How Biometrics are being used in combination with industrial automation.

Biometrics allows a system to recognise users by biological markers such as their face, voice, or fingerprint. Many people already have one or several of these on their laptops and smartphones. As the technology improves and becomes more ubiquitous, it may finally end the password paradigm.

Most people have ineffective passwords, they use the same one for every account, and rarely change them unless prompted to. As a result of this a hacker only needs one hit to enjoy carte blanche over someone’s personal and professional data. Two-step verification has helped somewhat, but then even those who do manage their passwords correctly can find remembering all the passwords a nightmare. For this reason, people have tended to use Password Managers, but even these are vulnerable, as some people found out recently with LastPass.

For these reasons, biometrics promises much-needed security of sensitive data. A fingerprint is much more difficult to hack with raw computational power than a password, and that difficulty is increased by magnitudes when multiple markers are used in tandem.

Hence why biometrics is increasingly being integrated with industrial automation systems to improve security, efficiency, and accuracy. This technology is being used in a range of applications, from accessing secure areas to monitoring employee productivity.

One of the most common applications of biometrics in industrial automation is access control. By using biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans, companies can ensure that only authorised personnel are granted access to restricted areas. This helps prevent unauthorised access, theft, and sabotage. Biometric access control can also be integrated with time and attendance systems to ensure that employees are arriving and leaving work on time, which helps to improve productivity and accountability.

Another way biometrics are being used in industrial automation is for machine operation. With biometric identification, the operator of a machine can be quickly and accurately identified, which is especially important in environments where multiple people may be operating the same equipment. Biometrics can also be used to monitor the physical condition of the operator, such as heart rate or stress levels, to ensure that they are able to safely operate the equipment.

Biometrics are also being used to improve quality control in industrial settings. By using facial recognition or other biometric identifiers, companies can ensure that the right person is performing the necessary quality checks on products. This can help prevent errors and defects, which can be costly to the company in terms of lost time, materials, and revenue.

In addition to these applications, biometrics are also being used to improve safety in industrial environments. For example, wearable biometric sensors can monitor the health and safety of workers, detecting potential health risks such as fatigue, dehydration, or exposure to hazardous materials. This data can be used to improve working conditions and prevent accidents.

Despite the many benefits of biometric integration with industrial automation, there are also concerns about privacy and security. Biometric data is highly sensitive and can be used for identity theft or other nefarious purposes. To address these concerns, companies must ensure that the data is stored securely, and that access is strictly controlled. Additionally, companies must be transparent with their employees about how their biometric data is being collected, stored, and used.

In summary, biometrics are being increasingly integrated with industrial automation to improve security, efficiency, and accuracy. Access control, machine operation, quality control, and safety are just a few of the many applications of biometrics in the industrial setting. While there are concerns about privacy and security, with proper measures in place, biometric integration can greatly benefit companies and their employees.

If you liked this article, read about why upgrading industrial software is better for the environment too.