With the fourth generation – industry 4.0 – The Industrial Revolution has reached a stage where human work can be completed or replaced with completely independent systems. At the heart of this development lies the concept of the dark factory, which is a vision of fully automated factories that work without the need for lighting, rest periods or human presence. However, complete automation of this type is a major challenge and requires huge investments and comprehensive reorganization. Therefore, many companies focus gradually improving their operations. Through independent mobile robots (AMRS), 4 AM Robotics provides a flexible solution to automating the current production and logistics systems and make it more efficient, without the need for a radical transformation into a dark factory. What is the dark factory? The “darkness” symbolizes in the name that these facilities can work theoretically without the need for lighting, as it does not require a human presence – theoretically, because some optical sensors and cameras still need to light to work properly. These factories are designed to maximize efficiency, accuracy and productivity, and the latest technologies are used to work around the clock. Dark factory properties:- Full automation: all operational processes, from delivery of materials to completion of the product, carried out by machines, robots, and artificial intelligence. Human intervention is limited to a minimum, or it becomes unnecessary .- Work around the clock throughout the week: Given that the machines do not need rest periods, the dark factory is able to work without interruption, which contributes significantly to increasing productivity.- Reducing costs: The operating costs decrease due to the dispensing of lighting, heating, and other requirements that consume energy for human workstar.- Internet integration of things and intelligence Artificial: Connecting machines collect and analyze data continuously to improve operations, reduce errors, and increase productivity.- The ability to adapt: Dark factories benefit from flexible automation technologies that enable them to quickly adapt to new requirements or changes in products.- China enters a new afternoon of “dark factories” without lighting or workers: China is preparing for an industrial revolution with the emergence of “dark factories”, which is Fully automated facilities operate without human workers or traditional lighting. Supported to artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and advanced sensors, these factories represent the next step in strong push towards industrial automation in the country, putting China at the top of technological innovation worldwide.
