The future of automation in offshore oil and gas
Robots perform predictive maintenance offshore and human operators are reduced from the hazardous environment
With fewer offshore people to coordinate, onshore operations and maintenance are streamlined
Engineers onshore focus on innovation and efficiency, designing modular equipment with maintenance routines for robots
Petroleum engineers are now joined by programmers onshore who work to optimize throughput
Offshore surface vessel 3D prints components of subsea factories for robot vehicle installation to equipment
Offshore seafloor robots operate, modify, and install small parts in dangerous areas previously serviced by human divers
15% Labor substitution 85% Performance gain 17% Relative impact
Relative impact is the ratio between additional net impact and operating cost
Potential economic benefits of automation
Subsea factories act autonomously for standard and safety-oriented operations controlling flow and limiting accidents
66% Labor substitution 34% Performance gain 25% Relative impact
The future of automation in aircraft maintenance
Instead of humans searching for wear and tear visually, drones inspect exterior, and tiny insect-inspired robots check airframe without removal of panels
Machine vision to identify many common defects. Predictive maintenance is far less costly than reactive maintenance
In place of logging inspection status manually, compliance documents are routed to a secure site for easy regulator access.
Fewer technicians on the maintenance hangar floor, but they spend more time on problem solving, and require more continual training.
Automated warehouse is linked to procurement department with robotic part and tool delivery. Automatic ordering based on forecast demand raises efficiency
Automated tugs rather than technicians move plane in and out of hangar. Less human time spent on tasks that could be done by automation cuts waste
Robots do physical tasks. Humans can avoid danger zones, and parts are installed faster and with less variability
The future of automation in an emergency department
Patients pre-register by mobile phone. On arrival, they are issued a wearable monitoring device that collects vitals
Triage nurses would be aided by automated fast diagnostics using blood and auto-generated reports on basis of vitals and tests
Lab tests would be automated, including report generation, for improved accuracy
Fully automated checkout including medicines, billing and issuing reports, or, in the case of hospitalization, bed assignment
Autonomous tugs can pull beds and bring medicines and instruments to the point of care. Drugs are dispensed by automated pharmacy
Algorithms recommend diagnosis and treatment to doctors and nurse practitioners
AI diagnoses and advice on complex and high acuity cases contribute to better outcomes
The future of automation in a grocery store
Automatic facial recognition and personalized greeting on arrival. Virtual assistants provide directions
Continuous inventory tracking through sensors and video
Automated stock room manages inventory and prepares custom orders, with delivery by autonomous drone or vehicle
No-stop checkout, thanks to automatic payment and shipping. Just head home, and the groceries will follow behind you
The footprint of the average US supermarket is the size of two football fields. Automated stores, without the need to display so much of their wares, would be smaller
An automated shopping cart follows you around. The shelves are monitored and restocked automatically by robots
Purchases are made by mobile phone. Customers receive personalized mobile coupons, and can give instant feedback