Enhancing Cybersecurity in Industry 4.0: The Rise of Human-Centered Remote Robot Control

Summary

For the third year running, the manufacturing sector has been the number one target for cyberattacks. According to IBM’s newly published X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024, a quarter of all cyberattacks across the top ten industries were aimed at manufacturers, as legions of bad actors try to take advantage of the manufacturing sector’s sensitivity to costly downtime.

The concerning risk environment has brought cybersecurity issues around automation into sharp focus, especially when it comes to remote robot monitoring and control systems. Understandably, many companies have been reluctant to introduce remote robot control technology to their facilities, due to the perceived risks involved.

Historically, computers connected to the cloud have been used to remotely control industrial robots automatically, without human intervention. This approach is well-established and well-understood. But when a permanent connection to the cloud is involved, these systems expose manufacturers to additional cybersecurity threats.

This heightened risk–alongside the physical safety risks associated with traditional remote robot control techniques—has been enough to dissuade many companies from investing in remote robot control technologies.

Yet the need has never been more urgent. Robot downtime is extremely costly and combating it has traditionally been an expensive race against time when it comes to diagnosing robot problems and initiating a fix. And malicious cyberattacks target the manufacturing sector 24/7.

A new, human-centered approach changes this dynamic, enabling remote robot monitoring and control without exposing companies to cybersecurity and physical safety risks.

Leveraging several USB or Power-over-Ethernet cameras, a compute box hosted on-premise, and sophisticated software, the new plug-and-play systems provide 24/7 low latency video and data access to any robot cell.

And to the relief of manufacturers concerned about cybersecurity, this approach sidesteps the cloud completely. Instead, connection is made via secure remote access and can be accessed on any device capable of handling a browser.

Crucially, humans–rather than computers–remain in control according to this new approach to remote robot control. For integrators, this means being able to monitor, manage, and control automation from anywhere.
When a robot encounters an issue, an alert is sent through a secure connection that sidesteps the cloud, thereby mitigating a myriad of cybersecurity risks. Traditional approaches required integrators or other experts to travel onsite to diagnose and fix robot issues in person –adding further costs and extending the length of time the robot is out of action.

The new system, by contrast, acts like an airplane’s ‘black box’. Diagnosing the problem is a matter of checking the video and data logs. And fixing the problem can be as simple as remotely moving a gripper to get it to release a part. Moreover, the new approach provides continuous monitoring of the automation cell, making it easier to operate and maintain. Analytics also receive a boost from the continuous flow of data, allowing companies to incorporate key performance indicators, such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness in their decision-making.

For integrators the new system means being able to handle multiple robots from a single location, enabling integrators to grow their business and support automation adoption throughout the industrial sector.
For end users, it means radically reduced downtime, cost savings, and the ability to get back up and running within hours rather than days–and all without the cybersecurity and physical safety risks that come with more traditional solutions.

Physical safety concerns around traditional remote robot control have been a major obstacle to the adoption of remote robot control systems. The new approach allows operators to remotely correct errors and adjust robot operations without compromising on safety protocols, ensuring that remote operators cannot override the robot cell's existing safety settings and limits.

The implications of this fresh approach to remote robot monitoring and control are far-reaching. Not only does it lower the barrier to automation adoption by enhancing operational security and efficiency, but it also opens up new business growth possibilities for integrators. Today, companies can confidently adopt remote robot monitoring and control technology, knowing that the challenges around robot safety and cybersecurity have been effectively addressed.