IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2021 - 176

human-centric economy, and support
digital, ecological, and energy
transitions. These themes are very close
to the heart of the younger generations,
especially Millennials and Generation
Z, as demonstrated by the Fridays for
Future international movement.
In this regard, the role of robot companions
is also particularly important.
In fact, the themes of Industry 5.0 and
robot companions are closely related
and face common challenges in different
sectors (the automotive industry,
agriculture, medicine, and process digitization)
as well as in everyday life (for
example, logistics, mobility, high-quality
services, affordable health care, and
safety) in complex and integrated ecosystems.
The concept of robot companions
was first introduced in 2011 in the
Future and Emerging Technologies
Figure 3. Document, released by the
Directorate-General for Research and
Innovation (European Commission), which
frames the novel concept of Industry 5.0 as
a complement to the existing I4.0 paradigm
by highlighting research and innovation
as drivers for a transition to a sustainable,
human-centric, and resilient European
industry. (Source: stock.adobe.com.)
Industry 1.0
Industry 2.0
Figure 5. Infographic representing the concept of Industry 5.0 according to the
document titled " Industry 5.0. Towards a Sustainable, Human-Centric, and Resilient
European Industry, " released by the European Commission. (Source: https://op.europa
.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/aed3280d-70fe-11eb-9ac9-01aa75ed71a1.)
Industry 3.0 Industry 4.0
Industry 5.0
Human-Centric
Sustainable
Resilient
1765
Mechanization
1870
Mass
Production
Steam Power Electricity and
Assembly Line
1969
Autonomous
System
Electronics,
Computers, and
Robotics
Present
Digitalization
Internet of Things,
Cyberphysical
Systems and
AI
Future
Figure 4. The five industrial revolutions. Like the First Industrial Revolution's steam-powered factories, the Second Industrial
Revolution's mass production, and the Third Industrial Revolution's beginning of digitization, the Fourth Industrial Revolution's
technologies, such as AI, augmented reality, automation, robotics, and 3D printing should be humanly and ecologically deployed,
rising a Fifth Industrial Revolution, changing the way humans create, exchange, and distribute value. Industry 5.0 recognizes
the power of industry to achieve societal goals beyond jobs and growth to become a resilient provider of prosperity by making
production respect the boundaries of our planet and placing the well-being of the human worker at the center of the production
process. AI: artificial intelligence.
176 * IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE * SEPTEMBER 2021
IMAGE CREDITS: © VECTORMINE, 303873962, 2020.
FREEPIK.COM.

http://www.FREEPIK.COM https://www.op.europa http://stock.adobe.com

IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2021

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