Development of the Internet of Things
Developments in the field of the Internet of Things may become key factors in reducing the cost of wireless sensors, which will limit the number of installed applications. The use of wireless technologies is still in its early stages of development, as the number of devices with "embedded" programming today is significantly higher. Known industrial wireless communication standards include ISA100.11, IEC62591 (WirelessHART), IEC62601 (WIA-PA, developed in China), ZigBee, and 802.11.
Collaborative Robots Will Become More Accessible
A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a robot designed for physical interaction with humans in a shared workspace, as opposed to other robots that operate autonomously or with limited guidance. The number of cobots surged in 2016, increasing several times over the past years, while sales continue to rise. This new generation of lightweight and affordable robots has been specifically designed for collaboration with humans and integration of visualization systems with advanced software that enables understanding and controlling processes.
The average prices of such robots have significantly dropped to less than 40,000 US dollars, greatly expanding their range of applications. The creation of cobots represents a revolution similar to the invention of the personal computer — providing a product with lower power but available to a broader range of users. The percentage of robot implementation worldwide continues to grow, and interestingly, China has become the largest purchaser of robots in the world.