Meet Chatbot, and Experience Machine Tool Humanization

Chatbot is an app enabling humans and machines, in this case you and Porta Solutions’ Multicenter flexible machine, to briefly co-exist in the same dimension.

Developed in partnership with Cisco, the Porta Multicenter Chatbot is one of the first applications enabling an interactive dialog between a person and a machine tool. In this context, the person (operator, maintenance, manager, even the CEO) can easily interact with the machine without any skill or training needed besides the experience of speaking to a smartphone app.

As a response to a large number of possible questions, you get a streaming answer from the Porta Multicenter with data about productivity, part number currently in production, next change-over timing, maintenance schedule, I/O status, etc. This can be done standing next to the machine or remotely from across the world.

It is not a one-sided conversation, the Porta Multicenter will even, as needed, initiate chat with you by informing you of the next maintenance required, the need for oil change in the next week, or the need to change tools due to projected wear curve or a higher temperature in the spindle.

The idea was born specifically to benefit a lean, high-production environment, where the speed of data and information is key for the Multicenter’s performance and flexibility. Simplify the life of a production department, and avoid the future challenge of fewer and fewer skilled operators by adopting an easier way to interact with your machine tool; that’s the philosophy here.

If you want to sample this experience, visit the Porta Solutions booth and see it in action. The application will be connected to a real Multicenter machine running in Italy, and from a simple tablet or smartphone you will be able to chat and get the machine condition right here in Chicago!