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Automation companies at the Industry Open Network 2026 exhibition showcased solutions that connect programmable logic controllers with artificial intelligence and cameras, aiming to simplify monitoring, program modification, and fault recording. The demonstrations indicate that the PLC is shifting from a standalone controller to an element connected to a broader operating and analysis system.
Industrial companies at Factory Innovation Week 2026 showcased solutions combining 3D vision and artificial intelligence to enable robots to pick up a variety of parts, including irregularly shaped and shape-changing objects. The demonstrations included machine vision systems, smart sensors, and solutions that can be integrated with robots and industrial controllers.
Panasonic Industry reviews more than a decade of experience collecting production data and standardizing operational knowledge before expanding its use of artificial intelligence and AI agents inside factories. The company explains that the practical value of AI depends first on the availability of structured, usable operational data.