As robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) move into more prominent roles in meat processing and other industries, our guest this week is predicting that using virtual reality equipment — think headsets and hand controllers —  are likely to become required so manufacturers can keep up with the competition. Colin Usher is research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute at Georgia Tech University and specializes in VR systems that provide an interface between humans and robotic systems that resemble today’s high-end video games. He contends that VR equipment may eventually allow plant workers to do their jobs remotely in air-conditioned rooms instead of the cold, wet and damp floor in a meat processing plant. Usher also believes that companies will need to shift to VR systems and predicts that advances in the technology could ultimately lead to lower implementation costs.