Automation & Controls
S4x26: four OT threat shifts for 2026 include weaponized distributed energy resources
S4x26 presentations from Accenture, Emerson, Copia Automation, Secvulre, and ABS identified four OT cybersecurity threats crossing traditional threat-model boundaries in 2026, including the weaponization of distributed energy resources. Asset owners are urged to revise risk frameworks.
If you run DERs or grid-connected OT assets, the 2026 threat surface has expanded beyond standard ICS playbooks -- update your risk model.
Smart Manufacturing & Digital Twin
Colgate-Palmolive deploys TwinThread AI agent to predict pet food quality in production
Colgate-Palmolive has deployed an AI agent on TwinThreads IIoT platform to predict pet food quality in production, moving AI from advisory dashboards to active quality-prediction roles in consumer food manufacturing.
Quality-prediction AI is entering production food lines -- if you run process manufacturing, TwinThreads IIoT-to-AI pipeline is now a documented reference case.
IIoT & Connected Manufacturing
Microchip LAN8x8x SPE PHYs: MACsec security, TSN determinism and functional-safety in one
Microchips LAN8x8x single-pair Ethernet PHY family integrates MACsec encryption, time-sensitive networking (TSN), and functional-safety support in one chipset, targeting secure and deterministic Ethernet connectivity for automotive and industrial systems on a single cable pair.
Single-pair Ethernet with MACsec and TSN built-in simplifies sensor wiring without separate security or timing hardware -- evaluate for next IIoT refresh.
Process Technology
Emerson Rosemount 928 adds LEL gas monitoring over WirelessHART -- no new wiring needed
Emersons Rosemount 928 wireless sensor now supports percent lower explosive limit (LEL) combustible gas monitoring over WirelessHART, extending hazard detection to areas without power or signal wiring and adding safety coverage to an installed base without hardware changes.
If you have Rosemount 928 units in process environments, LEL detection via WirelessHART is now available -- check your installed base before adding hardware.
Robotics & Cobots
PSYONIC plus ABB GoFa: prosthetics grasp-force data applied to industrial cobot dexterity
PSYONIC is pairing its Ability Hand prosthetic with ABB Robotics GoFa cobot arm, using sensor data from prosthetics wearers to improve robotic grasping dexterity. The collaboration transfers real human-grip data to cobot control without dedicated industrial training sets.
Prosthetics-to-robot data is a novel shortcut for training dexterous grasping -- track this if you are evaluating cobot hands for assembly or handling.
Smart Manufacturing & Digital Twin
IIoT World: most manufacturers produce AI reports but will not act on AI recommendations
While AI generates summaries and recommendations across manufacturing ops, few manufacturers trust those outputs enough to take action. IIoT World identifies the gap between AI as a support tool (document search, maintenance summaries) and AI as an active decision driver in production.
Trust is the barrier, not the technology. Identify which AI outputs your team will act on before expanding scope -- that is the real deployment boundary.
