. But we’re excited about the potential for humanoids in an Industry 4.0 setting – and have some plans on this front.

“As an R&D company, we know that integrating any robot into a real-world setting takes work,” says Indro Robotics Founder/CEO Philip Reece. “With products like InDro Controller and our InDro Autonomy software stack – plus another innovation we’ll be releasing later this year – we have the ability to significantly enhance stock humanoids and dial them in for specific work settings. Humanoids are here to stay.”

Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us here.

How remote inspection robots reduce downtime

How remote inspection robots reduce downtime

Mar 28, 2025 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Scott Simmie, Sentinel

By Scott Simmie

 

Inspection robots aren’t cheap.

We fully acknowledge that might not be the best opening pitch, but hear us out.

While a capable inspection robot can be costly, so is downtime. So is dispatching human beings to distant locations. Electrical substations and certain oil and gas assets are often remote and require many hours of driving to reach – plus the cost of hotels and per diems. Sometimes, companies even have to charter a helicopter just to place eyes on those remote spots. Depending on the sector, these inspections might take place monthly, bi-weekly – or at some other interval.

Point is: Regular inspection of remote assets is an absolute necessity. An inspection can troubleshoot for regular wear and tear, thermal anomalies, damage from animals, vandalism, environmental impact, leaks – the list goes on. A human being (often equipped with handheld scanners and other detection equipment) can generally spot all these things.

But so, too, can a robot. And, unlike a human being when it comes to remote assets, an autonomous robotic inspector can be on the site 24/7. It never requests a hotel room, doesn’t charge overtime – and never forgets to do everything it’s been instructed to carry out.

Below: The InDro Robotics Sentinel, at an electrical substation in Ottawa

Sentinel enclosure Ottawa Hydro

DOWNTIME

 

There are two types of downtime: Planned and unplanned. The former, obviously, is pre-arranged. Maybe it’s time to replace certain pieces of equipment or do other scheduled maintenance. Planned downtime can include hardware and software upgrades, even large-scale replacements. For those companies in service provision, including those in the B2B space, a scheduled event minimises downtime because everything is lined up in advance for the necessary task. In addition, you can notify consumers or clients that the service or commodity will be temporarily unavailable – and schedule the downtime to minimise disruption. Customers and clients generally understand these inconveniences when they know about them ahead of time.

Then there’s that other kind of downtime: Unplanned. Something goes wrong and you need to scramble to fix it. Precisely because these are unexpected, you might not have the required widgets or personnel on-hand (or on-site). And it’s not just the repair itself. There’s usually lost revenue, reputational damage, and even more:

“The repercussions of unplanned downtime extend beyond immediate financial losses,” explains this overview.

“Companies may face financial penalties and legal liabilities, especially if downtime leads to non-compliance with regulatory requirements. These penalties can add another layer of financial strain on top of the already significant downtime costs.”

We’ve all heard stories about airlines being fined, sometimes heavily, for unexpected delays. And the reputational damage? You wouldn’t have to look hard to find consumers who have switched airlines, internet providers and more due to unplanned downtime that inconvenienced them.

That same article dips into the oil and gas sector, using data from a 2016 study by Kimberlite (a research company specialising in the sector) which found offshore organisations face an average of $38M US annually in costs from unplanned downtime. Those with the worst records racked up yearly tabs close to $90M US. So clearly, it’s something most would like to avoid.

 

THE ADVANTAGES OF INSPECTION

 

Regular robotic inspection can help reduce unplanned downtime by identifying potential failures before they happen. Is a key component starting to age? Has wildlife encroached on sensitive components? Did the storm that passed through overnight have an impact on anything? Are all gauges reading as they should? Are there any thermal anomalies? Is there the molecular presence of hydrocarbons or other indicators above a safe threshold? Are there any strange new noises, such as arcing or humming?

Yes. People can do this when they’re dispatched. But a robot tailored for inspection – and they can be customised for every client’s needs – can carry out these same tasks reliably, repeatedly, and on schedule.

This idea of predictive maintenance is very much a pillar in the world of Industry 4.0, or 4IR (which we recently explored in some detail). As companies move into this next phase, particularly in the manufacturing sector, Smart Devices are being integrated in every conceivable location across newer factory floors. In conjunction with software, they keep an eye on critical components, identifying potential problems before they occur. Industry leaders in this space, such as Siemens, state these systems can result in up to a 50 per cent reduction in unplanned downtime, and up to a 40 per cent reduction in maintenance costs.

That’s the gold standard. But we are just at the cusp of this integration, and it’s more broadly targeted at the manufacturing sector. Those remote electrical substations and oil assets are still, in many ways, not that smart when it comes to asset intelligence and will require regular inspection for many years to come.

