The Earth still keeps turning on
Once again we have experienced a most extraordinary summer season. The longest heat period and the highest daily average temperature in recorded history in Finland. The surface at Lake Kyrösjärvi was swarming with pikeperch - though most of them small ones. What a summer vacation!
During the first half of 2010 it shows that we are recovering from the global economic recession that severely hit most industries and societies. Still, many analysts are careful with any long-term forecasts and the pattern of volatility in the global economy is set to continue. China and India are the new engines for global industries, as well in resources available, as in market volume potential and new ways of innovation. They are a force for change that cannot be avoided – nor neglected.
We have also seen some major unexpected events that have shaken our feeling of safety: European business travel was dramatically stopped for weeks due to one single volcano in Iceland – in longer time perspective quite expected event- and the damaged oil well at Mexican gulf that spilled close to one million cubic metres of crude oil to the sea before set in control. It seems that we continue getting hit by surprises – despite all the best technologies and forecasting. That’s the way the Earth still keeps turning on.
FIMA has by 2010 finished the first round of its research programmes. It is a good time to evaluate the results, and to sharpen the focus for future programs & projects. Active search for new common research topics, and preparation of programs – supporting the domestic and international networking of its members – is in the core of FIMAs activities.
Automation and increased intelligence are emerging rapidly into areas where customers up till now have been traditional and careful with latest technologies. As an example, in mining the visions of "Mine of the Future" are coming a reality with remotely operated, fully automated or tele-operated processes. Automation and digitalization of signals and systems is not questioned any more – it is a pre-requisite to be able to measure, control and optimize.
As it seems that almost anything is technically possible, the new challenge that must be faced is how can we manage with the new technology. So far the emphasis often is to keep reliability level acceptable with increased technology and features, but instead, improved human-machine interaction and diagnostics should enable us to build more simple machines with better reliability and dependability than with traditional technology. Dependability is the keyword in FIMA’s latest project RelSteps that is just being initiated.
Machine safety is often on the top of agenda - on the other hand the safety features and standards for automation are mostly defined for automated process systems and factory automation. This is one area where we have an opportunity to be also globally in the forefront to develop safe machines that can respect the ”Human-In-the-Loop”. The scope in the FAMOUS program is focused in raising the productivity and safety of mobile working machines to the next level.
After the summer we have rolled up the sleeves and started working again. We will face more surprises with time, and I’m sure we can also create some positive ones with the unique combined knowledge base and common effort that we do have in FIMA.
Pasi Latva-Pukkila
Chairman of the Board, FIMA
Research Manager, Underground Mining
Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy
www.sandvik.com
