An expanded partnership between Rockwell Automation and Microsoft could help engineers expedite the creation of complex control systems.
MILWAUKEE and REDMOND, Wash.—Rockwell Automation, Inc. and Microsoft Corp. reported they are extending their longstanding relationship to accelerate industrial automation design and development through generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Rockwell Automation and Microsoft’s expanded partnership could help industrial organizations benefit from generative AI for automation design. (Photo: Business Wire)
The companies said in a release that they are combining technologies to empower the workforce and accelerate time-to-market for customers building industrial automation systems. The first outcome of this collaboration will add Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service into FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ to deliver what are reported to be “industry-first capabilities accelerating time-to-market for their customers building industrial automation systems.”
“The skilled labor shortage and ensuing lost productivity is the biggest challenge facing industrial organizations and their service providers today,” said Matthew Littlefield, president of LNS Research, in the release. “These shortages are increasing the need, value, and complexity of automation projects when the ecosystem of service providers is less equipped to deliver on time, quality, and budget.
“Generative AI has already proven its ability to capture the imagination and enhance the productivity of workers in a range of IT and business scenarios,” he continued. “Rockwell Automation and Microsoft’s strategic partnership is an exciting and high-potential step forward in addressing these long-term structural challenges.”
Rockwell and Microsoft recognize that using AI to enhance automation across various roles, from decision makers to control engineers and operators, is a key area where they can come together to help customers streamline their processes and drive worker productivity.
“Rockwell’s decade-long relationship with Microsoft illustrates our ongoing commitment to providing best-of-breed solutions that empower customers and support our shared vision of driving industries forward through innovation and collaboration,” said Blake Moret, chairperson and CEO of Rockwell Automation, in a statement. “Together, we’re not just addressing current market needs; we’re shaping the future of technology in industrial automation.”
According to the release, the addition of Azure OpenAI Service into FactoryTalk Design Studio helps engineers generate code using natural language prompts, automating routine tasks and improving design efficiency. It will also empower seasoned engineers to accelerate development and mentor newcomers on a learning path more efficiently and effectively. Additionally, it will assist in finding relevant help from vast collections of information to further educate developers.
Rockwell and Microsoft see a bright future in extending this integrated technology to solve other challenges. These include quality management and improvement, failure mode analysis, and training frontline workers to execute manufacturing processes through chat-based collaboration with experienced human workers, as well as Azure Open AI Service-based chatbots.
“The explosive growth and interest in artificial intelligence is driving organizations to partner with Microsoft as a trusted cloud and AI provider,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft, in the release. “I am pleased to further strengthen our longstanding relationship with Rockwell by combining its expertise in industrial automation with Microsoft’s generative AI technology to help industrial professionals expedite the creation of complex control systems, optimize the efficiency of their operations, and spur greater innovation across industrial organizations.”
Rockwell and Microsoft said they are also continuing to explore ways to advance innovation in the industrial metaverse. Both companies are using their respective IoT capabilities, cloud datasets, simulations, and AI to design and build products more effectively, more efficiently, and more sustainably.