Automate: Discover the future of automation

Automate, the largest solutions-based showcase of automation, robotics, vision, motion control and more in North America will be held in Detroit from the 6th to the 9th of June. This year's edition of the tradeshow in the Motor City is produced by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) and will feature a full spectrum of automation technologies and solutions, from tried-and-true to cutting-edge. Automate first began in 1977 as the International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show, with the mission statement of paving the way forward for businesses everywhere. Today, the show has expanded to include keynote speakers, a show theater, the Automate conference which provides training courses for attendees as well as the Cowen Start-Up Challenge.

Automate Agenda

On Monday 6 June, the most noteworthy keynote speaker will in fact be a panel discussion on the possibility of revolutionizing logistics and manufacturing with AI and virtual environments. The discussion panel will bring together technology providers, leading manufacturers, and distribution companies to discuss how they are leveraging AI and simulation environments with the goal of optimizing their operations. In addition to the current media fanfare around the metaverse, the panelists will discuss real applications of 3D virtual environments that are being leveraged today to improve productivity. The undoubted highlight of Tuesday 7 June is the Cowen Start-Up Challenge which will pit the ten finalists in a head-to-head challenge in the Automate Show Theater, pitching their technology solution and vying for a $10,000 cash prize! The ten finalists are the hottest new companies in robotics and automation and include Aivero, Covision Quality, FLX Solutions, INNOCISE GmbH, InOrbit, Neurocle Inc., NINOX 360, Quotebeam Inc., Scalable Robotics Inc., and Voiage. The keynote speech on Wednesday is entitled "Leveraging Public and Private Partnerships to Propel the Future of Manufacturing" and is hosted by Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC). The speech is based on the notion that emerging technologies are being introduced on today’s factory floors and it’s critical that manufacturing companies – and their talent – are prepared. As a consequence, when high-tech solutions are integrated into traditional manufacturing processes, the impact stretches far beyond public and private sectors. The panel, which is comprised of cutting-edge thinkers in smart manufacturing, will focus on the vital partnerships between industry, academia, startups and government necessary to ensure that small- and medium-sized manufacturers are not only ready to adopt I4.0 technologies but also primed to lead the way into the future of manufacturing. The last day of the conference, Thursday 9 June, is entitled Workforce Development Day and will focus on robotics and automation career opportunities across leading industries including the automotive, warehousing and logistics, food and beverage sectors. Students from local schools and nearby states will be given a tour of the show floor to see the latest automation technologies and hear from industry experts on how they can build their careers today—and in the future. Anyone wishing to attend the Automate conference can sign up online here