The new Automatica Sprint trade fair format starts on June 22. Participants can expect an extensive range of innovations as well as numerous presentations and discussion panels on challenges in the field of robotics and automation. "The industry longs for exchange," comments Anja Schneider, Project Manager Automatica at Messe München. "With Automatica Sprint, we are offering it a digital stage for this. We are looking forward to the online event and the trust our exhibitors have placed in us to break new ground together."

The digital format will focus on the solutions and products of around 80 exhibitors. The international industry representatives include ABB, Basler, Bosch Rexroth, Epson, Fanuc, Festo, Hahn Automation, IDS, Kuka, Manz, MVTec, Schaeffler, Schunk, Siemens, Stäubli, teamtechnik, Universal and Yaskawa. In the companies' individual brand rooms, participants will have the opportunity to obtain detailed information and make direct contact with the exhibitors via various channels.

In addition to the companies' brand rooms, Automatica Sprint offers a varied supporting program on developments and trends in the automation industry. Company sessions offer insights into new developments and innovations from industry key players and range from specialist lectures and live product presentations to panel discussions on topics such as cobots, smart manufacturing, connectivity, energy efficiency and artificial intelligence. There will also be daily panel discussions with industry experts on topics such as 5G, robotics in SMEs and industrial image processing.

The English-language discussion panel 'Applying AI - How to create responsible technological innovations that promote wellbeing' will focus on the use of technical innovations such as AI, which are associated with ethical, social, political and legal challenges. In addition to Minister of State Bernd Sibler, representatives from BMW, Deutsches Museum, IBM and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) will discuss questions relating to this topic. The discussion will be chaired by Prof. Alena Buyx, Director of the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine and Director of munich_i.

The supporting program also includes a virtual demonstrator of OPC UA technology. This is a digital image of an assembly machine that trade fair visitors can immerse themselves in virtually. Non-visible processes in the real machine, such as communication between the individual elements, become comprehensible in this way and illustrate the concept of a 'digital twin'.

The munich_i platform

Automatica Sprint offers another innovation for participants under the name munich_i. The event for robotics and artificial intelligence consists of four elements: In addition to the Hightech Summit and the 'AI.Society', the components also include the 'Robothon' and the 'munich_i robot driver's license'.

The virtual summit on June 22 will focus on the interaction of human and artificial intelligence in the areas of work, health and mobility. The summit will be opened by Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder, patron of munich_i. On all three days of the event, start-up companies and chairs from the Technical University of Munich will be showcasing the applications of artificial intelligence that have already found their way into everyday life as part of the digital exhibition AI.Society. The Robothon developer competition is looking for the creative minds of tomorrow. On June 22, an independent jury will award the winner of the challenge. The munich_i robot driver's license combines theory and practice. Online workshops aimed at interested children, young people and adults will use concrete application examples to show how robotics can make our everyday lives easier in the future.

Participation in munich_i is included in the ticket for visitors to the Automatica Sprint digital platform. The event will be held in English.