Leveraging AI and ML in Industry w/ Jordan Reynolds, VP of AI at Rockwell Automation

In this episode of the Industry 4.0 Community Podcast, host Walker Reynolds talks with Jordan Reynolds, VP of AI and Autonomy at Rockwell Automation, about the transformative role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in industrial automation. They explore how AI is revolutionizing manufacturing processes, particularly in autonomous systems and material handling, and discuss practical steps for manufacturers to begin leveraging these technologies. Jordan also shares insights on Rockwell's AI initiatives, highlighting the importance of customer data collaboration and advanced edge computing solutions. Join us for an insightful discussion on the future of AI in Industry 4.0.

0:00 Introduction
9:00 What is Rockwell doing in the AI space?
14:00 Difference between automation vs autonomy
17:50 How do customers opt in for data sharing?
23:15 How data rich industrial environments are...
26:10 Industrial data privacy and protection
29:18 How is Rockwell leading?
33:23 Vision ML Application use case question
39:40 How to approach a machine learning project? Custom vs off the shelf
47:32 How do system integrators / partners work with Rockwell to resell solutions?
52:05 Another ML application, how to communicate application needs to Rockwell? And how are they making it easier?
1:04:00 The importance of native integration / high speed applications
1:06:11 How do manufacturers get started with ML / AI?

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[.Solutions]

0:00 Introduction
9:00 What is Rockwell doing in the AI space?
14:00 Difference between automation vs autonomy
17:50 How do customers opt in for data sharing?
23:15 How data rich industrial environments are...
26:10 Industrial data privacy and protection... How is Rockwell leading?
33:23 Vision ML Application use case question
39:40 How to approach a machine learning project? Custom vs off the shelf
47:32 How do system integrators / partners work with Rockwell to resell solutions?
52:05 Another ML application, how to communicate application needs to Rockwell? And how are they making it easier?
58:10 What are Rockwell's latest offering for Edge Solutions? (Logix Edge)
1:04:00 The importance of native integration / high speed applications
1:06:11 How do manufacturers get started with ML / AI?

[MfgHappyHour]

Excellent convo. I appreciate the clear examples.

[rickbullotta]

This was super insightful from both of you. Agree with most of what was discussed - with one notable exception. I don't think most folks "should start with open source". Just like you shouldn't roll your own SCADA, you shouldn't roll your own AI/ML platform if something viable already exists (many of which are built on OSS underpinnings). Start with configurable/extensible solutions that allow rapid proof of value at little or no licensing costs.

[sherylmccrary]

Great conversation guys! Discussion of use cases requiring both proprietary data plus commonly generated process or vision data to solve are particularly useful. Interesting to hear Jordan say he thinks there's a community willing to share their data to create ML-optimized, open source process models. I'm not so convinced.

[youriregnaud]

Is there a reference available about comparaison between IT data and PLC volume data?

[rahulbashyal]

Hey Walker, I know you discussed pose estimation very shortly. Is there any guidance you could give a young career professional trying to get into this space? My back ground is in kinesiology, and am building experience in industrial ergonomics. I find Iot 4.0 interesting but feel that my background isn’t a match to get into a tech demanding job that builds such technologies? Am I reaching to say that ergonomics and system integrations are slowly merging? I feel the pressure to keep up with technology and that if I don’t I will not provide the best possible service or solution for those I try to help.
It seems everyone is trying to build some ml/ai solution but I know you said the best way to work with pose estimation is to work with what’s been built. Any thoughts would be much appreciated, I know I probably sound a bit confused.

[ravis]

34:12 *loaded into a truck* by a crane system is an optimization program running in may dockyards, its kind of pick and place where not only the final position is important but also exact weight and shape of goods, from where the goods needs to be picked up and what acceleration and optimal parabolic path movement should be conducted at best possible speed for each load so that there is zero over shoot, ZERO knocking (accidents) avoiding obstacles in the path by other goods placed in its path, or swing happening (over /undershoot), this application has no AI model running . Similar application is pick and placing missiles from one ship to another where in mistakes can result in blasts and mind you both the ships are oscillating by the sea /oceanic waves. This is not at all a vision problem it’s a pure drive control along with an excellent pick and place optimization and path creation application ( Mathematical solution). I may have misunderstood walkers’ description, he could clarify. As per me he selected a wrong solution for the given problem. This solution have been used for ages …… even before the birth of AI !!! I am unable to digest the 30K solution given by walker, that is not a right solution and I dispute this claim !! I am 100% sure Rockwell dives group will give you a better solution or even Siemens and ABB who have been doing is for ages!!

[ZackScriven]

39:40 i think that’s a very reasonable price to solve the problems for such a use xase

[BernhardLiebezeit]

Again, an incredible valuable video for any old school control engineer😳🧐👍

[ravis]

CAN any one tell me why 2nd level reply gets deleted in youtube comments ? I am unable to give counter reply to the comment made on my comments !! Is this a feature or a new bug in Youtube ? How do we mark this very issue appearing this page directly to youtube for this very presentation ?

[ravis]

16:23 *you realize that what this represents is a fundamental paradigm shift in the defin definition of a control system*
I strongly disagree to this statement, car driving is totally different from process control, in driving you have rule based but dynamics of control is not specified and in control plant process systems programs you have clear definition of how dynamics have to occur based on process knowhow !! It not rule based, so mapping the 2 is not a fair process !! In process control the programing is never going to be disrupted, its never operator based ( driver based ) operator skills are to play only along side he controls that are well predefined by process experts and fine tuning can be at best done by operator, he can never bring out a control philosophy for different verticals unlike the driver who can operate in different terrains !! Under process control random events are exceptions and in vehicles driving random events are the one that needs to be taken care of or controlled of always even if the driving path is consistent

[luisjohnson]

Excellent podcast. I am also forwarding your podcast to friends and collogues. My goal is to keep improving people's knowledge in mfg. systems. Walker, maybe a future podcast on "companies' hesitation for radical change in Technolgies and why companies tend to be afraid of this?" would be good. I think that's a fairly big challenge, especially dealing with leadership that has been burnt in their past by vendors of automation equipment and integrators. My experience is that most of the times, it's the fault of the customer by providing poor User Requirements and OEMs/integrators taking advantage of it. Keep up the good job