Samsung wants to automate its chip factories to such an extent in the coming years that there will no longer be any room for people. An intelligent monitoring system is central.

Samsung wants to operate its chip factories completely unmanned by 2030. It is central to this goal Intelligent sensor system. This is a system that can monitor and analyze the microchip production process in real time. In order to take the step towards complete automation, the software must also gain control over the complex systems in the factory in order to be able to make any adjustments.

The uniformity of the plasma on wafers during the process is an important aspect of the automation effort. The system must be able to accurately measure and adjust this aspect. Samsung is therefore integrating small sensors into its production process. They take up little extra space, keeping cleanroom production lines intact.

Own sensors

What is striking is that the necessary sensors are being developed in South Korea itself. Chip manufacturers traditionally use Western materials to produce microchips and therefore rely on their availability. The development of sensors is a small but important step in the other direction.

If all goes well, Samsung aims to have its factories running automatically within six years. We notice that chip production in the cleanroom is already largely being taken over by robots. By leaving monitoring and control to an algorithm, a lot of the work is taken away from people.