Mouser Electronics, a global electronics components distributor, has partnered with STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor company, to analyze how AI, sensing, and intelligent systems are revolutionizing manufacturing.

Mouser, in collaboration with ST, has published a new eBook exploring the latest challenges and technology trends in industrial automation.

This e-book is garnering industry attention for its in-depth analysis of how automation, sensing, and AI-based intelligent systems are solving manufacturing challenges.

Smart factories are evolving into faster, safer, and more flexible production environments based on Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 concepts.

To achieve this, cutting-edge technologies such as high-speed communication, precision sensing, and edge AI are essential.

This e-book, "Autonomy Meets Intelligence: Enabling the Future of Factory Automation," features ten industry experts who discuss the changes AI and machine learning (ML) are bringing to manufacturing and their practical applications.

In particular, AI and ML technologies enable robots to recognize their surroundings, analyze patterns, and make decisions based on real-time data. It is positioned as a key element of factory automation, supporting the elimination of

The eBook also covers ST's key product lines that help apply these technologies in industrial settings.

Representative examples include the STM32N6 microcontroller (MCU), available from Mouser, which features ST’s proprietary Neural-ART Accelerator™ designed for embedded inference, delivering up to 600x improved machine learning performance compared to existing STM32 MCUs.

Based on the 800MHz Cortex-M55, this MCU features 4.2MB RAM, NeoChrom GPU, H.264 hardware encoder, and Helium M-Profile Vector Extension, enabling computer vision, audio processing, and sound analysis in edge computing environments.

Additionally, the ISM330BX 6-axis IMU provides high-precision position measurement, in-sensor AI computing, high-speed data logging, sensor fusion capabilities, and can even implement human interface functions through capacitive sensors (Qvar).

This low-power sensor is suitable for building industrial systems with the smart, efficient, and safe features required in Industry 5.0 environments.

The VL53L8CH ToF (Time-of-Flight) sensor, which is considered a key sensor for AI-based applications, was also introduced.

This sensor outputs raw data in CNH (compact and normalized histogram) format, making it optimized for data-intensive AI models. It detects multiple objects over a wide FoV and provides crosstalk immunity of 60 cm or more, ensuring high reliability.

Also noteworthy is the STSPIN948-based X‑STM32MP‑RBT01 expansion board for industrial robotics development.

It can drive four DC motors simultaneously with up to 48V power and enables rapid prototyping of automation and robotics applications when used with the STM32MP157F‑DK2 or STM32MP257F‑DK Discovery Kit.

This board is equipped with various sensors, including a 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic sensor, pressure sensor, and 8x8 multi-zone ToF sensor, allowing it to precisely simulate real-world industrial environments.

Mouser said that this e-book provides an at-a-glance overview of the key technologies driving the future of industrial automation and ST's latest solutions.

The eBook is available for free in the Mouser Resource Center, and Mouser plans to continue providing a variety of technical content to support manufacturing innovation.