Historians argue about when and how exactly automation began. Some claim that it had its beginnings in ancient times. However, when looking at the major turning points in the past, the industrial revolution at the end of the 18th century is often categorized as the starting point. Today, the categorization of the stage of development based on the terms “Industry 1.0” to “5.0” is a common model to simplify the most important milestones of automation. New inventions have made it possible to automate processes and revolutionize the world of work. The following is an overview of the development phases and their technological breakthroughs - from steam power to Artificial Intelligence.
The first industrial revolution represents a key turning point in the history of the world of work. This phase is also known as industrialisation and triggered a major change. This process began in Great Britain in the late 18th century and then spread across Europe and later around the world. The foundations for automation were laid during this period. With the help of water and steam power, heavy, monotonous work could now be carried out by machines, allowing activities to be performed more quickly. This period also marked the transition from manual and agricultural production to mechanisation. A well-known example is the loom from the textile industry. This could be mechanised with the help of machines and ultimately led to an increase in production in the factories.
The second industrial revolution forms the basis of the term "Industry 2.0". This phase is primarily characterized by the invention of electricity at the end of the 19th century. Thanks to electricity, it was finally possible to mass produce on assembly lines. In 1913, Henry Ford developed the first flexible assembly line in Detroit, revolutionizing previous production processes and making his vision of mass production a reality. With the help of electrical energy, the dependence on water and steam as energy suppliers could be ended. This development represents another significant milestone in the history of automation. At the same time, however, networking and communication in everyday working life also developed further: the invention of the telephone and telegram made communication channels much easier.
Industry 3.0 is primarily characterised by the development of the first computers. In 1941, the German civil engineer Konrad Ernst Otto Zuse developed the world's first functional computer, the Z3. It was programme-controlled, freely programmable and fully automatic. The first commercial computer was rented out as early as 1950. However, it was not until the late 20th century, in the 1970s, that the true age of Industry 3.0 began. Personal computers (PCs) finally found their way into everyday office life and private households, giving rise to a new branch of industry. During this time, automation has progressed further through information technology and electrical engineering. Thanks to the introduction of these digital technologies, various applications can finally be fully automated and therefore carried out without human intervention. Industry 3.0 was also the starting signal for robotics: in response to the economic crisis and a high unemployment rate, new types of automation solutions gradually became established and were initially used across the board, particularly in automotive factories.
We are currently in a time of the fourth major technological breakthrough, the Industry 4.0. This is a term for modern technology and production in the age of the digital revolution and networking. Industry 4.0 stands for the digitalization of production. Real and virtual worlds interact and grow together to form the "Internet of Things". This refers to a networked world of smart devices: Computer systems that are linked together and have their own intelligence, artificial intelligence. Industry 4.0 therefore also stands for the intelligent networking of machines and processes, which is made possible by modern information and communication technologies. Manufacturing processes and information technologies are therefore merging more and more.
If we put the focus back on people and see robots more as an aid, Industry 5.0 can be seen as a future evolutionary step in industrial development. This is about the cooperation between humans and intelligent machines. The respective strengths and capabilities are to be combined in order to create more efficient and flexible production processes. The main aim of Industry 5.0 is to create sustainable and harmonious collaboration between humans and machines in order to minimize the ecological impact of industrial production. In addition to automation, the most important buzzwords surrounding Industry 5.0 are artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, machine learning, robotics, intelligent systems and virtualization. The coming years will show whether we will succeed in creating a sustainable, human-centered and resilient industry. For this to succeed, the individual players in society must also be aware of their responsibilities, make decisions and use their influence on industry and technology. In Europe, for example, the EU is already focusing on Industry 5.0 in the area of research and development: it is defining what is specifically needed, how and what goals need to be achieved and what has already been successfully implemented.
