The question

The contribution of automation to the overall well-being of humans is undeniable. In the evolution of humans, there have been several important steps. The last one hundred years have been dominated by automation technologies. Today, we can hardly find a product, service, or process where automation does not aid in obtaining better results. Our quality of life is improved by automation helping out in producing these articles or services of daily use. Automation reduces human effort in manufacturing; it also provides better control over the process, thereby increasing throughput and quality. Now it’s time to ask, “What’s next?”

There is a question that every young aspirant dreads at a recruitment interview. The interviewer asks so casually, “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?” In the same vein, “Where should we envision automation in the next two decades?” The question has to be answered both in terms...