At last year’s IMTS in Chicago, machine-maker Makino showed off its Athena system—a voice-activated machine command center for operators. It is not clear to date if this kind of technology will permanently take off in machine shops—but you can see where this might be heading.
Imagine a digital system with artificial intelligence being able to tell operators about percentage of tool wear in real time—or other important active functions within a machine—allowing the operator to proactively react and avoid unplanned downtime or adjust setups and maintenance on the fly.
Did you see Athena in action at IMTS? Would you want to machine by the use of your voice?