Sparks Electrical News June 2019

INDUSTRY 4.0

16

4 TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION SUCCESS DEMANDS COHESIVE NATIONAL EFFORT

A FORETASTE OF THE FUTURE OF AUTOMATION

T he rise of digitalisation and automation is amplifying the keen focus towards innovations such as robot- ics. When Atlas Copco became aware that Hoërskool Waterkloof´s robotic team, known as Fifth Order, was looking for assistance to compete at the First Tech Challenge (FTC) in the USA in April 2019, the company came to the fore in sup- port of the learners. FTC is an international competition, which sees students from grade seven to twelve work in teams to design, build, and programand operate a robot that will contend in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. The programme aims to develop learners’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills as well as enable them to practise engineering principles under adult guidance and mentorship. In order to participate in the competition the teams must raise funds, build a robot, learn Java programming and promote the competition and their team within local communities. “Atlas Copco is always eager to assist communities and encourage an interest in mathematics and science amongst learners, so what better way to do this than to support a team from South Africa to represent us at the international FTC competition,” states Wendy Bufa-Pace, Group Human Resources Manager at Atlas Copco. “We sponsored branded Atlas Copco hoodies, caps and T-shirts for the Fifth Order team.” When the FTC challenge for the season was released in October 2018 Fifth Order began with its preparation, designing andbuilding the robot ‘Phoenix’,programming it within Javausing the LinearOpMode, and marketing the team and competition in a local Pretoria newspaper as well as on Facebook and radio. Initially, Fifth Order created five different prototypes which were created from cardboard and 3D printed parts to test different designs and features. Fifth Order utilised TensorFlow’s advanced machine learning algorithms to program the required autonomies functions. Fifth Order finalised the design for Phoenix in January 2019 and worked 3-4 days a week over the next two months to have the robot ready for the local National Championship at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg. During the first 30 seconds of the game, known as Rover Ruckus, the robots are required to perform specific tasks autonomously. Fifth Order won the robot challenge, scoring the highest overall point which earned them selection to represent South Africa at the International First Tech Challenge in Detroit, Michigan, USA. F or South Africa to compete successfully in a 4 th Indus- trial Revolution economy, stakeholders across all sec- tors must work together to drive progress. This is ac- cording to Prof. Marcia Mkansi, an Associate Professor at the Department of Operations Management at UNISA and one of the organisers of the upcoming African Operations Manage- ment Conference, to be staged alongside Africa Automation Fair this June. Prof. Mkansi says South Africa lags world automation leaders such as Germany and China, and even fellow BRICS country India in terms of industrial automation progress. “We shouldn’t fall behind and become consumers and adopters of foreign intellectual property. We need to see sectors such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare innovating to address challenges unique to our continent.” Mkansi says that while South Africa has made slow progress, lacking the necessary skills, scale and business confidence to build globally competitive factories, there are still significant opportunities for 4 th Industrial Revolution progress: “There is still a chance for South Africa to take the lead in Africa, but it needs a national effort,” she says. She notes that automation cuts across all sectors, and is not limited to manufacturing or industry. “Automation is the future – it is the basis of the 4 th Industrial Revolution. You see it in the service industry, for example, where airports use scanners instead of staff to check passports, and where restaurants have automated payment terminals.” To make 4 th Industrial Revolution progress, South Africa needs to embrace a triple helix approach in which government, industry and academia make a coherent commitment to work together to support the country’s ambitions, she says. “We need more emphasis on STEM skills and innovation development at grassroots level. We need industry and academia to collaborate to ensure that skills meet industry needs,” she says. Prof. Mkansi notes that UNISA is currently collaborating with the Society for

The innovative robot features a single mechanised extendable and retractable arm that is fitted with a collection unit to collect the game items and score points. The arm is also used to latch the robot to a hook from where it is lowered onto and off the playing field at the start and conclusion of the game. This is achieved by using a smart servo attached to the arm that opens and closes a latching mechanism. In the build-up to the international competition the team replaced Phoenix’s motors controlling the wheels and mechanised arm with stronger versions and refined the design of the collection unit. The 2019 competition saw 160 teams from all over the world divided into two divisions – Edison and Ochoa – to battle for the coveted title. The Fifth Order team finished 37 out of 80 in the Ochoa division. This is a great result considering that this was Fifth Order’s debut at this competition which is widely known across America. “Atlas Copco is extremely proud of Fifth Order for itd dedication and exceptional robotics capabilities. It is not about winning or losing but rather that this team of intelligent teenagers has flown the South African flag high and paved the way for other learners who may also see their future in robotics,” concludes Buffa-Pace. Automation,Instrumentation,Measurement andControl (SAIMC) to introduce South Africa’s first formal automation qualification, to be delivered through UNISA’s department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. “Our partnership with Africa Automation Fair is another example of us being proactive in bringing together stakeholders across academia, industry and government to improve collaboration,” she says. The African Operations Management Conference will run alongside Africa Automation Fair for the first time this year, allowing conference delegates access to the Africa Automation Fair exhibition area and networking opportunities. The African Operations Management Conference will bring together over 100 industry giants and experienced academics to exchange ideas, concepts, and research. Speakers at this year’s conference will include the likes of Professor Norman McLennan of the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, who is a trusted business improvement advisor across the breadth of commercial and supply chain activities and is currently advising the China Ocean Engineering Shanghai Co; and Simon Carpenter, Chief Technology Advisor at SAP Africa responsible for leading SAP Africa’s Digital Transformation initiatives with a focus on Business Innovation and Thought leadership and providing direction to SAP’s customers and partners on emerging business and technology issues such as OT/IT Convergence, Big Data, Business Network Transformation, Mobility, Cloud Computing, and Business Process Management. The 2 nd African Operations Management Conference will be held from June 4-6 at the Ticketpro Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg. Running alongside Africa Automation Fair, the AfricanOperationsManagement Conferencewill bepresentedby UNISA and supported by the National Research Foundation. The theme for this year’s conference will be ‘Competitive Operations Management for Driving Automation in Africa Forward’. Enquiries: www.africaautomationfair.com

