Preface

Advancements in science and technology are rapidly modernizing human lifestyles, especially in the 21st century. Industries are increasingly leveraging automation and cutting-edge technology to streamline tasks and meet evolving demands. Industry 1.0 was built on “water and steam,” Industry 2.0 harnessed “advanced electrical technology,” Industry 3.0 introduced automation through electronics and IT, and Industry 4.0 brought forth intelligent, autonomous robots. Now, Industry 5.0 focuses on using collaborative robots, or cobots, enabling users to design with greater freedom. To fully realize this potential, the IT industry must contribute more creatively to future industrial needs. This book, structured into 18 chapters and three sections - Fundamentals; Applications; and Challenges - reflects the current and emerging market trends that shape industrial growth. Each chapter explores how businesses incorporating hardware and software— like AI, cognitive computing, blockchain, IIoT, and more—are capitalizing on these innovations to maintain a competitive edge.

The research and development in the area of technology has increased the cost-effectiveness and acceptance of these IoT-enabled devices in many different industries. Various sectors including manufacturing, healthcare sectors, transportation sector, and the agriculture sector have begun incorporating robots and cobots into their operations. They are aiming to increase their productivity, reduce the downtime of their equipment, and optimize resource utilization. Chapter 1 offers a comprehensive review of how robots and cobots in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have the potential to revolutionize businesses, serving as a valuable resource for researchers interested in this transformative technology.

Chapter 2 focuses on the role of cobots in the successful implementation of Industry 5.0, examining their potential applications across various industries. It compares the functions of robots and cobots, highlighting their key differences, and introduces a conceptual cobot-based cyber-physical system. The chapter also investigates the explicit use of human intelligence in different applications and discusses the risks and security threats to cobots, along with mitigation techniques.

Chapter 3 explores how cobots offer the most significant value in scenarios where human proximity is essential. The direct interaction between humans and robots can be either the greatest advantage or limitation of collaborative systems, depending on its impact on human factors like ergonomics and psychological stress. Recent case studies have demonstrated the successful implementation of cobots across various industries, establishing their role in the Industry 5.0 revolution, especially in the health sector.

Chapter 4 offers a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic interaction between robots, cobots, and smart transportation, highlighting their transformative potential. The use of robotic technology, particularly collaborative robots, or cobots, has made a profound impact on the evolution of transportation within smart cities. It also examines various machine learning methods and IoT applications that enhance synergy within Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

Chapter 5 explores low/no-code development, a method that enables application design and development using interactive graphical interfaces, eliminating the need for traditional coding. Low/No-code development platforms established a new paradigm in application development, offering ease of use around the environment that allowed non-IT professionals to build applications with very minimal or no coding experience. This approach allows non-IT professionals to create applications without writing a single line of code.

Chapter 6 provides critical insights into the benefits that Industry 5.0 offers to the workforce, as well as the challenges workers will face during this transition to the Fifth Industrial Revolution. It outlines the skills workers need to be equipped for Industry 5.0 and addresses the issues surrounding the integration of technology with the human workforce. The chapter also offers considerations for managers when merging technology with human resources and provides recommendations for reskilling and upskilling workers to prepare them for the future of work.

Chapter 7 delves into the concepts and applications of intelligent robots and cobots within the context of Industry 5.0 transformation. It provides an overview of Industry 5.0, emphasizing its goal of merging human capabilities with advanced technologies, and examines the characteristics, functionalities, and potential benefits of intelligent robots and cobots.

Chapter 8 reviews multiple human-machine collaboration strategies studied to guide businesses and researchers in making informed decisions in Industry 5.0, where human-machine collaboration is the primary focus. The objective of intelligent process automation is to assist cobots in establishing both production objectives and industrial plant safety measures. The chapter emphasizes how Industry 5.0 aims to transform human-technology interactions through Artificial Intelligence.

Chapter 9 delves into the development of a vision-guided robotic device, also known as a cobot, designed for performing a variety of precise tasks. Cobots can be used for hygienic and precise manipulation and assembly of medical equipment or implants, reducing the danger of human contamination, penetrating illnesses, and maintaining clean environments. The chapter highlights how cobots’ ease of programming, installation, and collaboration helps maximize throughput and maintain consistent quality.

Chapter 10 covers the design, construction, applications, and role of robotic arms in the industry. A computer-aided design (CAD) model of a robotic arm is developed using CREO/SolidWorks and analyzed with ANSYS, demonstrating the crucial role of material properties under various loading conditions. The chapter aims to create a robotic arm that is highly accurate, precise, lightweight, and easily transportable.

Chapter 11 explores the potential of Industry 5.0, which aims to overcome challenges by fostering collaboration between robots and humans, rather than competition. Industry 5.0 is expected to profit from different promising advances and applications empowering expanded creation and unconstrained conveyance of modified items. It thoroughly discusses the various applications of Industry 5.0, including intelligent healthcare, cloud manufacturing, supply chain management, and production.

Collection of proper aviation resources determines how the chatbots and robots are going to perform and up to what accuracy. Translation analysis determines the accuracy of translations and transliterations, whereas other parameters determine how that particular aviation bots interact with passengers. Chapter 12 focuses on effectively managing the development of various bots related to the aviation industry.

Chapter 13 explores hydroponics, a soil-less plant cultivation method within horticulture, and examines how cobots can streamline this process and enhance plant survival. Existing traditional farming systems can lead to soil degradation, reduced crop yields, and water scarcity due to high water usage for irrigation. Together, hydroponics and cobots create a more efficient and effective system for plant growth.

Chapter 14 highlights the latest advancements in big data analytics for cobots, addressing the challenges researchers face within IoT environments. Data analytics for IoT within the realm of cobots involves collecting, processing, and analyzing the copious data generated by IoT devices to extract insights and inform decision-making. Cobots and other IoT devices produce various data types, ranging from structured to unstructured, originating from sources like sensors and wearables. It discusses gaps in analytics, research methodologies, and data management techniques.

Chapter 15 focuses on the design and control of soft robots, reviewing commonly used manufacturing materials and their characteristics. Soft robots are well-known for their ability to control the range of force in which they act such as the ones used in material prehension. Also, soft robots are smart robots. It highlights the diverse applications of soft robots in everyday life, such as wearables, mechanical motion, surgeries, and more.

Chapter 16 introduces an innovative model where collaborative robots (cobots) leverage microservices and swarm intelligence within a shared industrial workspace. Evaluating the deployment of the collaborative robot service is necessary in the industrial sectors as well as for researchers. This chapter also addresses deployment constraints, evaluation processes, and service performance when applying swarm intelligence via microservices. The work will also highlight the deployment constraint and performance aspects of service while utilizing the swarm intelligence through microservices.

Chapter 17 examines the security of industrial robots and cobots, beginning with an introduction to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its various facets. Because, when dealing with a cobot, it is recommended to have a heightened knowledge of the many areas of cyber security and how they relate to the safety of the system. It then explores the vulnerabilities and attacks that industrial robots and cobots may encounter.

The integration of cobots into interconnected networks and their reliance on digital communication channels raise significant cybersecurity concerns. Traditional...