"We provide 3D playgrounds for the industry"

Mika Anttila: I was 14 when I sold my first self-developed software to my neighbours. It was a simple word processing programm. In December 1999, I joined Visual Components as one of the first employees. Ever since I was a child, my goal has always been to solve problems using software - and I still do that today.

Mika Anttila: You could say that we provide 3D playgrounds for industry. We can virtually represent everything that is to be installed in such a factory - in all the shapes and colours together with realistic operation. This could be an assembly line, a robot or even an employee who will later work in the real factory.

Mika Anttila: There are more and more robots in the world, automation is constantly increasing - and above all the variety of robot systems. In addition to traditional industrial robots, there are now cobots, mobile robots and even the first humanoid robots, which will soon be used in factories. This together with custom production variants increases complexity. It is a great advantage if you can simulate these complex systems and plans in advance as a 3D model. This allows you to quickly find out what works and what doesn't. We support our customers in getting to grips with this complexity.

However, these topics are also in vogue because they enable targeted optimization. The entire industry is striving for efficiency. And thanks to simulation, it is also possible to convince decision-makers in companies much more quickly of the benefits of planning. The charm of 3D models is that you can delve deep into robot programming and use realistic animations to present your ideas and processes very impressively to all target groups.

Mika Anttila: AI is here to stay and the speed at which AI can be utilized is increasing. We have just started to realize the potential of AI. Simulation can be used to create data sets and test AI algorithms, but AI can also make simulation creation and usage easier by assisting and automating user tasks.. We are working on making AI-based tools available to our customers. There is also a project within KUKA where we are working with Microsoft to explore how AI can simplify the programming of a robot.

Mika Anttila: Many of our customers appreciate the creative playground that we offer them with our software. Every day they are looking for solutions on how they can automate processes, how they want to use robots in their production or how new factories can be planned most efficiently. Running through these topics in advance in the 3D model has many advantages: different variants can be tested, processes optimized and the required hardware selected accordingly at the end. The simulation often results in completely new ideas or approaches. This is also very much appreciated.

Mika Anttila: One challenge at the moment is to enable several people to work together in a 3D model. As the products and the data are not yet in the cloud, they are often only used by one person. With projects as complex as the simulation of an entire factory, however, many more people are naturally involved. The aim must therefore be for everyone to be able to work with the same product and the same data – even if they come from outside the company. This is the point at which cloud aspects and data management can come into play. External contractors could then work on the project together with in-house robot programmers.

Mika Anttila: I always say that simulation has a kind of sustainability built in. If a project is represented in advance as a 3D model, everything can be reduced to the essentials needed to solve the task: the hardware used, the energy required to operate it - optimizing the production processes always goes hand in hand with optimizing the energy and raw materials used along the way.

Mika Anttila: The digital models of robot systems, especially the digital twins of machines, will become mainstream. They will become the standard for communication and collaboration - from system design to programming. 3D simulated machines, robots etc. with all details like robot programs can be easily accessed and managed in the cloud environment. There will definitely be a focus on user-friendliness - as is always the case when a topic becomes mainstream and is therefore used by a broad mass of people and not just experts.