INTELLIGENT AGENTS

Use RIOS AI to easily improve your manufacturing processes
MEET RIOSCREATE AN AGENT

Simple System

Easy to Deploy

Reduces Labor

Improves Performance

INTELLIGENT AGENTS

Control Processes Like Never Before

A flexible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sensor system which can be deployed at any industrial process step to see and predict objects and events, recommend actions and report on important metrics. It’s AI can be trained to make human-like decisions consistently and quickly.

We are thrilled to partner with Crow Engineering, bringing together our strengths in technology and engineering to innovate within the wood products industry. Our shared vision is to drive a significant leap in industrial efficiency and sustainability through automation and robotics.

Clinton Smith

Co-Founder & CEO, RIOS Corporation

KEY CAPABILITIES

Intelligent Agents: How They Work

Intelligent Agents use exceptional visual intelligence capabilities to optimize production processes and reduce situations that can negatively impact production. Here’s how they work.

Detect People and Objects

Intelligent Agents leverage Artificial Intelligence to train models that can detect people and nonuniform objects such as the top sheet of veneer panels. These models can detect simple and complex anomalies.

Detect Events

Intelligent Agents can be trained to detect events that can stop manufacturing processes – reducing downtime and increasing reliability.

Make Predictions

Intelligent Agents can predict issues before they happen – prompting staff to intervene prior to a machine failure. They can prompt staff intervention and stop or slow conveyers.

Recommend Actions

Intelligent Agents can recommend actions such as stopping machinery, performing maintenance and adjusting speed.

Applications for Intelligent Agents

Examples of process steps by industry where Intelligent Agents add value

WOOD PRODUCTS
Process Step AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Trim saw outfeed Skew, double lug Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Better quality outfeed, prevent jams in conveyance to round table/grader…
Stick separator Stick full length without broken ends Notification, robotic fix More efficient and effective separation
PANEL & VENEER
Location AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Log Singulation Doubles Notify, Stop, Fix Reduced costs due to doubles
Lathe Infeed Lathe tender Notify, Stop, Slow, Fix Eliminate or reduce lathe tendre labor
Clipper/Chipper Infeed Wad management Slow, Fix Eliminate downtime at machine centers clearing jams
Dryer Infeed Loader misfeed Identify, Fix Eliminate Headcount at Dryer Infeed
Dryer Outfeed Multi sheet stack to grader Notify, Stop, Fix Clear doubles, wads off dryer infeed prior to entry into grade line.   Eliminate headcount at 90 degree turns. 
Core/99” Saw Infeed Load correction Stop Prevent Core saws from being loaded incorrectly
Sander Skips, mars Notify Identify line management of sander related defects
Package Quality Quality issue detection and action Notify Reduced quality labor, increased value
Unauthorized entry Access by people Notify, Stop More secure and safe environment, reduced incidents
Stock monitoring stock levels Notify, lockdown Better stock control
LUMBER
Location AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Debarker Double logs AI supervisor to notify of double log entry Eliminate downtime/outages tied to debarker damage and log extraction
Planar feeder Crossups, double lugs, boards not even Notification, stop, robotic fix More efficient planar operation with higher quality output
Unscrambler, Trimmer infeed Doubles, crossups, boards not even Notification on double board.  Robotic response to reject double.  Better lug fill, eliminate labor on unscrambler outfeed better trim saw performance.
Trim saw outfeed Skew, double lug Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Better quality outfeed, prevent jams in conveyance to round table/grader…
Stick separator Stick full length without broken ends Notification, robotic fix More efficient and effective separation
Sorter Hangups Torpedo board notification Stopping line in time to address torpedo board. 
Kiln Hanging Boards on Package AI supervisor to stop package entry into CDK kils for packages with handing boards Eliminates kiln damage, replaces wire based board detection.  
Stock monitoring stock levels Notify, lockdown Better stock control
Unauthorized entry People entering LOTO space AI supervisor to issue all stop to PLC.   Notification to supervisor Proactive defence for unauthorized entry.
OSB / SIDING
Location AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Log grappling from pond Anomalous logs Log grappling quality/incidents Notify of anomalous logs Grappling guidance Grappling automation Less downtime, higher quality due to better anomalous log handling
Debarker infeed Anomalous logs Empties/doubles Notify problems for human intervention Slow/stop line before incident Robotic intervention Reduced oversight labor Fewer incidents, more uptime, less maintenance Higher quality and more consistent input
Forming line Contamination Notify operator of potential incident Stop before incident More uptime, lower maintenance costs due to fewer and less severe incidents
Hot press Jam or default movement of carger Notify operator Stop before incident More uptime, lower maintenance costs due to fewer and less severe incidents
Plant outfeed Product quality Notify operators of quality issues Signal operators/machines earlier in process of issues in real time for action Robotic handling of quality issues Increased quality and reliability of output due to enhanced feedback Lower costs due to quality issues due to same
DISTRIBUTION
Location AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Moulder Saw performance, quality of input & output wood material

Notify operators

Stop for maintenance

Auto-mark moulding and accounting

Better preventative saw maintenance, less waste. 

Less skilled labor needed to manage outfeed

Rip Saw Saw performance, labor performance

Notify/stop for maintenance

Outfeed sortation

Increased quality and better maintenance.

Reduced labor required per board processed.

Unauthorized entry Access by people Notify, Stop More secure and safe environment, reduced incidents
Stock monitoring stock levels per storage location Notify, lockdown, inventory Better stock control
FOOD MANUFACTURING
Process Step AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Pack to box Label quality, expiration date, lot code Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Prevent products with damaged labels or missing expiration dates from being shipped to customer
Pack to thermoformer Food product fit into package Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Prevent air leaks that can lead to spoilage of food product
FULFILLMENT
Process Step AI Vision Target(s) Potential Automation Value
Queing for palletizing Box integrity Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Prevent damaged goods from being shipped to customer
Crate cleaning  Crate integrity inspection Notification, stop, slow, robotic fix Prevent damaged crates from being used which could damage product.

Provide New Metrics

Intelligent Agents provide analytics and reporting back to Mill operations staff to track key metrics for their products. Leveraging computer vision, the agent in this example is counting veneer panels and the number of knots, holes, splits.

KNOTS

HOLES

SPLITS

VENEER

Intelligent Agents for Wood Products

DEFECT DETECTION AT LAYUP INFEED

Intelligent Agents can be used to identify characteristics in wood products, such as knots and splits. In this example, the agent identifies holes, knots, and splits and provides a probability for each event. Plywood mills leverage this information to reject or recycle veneer and report on quality.

NATURAL INTERACTION

Simple Interactions That Control Complex Processes

Using video feeds, operators can open the application and create models instantly. You can identify the objects of interest, detect defects on objects, and identify how objects are handled – all with a point-and-click process that requires no coding or complex training.

DEMOCRATIZING MACHINE LEARNING

AI For Everyone

Intelligent Agents lower the barrier of introducing reliable and effective machine learning. Manufacturers can easily build complex processes using simple, easy-to-use web interfaces. These processes can do everything from control complex robotics movements to identifying objects.

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