Below: InDro’s Sentinel inspection robot, which can be customised for any inspection scenario, It’s seen here at a demo for Ottawa Hydro

Sentinel enclosure Ottawa Hydro

THE SENTINEL SOLUTION

 

Sentinel is our flagship inspection robot. Our first iteration was in 2022 and – as with all InDro innovations – we have continued to enhance its capabilities. As new advances in sensors and compute have emerged, so too have Sentinel’s powers. But Sentinel’s evolution goes far beyond adding new LiDAR, depth cameras or processors. In the background at Area X.O, we are continuously improving our own IP. Specifically, our InDro Autonomy and InDro Controller software.

InDro Controller is a desktop-based interface with Sentinel (or any other ROS-based robot). Fully customisable and easy to use, it allows our clients to plan and monitor missions with ease. A few clicks allows users to set up repeatable points of interest where the robot will carry our specific inspection tasks. Need eyes on a critical gauge? Have InDro Controller stop Sentinel at a particular spot. Use the 30X optical Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera to frame and capture the shot. Happy with the results? Great. InDro Controller will remember and carry out this step (and as many others as you’d like) when it next carries out the mission. Collisions won’t be an issue, as InDro Autonomy’s detect and avoid capabilities ensure there won’t be any mishaps on the way. In fact, you could drop Sentinel in a completely unfamiliar setting littered with obstacles, and it could map that site and even produce a precision scan. And, like a regular visit to the robot doctor, InDro Controller also monitors the overall system health of any integrated device.

From the outset, Sentinel has been on a continuous journey pushing the R&D envelope, with testing and rigorous third-party evaluation. An earlier iteration was even put through demanding tests by the US Electric Power Research Association (EPRI) at its test facility in Massachusetts. All of these deployments have resulted in learnings that have been incorporated into our latest version of Sentinel.

 

SET AND FORGET

 

When it comes to remote assets, our clients clearly needed a hands-off approach. That meant we had to incorporate some sort of autonomous charging, since there’s no one on these sites to plug it in. We evaluated mechanical docking systems, but realised these physical mechanisms introduce another potential point of failure.

And so we ultimately settled on a powerful wireless charging system. Using optical codes, Sentinel returns to a housed structure following its missions. It then positions itself snugly up to the wireless charging system so that it’s ready for the next deployment (you’ll see a picture of one of our earlier test structures in a few seconds). We needed to avoid metal to ensure the cleanest possible wireless communication (Sentinel operates over 5G and also has the option for WiFi). Housing Sentinel when it’s off-duty protects it from unnecessary exposure to the elements, though it’s certainly built to operate in virtually anything Mother Nature can throw at it (short of a hurricane).

Finally, Sentinel also has InDro Commander on board. In addition to housing its powerful brain, Commander allows for the easy addition of additional sensors by simply plugging them in. It provides both power and a data pipeline, and InDro Controller has been built to instantly recognise the addition of any new sensors. In other words, if a client’s requirements change and a new sensor is required, Sentinel can be modified with relative ease and no new coding.

Below: Sentinel, following a demonstration for Ottawa Hydro, snugs up to charge

Sentinel enclosure Ottawa Hydro

THE SENTINEL EVOLUTION

 

As mentioned, Sentinel has gone through a ton of testing, coding and development to reach its current iteration. We’ve taken literally all of our learnings and client feedback and put them into this robot. Sentinel does the job reliably and repeatedly, capturing actionable data intended to reduce downtime for our clients. What’s more, we have moved past the phase of producing these robots as one-offs when demand arises. With our fabrication facility InDro Forge, we are now commencing to manufacture Sentinel at scale.

“Sentinel is now a fully mature and market-ready product,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We already have multiple Sentinels on the ground for a major US utility client and have other orders pending. We – like our clients – are confident Sentinel is worth the investment by reducing downtime and saving companies the expense and time of sending people to these remote locations for inspection work.”

Interested in learning more, or even taking the controls for a remote demonstration of Sentinel and InDro Controller? Contact us here.

Industry 4.0 and InDro – the evolution continues

Industry 4.0 and InDro – the evolution continues

Mar 11, 2025 | 4IR, Autonomy, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Many of you will remember the days before smart phones. Same goes for automated tellers, online banking, self check-outs, personal computers, 3D printers – even the internet itself. Technology hasn’t merely marched along; it’s been sprinting at an ever-accelerating pace. What’s more, it’s been doing so pretty much everywhere. From the smart devices that now populate our pockets and homes and vehicles through to autonomous mobile robots in factories, hospitals, warehouses, airports – we are in the midst of an inflection point.

