Topical Roundup: June 2026

In this topical roundup, learn why factory success depends on execution, not ambition; how to use AI tool OpenClaw; and why your industrial automation project is over-budget and under-delivering. This month, the automation industry is offering two great live opportunities to learn and discuss these topics and more: the International Society of Automation’s OT Cybersecurity Summit from June 16-18 in Prague and A3’s Automate from June 22-25 in Chicago.

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Operations and Management

OpenClaw Explained: The Viral AI Agent’s Surge and Security Risks: The tool operates with broad system privileges and autonomous execution capabilities, demonstrating how natural language can directly control real systems.

Four Reasons Your Industrial Automation and Logistics Tech Project Is Over Budget and Under Delivering: The same four failure patterns appear again and again across industrial automation and logistics technology deployments — and they're preventable, but only if you know to look for them before the project kicks off.

Industrial Cybersecurity & Safety

When Supplier Access Becomes an OT Security Risk: Your organization may have air-tight cybersecurity practices, but have you considered the risks of third-party remote access?

Certified Secure: Understanding ISA/IEC 62443 Certification Pathways: Whether you’re an asset owner or OT cybersecurity product supplier, now is the time to understand the benefits and methods of certification to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards.

Process Automation and Control

Ask the Automation Pros: What Are the Process Control Simulation Requirements for Automation Projects?: Simulation of process control can ensure productive automation projects. But how much effort should be allocated to simulation, testing and training. Ask the pros!

Open, Proprietary or Managed Ecosystems Require Critical Business Management Decisions: Industrial control and automation systems investments require critical business management decisions for long term competitiveness, growth and profits over time.

Factory Automation and Control

The Industrial Reality Check: Why Factory Success Depends on Execution, Not Ambition: Ambitious digital roadmaps abound, but as we've seen, they often falter against the brownfield reality of legacy equipment, data silos and zero-tolerance downtime. The differentiator isn't vision; it's disciplined implementation.

Humanoid Robots: A Premium Growth Market for Motion Controls: Motion control demand tied to humanoid applications is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 102% from 2023 through 2029.

Industrial Data and Connectivity

AI-Driven Observability for Cloud-Native Industrial Systems: AI-driven observability enables organizations to move from reactive monitoring to proactive system management, improving reliability and operational efficiency.

Why SGP.32 Specification Is Changing the Rules of Vehicle Connectivity: Standards like SGP.32, which simplify, secure and scale connectivity, will define the next decade of automotive innovation.

IIoT and Digital Transformation

Defining Digital Twin: History, Attributes and Examples: The original definition of “digital twin” came from Dr. Michael Grieves in 2022. The definition has evolved considerably since then.

How a Good Story Can Save Your Industrial Transformation: Industrial transformation isn’t just a technical challenge — it’s a storytelling challenge. Those who master it will move the fastest.