Have you ever taken the time out to think about how far automobiles have come since their creation over a hundred years ago? Automobiles were one of the main features of the Second Industrial Revolution, which introduced electricity and combustible engines.
It’s been over a century since the Second Industrial Revolution, and now we’re in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is also known as Industry 4.0. You can’t even find the similarities between cars then and now. With young professionals in the tech industry coming up with new technology every day, the internet of things, and smart factories, today’s automotive industry is one of the greatest accomplishments in U.S. history. Continue reading to learn how the Fourth Industrial Revolution has changed car manufacturing forever.
What exactly is Industry 4.0?
If you’re not a technology buff, you’re probably still wondering, “What is Industry 4.0?” We can tell you that Industry 4.0 is much more than a cool nickname for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but maybe you could use some background on the First, Second, and Third Industrial Revolution.
The First Industrial Revolution brought the invention of manufacturing machines, mass production, and steam as a source of energy to power locomotives and other heavy machinery. The Second Industrial Revolution gave us mechanical power, electricity, and of course, automobiles. The Third Industrial Revolution brought computers, electronics, and digital communications, and here we are now, in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 can be considered a continuance of the last industrial revolution since that it’s essentially been the furtherance of digital technology in the form of artificial intelligence, automation, machine learning algorithms, and the internet of things (IoT). In other words, all of the great things we were told were coming in the Third Industrial Revolution are finally a reality.
With smart factories that can communicate with each other and adjust processes in real-time using artificial intelligence and analytics tools capable of predicting maintenance needs, there’s no turning back now. The digitization of auto manufacturing is making vehicles smarter, safer, and more energy-efficient than ever.
Industry 4.0 is making cars safer.
One of the greatest developments of industry 4.0 is cyber-physical systems, which can communicate via the internet. These cyber-physical systems show up in new features like driver-assist, lane correct, automatic parallel parking, and self-driving vehicles. With sensors and high-resolution cameras, these new automobiles can quickly receive, process, and react to data, making driving safer for everyone on the road and parallel parking easier than ever.
Some of the safety features on these new Industry 4.0 automobiles can actually help you to get discounts on your car insurance. Of course, the safer your vehicle is, and the better your driving history and credit score are, the lower your car insurance premium will be.
Industry professionals have been working for years on different ways to make driving easier and safer, and to no surprise, the digital revolution has answered the toll. However, the Fourth Industrial Revolution made cars safer and smarter, making them more affordable. Learn how in the next section.
The auto industry is doing the electric slide.
If the many driver-assist features and the coming of driverless vehicles aren’t enough to get your engine revved, the prospect of saving at the pump should. In fact, how about we eliminate the pump and replace it with a charging station?
One of the most exciting new developments of the current industrial revolution is the rise of electric automobiles. Electric cars have become so popular that Tesla Motors is now the most valuable automaker in the U.S., and GM has committed to having a completely electric line of vehicles in the next couple of decades.
As you can see, Industry 4.0 has revolutionized the car manufacturing process and forever changed the vehicles we drive. Even George Jetson would be amazed.