LAUNCH OF NEW DIGITAL SKILLS LEARNING INITIATIVE IN KENYA CloudFactory, a leader in managed cloud workforce solutions, is expanding its mission in Kenya with the launch of a new learning initiative designed to expand digital skills in Africa. In partnership with the Safaricom Foundation, a corporate foundation dedicated to making positive contributions to communities in Kenya in direct ways, the initiative is designed to give young people in Kenya the foun- dational digital skills needed to enter today’s high-tech workplaces. CloudFactory is also expanding its own operations to Mombasa, furthering its commitment to bring innovation and meaningful work opportunities to Kenya. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are becoming more prevalent and embedded in today’s digital economy. Helping students build the skills necessary to work with, and alongside, these types of cutting-edge technologies, CloudFactory and Safaricom Foundation are offering a two-week training session for students, focused on ages 18-25, to learn foundational digital skills. These skills range from typing, spreadsheet expertise, and web research to enriched skills such as data processing and image annotation that underpin the fundamentals of AI and ML. The goal is to train over 2000 young people in the region with work-ready digital skills by 2021. SEW-EURODRIVE will give visitors to the Africa Automation Fair 2019 a foretaste of its MOVI-C® modular automation system, which is readymade for the requirements of Industry 4.0. This represents the next-generation of automation technology from Germany, and will be phased-in gradually by SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa, according to National Sales and Marketing Manager Norman Maleka. The system consists of a MAXO-RPS-T-RRRRR0-10-1300-01, including a stand and polycarbonate guard, CMP motors, MOVI-C® Modular; MOVI-C® Controller, a Human Machine Interface (DOP), and MOVIKIT® Robotics software. The system provides for an end-to-end automation solution, from planning to commissioning, operation and diagnostics software, electronic control andmonitoring devices, mechanical drives, and gearmotors. What’s more, it features an open communications topology from PROFIBUS and Industrial Ethernet to Modbus. While the MOVIDRIVE® B Drive Inverter and MOVIAXIS® Multi-Axis Servo Inverter have been available for some time, the MOVI-C® modular automation system sets SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. on a path to embrace Industry 4.0. “This requires products that are both open and flexible,” Maleka stresses. “Our focus is to provide our customers with a fully modular and customisable solution.” The unit on display will be a high-speed pick-and-place solution, including a tracking function, applicable to a range of industries. It will be showcased at the Africa Automation Fair 2019 as a ‘teaser’ of what customers can expect in the near future from SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd., which is already developing new technologies with a three- to four-year window period in response to both industry trends and customer requirements. “Our main theme at the exhibition will focus on energy-efficiency,” Maleka notes. Three segment conveyors about 1 m to 1.5 m in length will feature IE2, IE3, and IE4 motors, with the different energy consumption displayed on a screen. Apart from its motor range, the MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drive systemwill also be showcased. This technology is making inroads into the food-and-beverage industry due to its ease of use and quick installation, and the fact that it is easy to clean and meets strict hygiene standards, for which an optional smooth surface is available. Other energy-efficient products that will be on display include Variable Speed Drives and the LTP-B Eco HVAC drive, which is ideal for applications as diverse as large buildings, hospitals, and even mills. Features include an advanced ‘sleep’ and ‘wake’ function that maximises energy efficiency by only switching on a pump, for example, when it is required. Maleka concludes that SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. will use the Africa Automation Fair 2019 as a platform to interact with existing and potential customers about Industry 4.0-ready technology such as its MOVI-C® modular automation system. “Our aim is not only to stay ahead of the technology curve, but to be in a position to ensure our customers always have access to the latest complete solutions that are flexible, adaptable, and cost-effective.” Visit SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. at Stand H07 at the African Automation Fair 2019 from 4 to 6 June at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg. Enquiries: www.sew-eurodrive.co.za

ATLAS COPCO SUPPORTS SOUTH AFRICAN ROBOT COMPETITION TEAM IN THE USA

Enquiries: www.atlascopco.com/en-za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2019