Additive Manufacturing in the Industry 4.0 Era: A Review on IoT-Driven Robotics in Production Technology
Keywords:
Additive Manufacturing (AM), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Industry 4.0, Sustainable Production, Autonomous Systems.Abstract
The integration of Additive Manufacturing (AM) with Internet of Things (IoT) and robotic technologies is reshaping the future of industrial production by enabling intelligent, adaptive, and interconnected systems. As part of the Industry 4.0 revolution, this convergence has led to the development of Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS) that support real-time monitoring, autonomous control, and predictive maintenance. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of research from 2015 to 2025, focusing on the transformative impact of IoT-driven robotics in AM across various domains including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and decentralized manufacturing. The study examines six major thematic areas: robotic-assisted AM, digital twin integration, edge and cloud computing, swarm and mobile robotic systems, cybersecurity and sustainability challenges, and industrial adoption barriers. It highlights how advanced robotic systems, when combined with IoT-enabled sensors and AI algorithms, allow for more flexible, efficient, and responsive 3D printing processes. Key enabling technologies such as digital twins and edge computing are discussed for their role in real-time process feedback, adaptive control, and system optimization. Despite substantial advancements, the review identifies critical research gaps, including the absence of standardized integration frameworks, limited real-world deployment of edge AI and digital twins, security vulnerabilities in connected AM networks, and poor interoperability with legacy manufacturing infrastructure. Sustainability practices in robotic AM systems also remain underdeveloped. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions that emphasize the need for modular, secure, and scalable architectures aligned with the goals of Industry 5.0. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and decision-makers aiming to develop next-generation smart manufacturing solutions using IoT-integrated robotics in additive manufacturing.
References
Berman B. 3-D printing: The new industrial revolution. Business horizons. 2012 Mar 1;55(2):155-62.
Thompson MK, Moroni G, Vaneker T, Fadel G, Campbell RI, Gibson I, Bernard A, Schulz J, Graf P, Ahuja B, Martina F. Design for Additive Manufacturing: Trends, opportunities, considerations, and constraints. CIRP annals. 2016 Jan 1;65(2):737-60.
Xu LD, Xu EL, Li L. Industry 4.0: state of the art and future trends. International journal of production research. 2018 Apr 18;56(8):2941-62.
