Summary

A previous ISA article in 2023 considered how the future automation workforce is being shaped by an Industry 4.0 revolution. This revolution has highlighted three distinct new automation-related careers that are responding to technology maturity and market demand:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Engineer: Developing algorithms and models to enable smart automation, such as predictive maintenance and intelligent process automation.
• Autonomous Systems Engineer: Developing self-driving cars, drones and other autonomous technologies that require automation for navigation, decision-making and control.
• Smart Home and IoT Automation Specialist: Designing and integrating smart systems for homes and buildings, involving sensing, decision-making and voice-control.

AI and ML Engineer

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are two terms often used interchangeably, although ML is, in fact, a form of AI. A form of ML called supervised ML involves training software using specific data sets. Given sufficient data, the software can then identify new data sets. One application for this approach is to analyze imagery to identify potential defects, such as corrosion.

Developing solutions using AI and ML requires a strong set of technical skills encompassing industrial environments, mathematics, physics, and data analytics, very much in line with the skill set of a typical automation professional who must understand physical processes as well as technology and its application.

Autonomous Systems Engineer

Autonomous systems are becoming more feasible with advances in technology, particularly AI. Waymo (previously Google’s Self-Driving Car initiative) now has a robotaxi service in several US cities, most recently adding Los Angeles to the list. Waymo claims it provides more than 150,000 driverless trips weekly. In the industrial environment, companies are developing other types of autonomous vehicles for specific business needs. For example, Leica offers an autonomous scanning drone that “intelligently incorporates the environment around it into its flight plans… ”.

Robots are becoming more common and are finding applications in industrial environments. Boston Dynamics’ Spot can support various imaging and detection technologies.

Smart Home and IoT Automation Specialist

The global smart home automation market is currently valued at 100 billion USD and is growing significantly with estimates up to 633 billion USD by 2032. Furthermore, “[t]he integration of AI with digital assistance allows for a more convenient and user-friendly experience, which greatly influences buyers’ preferences.”

Moving Forward

ISA continues to maintain its position as the home of automation. As the principal contributor to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Automation Competency Model (ACM), ISA helps identify the skills and knowledge required for the modern automation professional.

_{This piece originally appeared on ISA Interchange.}