Key Words: Artificial intelligence; control theory; data driven; decision making; industry; industrial automation; integration; learning; modeling; operation control; process control; security; system theory.
Abstract. Industrial automation has entered a new stage in its long historical development by integrating the remarkable achievements of AI, accelerating exponentially in the last decade. The present work aims to summarize the prospects and expected main directions of the evolution of industrial automation in the era of artificial intelligence. It is based on the realistic assumption that innovations in industrial automation will be implemented primarily by upgrading existing and proven industrial facility management systems. One of the main directions is the multifaceted expansion of modern capabilities of industrial automation through the adaptation and further development of leading artificial intelligence technologies. The functional scope of industrial automation systems is expanding through “end-to-end automation” of industrial systems with a focus on operational management of the final production stages; the increasing volume of automation of particularly important procedures such as decision-making, dynamic optimization, coordination in unforeseen and extreme conditions (damages, accidents, disasters); predictive maintenance of the technical condition of facilities. Modern industrial automation, integrating elements of artificial intelligence, will implement a new approach in the strategy of industrial management through the transformation of approaches to achieving high efficiency, production quality, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence methods will expand the capabilities of modern management of complex objects with large dimensions, nonlinearity, uncertainty, non-stationary variability of structures, models, parameters, and disturbances. The learning methods and generative capabilities of artificial intelligence systems will allow the implementation of complex hierarchical, networked and multi-connected structures with autonomous agents, necessary for a number of critical industrial infrastructure systems. Integrating elements of artificial intelligence into industrial automation systems still poses a major challenge for researchers, designers, operators and managers. Therefore, any implementation of artificial intelligence technologies so far has a unique character, represents an innovative solution and requires significant efforts, a holistic approach and conviction. The undoubted rapid development of artificial intelligence in the coming years and the increased needs of industrial systems will simulate rapid progress in industrial automation systems.
