Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a staple in numerous industries. However, that doesn’t mean its full potential is anywhere near tapped. In many ways, we’ve only scratched the surface of what AI can do, leaving plenty of room for future growth and development.
If you’re curious about the future of AI in engineering, here is a look at some of the ways the technology is impacting the field.
Error Identification and Correction
Engineering is highly mathematical in nature. Since many of the calculations are complex, doing them manually can lead to errors. If a mistake persists in a design, the resulting build can ultimately be catastrophic.
Fortunately, AI has the ability to reduce error rates. It can be designed to manage critical calculations or review existing math to identify mistakes. Often, it can either be set up to make corrections automatically or alert engineers to potential issues, allowing engineering teams to make any necessary changes. In both cases, error rates go down, increasing the odds that a final design will be safe and functional.
Solution Estimation
If an engineer is struggling with a structural or design-related issue, AI solutions may be able to render aid. They can assess what’s in place, as well as the parameters relating to the encountered challenge. Then, the system can analyze the available data within the context of the problem to find potential solutions.
In some cases, technologies such as these are in their infancy. AI isn’t as capable of examining a plan using the same approach as a person. These systems can’t easily account for certain design-related concerns, such as the overall aesthetic of each option. However, even now, it can present options that can send engineers in the right direction.
Smart Manufacturing
While IoT and AI are already present in many advanced manufacturing facilities, those technologies will only continue to improve. AI systems are becoming increasingly capable in manufacturing environments. Along with analyzing production data to identify bottlenecks and streamline operations, AI-supported automatic materials ordering, shipment tracking, and similar technologies are improving efficiency in many facilities.
Additionally, AI is leading to greater production accuracy. Outputs can be analyzed to identify issue-causing processes, creating opportunities for beneficial updates. Further, AI systems can review items for quality-related issues, automatically separating out products that don’t meet the cut.
Natural Language Processing
While natural language processing capabilities aren’t solely beneficial to the engineering field, improvements in these AI-oriented abilities will positively impact the sector. Engineers will be able to interact with systems using a conversational approach, making it easier to create designs, gather data, and take other steps there were purely manual some years ago.
Essentially, engineers will have the ability to direct the work of the system verbally. Overall, this has the potential to increase efficiency dramatically.
We Can Help You Navigate 2022
Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool that has the potential to reshape the engineering field. If you’d like to find out more, the staff at Selectek wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
