C h a p t e r 1
INTELLIGENCE AND
AUTONOMY ON THE
FACTORY FLOOR
Defining the Difference
With the rise of smart technology and
the Internet of Things (IoT), the words
"autonomy" and "intelligence" have
gained much currency. However, in an
engineering context, we must understand
the distinction.
Autonomy means independence. It is a
system's ability to make its own decisions
and complete tasks without human input.
Intelligence is the ability to perceive and
understand. These systems analyze,
learn, and judge their environment. An
autonomous delivery robot can follow a
route on a map; intelligence enables it to
Hector Barresi
Industrial Technology Advisor
Intelligence fuels autonomy. While
intelligence refers to a system's
ability to process information, learn
from data, and make decisions—
often using AI or advanced
algorithms—autonomy is the system's
capacity to act independently without
human intervention, often leveraging
that intelligence."
navigate around a lamppost. Therefore,
while often complementary, the two
qualities remain distinct.
Transitioning from Industry 4.0
to Industry 5.0
Think of the smart factory as a facility
where autonomous systems do much
of the work. The ultimate evolution of
the smart factory is a fully autonomous
facility that operates without the need
for human operators. Machines manage
operations and stay connected through
the IoT. This has been described as the
fourth industrial revolution, otherwise
known as Industry 4.0.
6
Autonomy Meets Intelligence: Enabling the Future of Factory Automation