If you’re in the technology industry, this era is known as Industry 4.0. And there’s no question that it is – and will continue to be – utterly transformative.

Let’s take a brief look at how we got here…and where it’s going.

Below: An InDro Robotics Sentinel inspection robot. It carries out complex autonomous inspections before returning to its base to wirelessly recharge

Sentinel enclosure Ottawa Hydro

THE PATH TO 4.0

 

Industry 4.0 is also known by some as 4IR, meaning the Fourth Industrial Revolution. So it’s worth briefly reviewing the other three.

The initial Industrial Revolution began in the UK in the mid-1700s. The development of steam power, water power, and mechanisation paved the path for production of certain commodities at scale. They may seem primitive now, but these were huge innovations at the time. These efficiencies helped vault the UK to a leading economic position and the technology began rapidly spreading elsewhere in the world.

That was followed by three other industrial epochs:

  • The late 1800s, where mass production lines using electrical power marked the outset of the Second Industrial Revolution
  • The late 1960s saw the introduction of computers and other early IT systems, as well as significant advances in automation including simple robotic devices
  • The mid-2010s ushered in Industry 4.0, often described as the integration of cyber and physical systems (more on this in a moment)

To help visualise this, we’ve tapped on Wikimedia Commons, and this graphic from Christoph Roser at AllAboutLean.com

Industry 4.0 Wikimedia Commons Christoph Roser at AllAboutLean.com

THE FOURTH WAVE

 

As we saw, what’s thought of as the Third Industrial Revolution brought computers and early robotics/manufacturing advances onto the scene. Industry 4.0 can be thought of as the logical extension of the third – but with massive technological and data integration advances. As this Forbes article puts it, “The fourth industrial revolution will take what was started in the third with the adoption of computers and automation and enhance it with smart and autonomous systems fueled by data and machine learning…As a result of the support of smart machines that keep getting smarter as they get access to more data, our factories will become more efficient and productive and less wasteful.”

We asked an AI engine for its take, and it came back with a very concise definition: “Industry 4.0 is a term that describes the ongoing technological revolution that is transforming how companies operate, design, produce, and deliver goods and services.”

It also offered, helpfully, the key enabling technologies including: 

  • Artificial Intelligence 
  • The Internet of Things 
  • Big Data Analytics 
  • Augmented Reality 
  • Precision Scanning and digital twins
  • Robotics
  • Advanced manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing

COVID-19, with its extensive isolation and social distancing, played a significant role in companies embracing Industry 4.0. A basic example many can relate to was the growth of UberEats and other food delivery services. The coding and technology – the integration of the cyber and physical words – utterly transformed much of the restaurant industry.

It would be hard to think of a sector that has not been touched by 4IR: Manufacturing, mining, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, aerospace – you name it.

 

INDRO 4.0

 

Industry 4.0 is a massive topic – with implications not only for companies seeking a competitive edge but also for workers. Many companies, according to this excellent McKinsey and Company overview (complete with compelling data and examples of ‘Lighthouses’ – companies at the pinnacle of 4.0), are re-skilling employees hand-in-hand with adopting new 4IR technologies. Europe here has taken the lead over North America.

As for InDro? The company was officially formed in 2014. That happens to be the year generally accepted as the year Industry 4.0 began. And from the beginning, this has been the realm where our R&D has taken place. As a leader in the autonomous robotic space, many of our own inventions and custom builds operate in the Industry 4.0 space. We’re particularly proud of our Sentinel inspection robot (several of which are now working autonomously for a major US energy client), and also Captis – the leading solution in inventory cycle counting and precision scanning for large warehouses and other supply chain assets. InDro Robotics was the technology incubator for Captis, produced by Cypher Robotics. It’s already on the job in Canada, and will soon be deployed in New Zealand.

Below: The Captis cycle-counting and precision scanning system

Sentinel

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Industry 4.0 isn’t just a buzzword. It is a full-fledged transformation leveraging multiple complex technologies working in synergy for greater efficiency. Most of our clients have fully embraced IR4 or are in the midst of that transformation. And we, as always, continue to develop new robots, drones and other products for this new and exciting era.

“Industry 4.0 certainly draws on the framework laid by 3.0, but the technological advances of the past decade have been truly transformative,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We are definitely in the midst of a new and exciting era, and InDro will continue to develop intelligent and innovative products for Industry 4.0. And yes, when 5IR eventually comes along…we’ll be ready.”

Want to learn more about how an InDro solution can help your company in IR4? Interested in learning how a private 5G network can offer smart factories a competitive and security edge? Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth is always up for a thoughtful conversation.