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IIoT with a side of milk: How automation is changing the dairy industry

Jan. 28, 2016

It is undeniable that technology is affecting all aspects of our lives, but did you realize that robotic automation is changing the dairy industry?

It is undeniable that technology is affecting all aspects of our lives, but did you realize that robotic automation is changing the dairy industry? According to GeekWire, more than 30,000 autonomous milking machines have been sold around the world, and the trend is just now picking up speed in the United States. By 2025, as much as a quarter of the cows in North America could be milked by robots.

How does it work? Each cow has an RFID tag that identifies the cow and provides information about their last milking experience. While the cows are enjoying a mean of automatically dispensed feed, a robotic arm sanitizes the cow and begins the milking process. The system can even sense when the cow's milk has slowed to a trickle. And, if something goes wrong, the farmer gets an alert on his smart phone.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

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