The new solution was demonstrated at Borouge International’s facilities in Abu Dhabi and aims to optimize production, reduce operational errors, and strengthen industrial safety through artificial intelligence.
Honeywell announced the launch of Experion Cognition, an AI-powered control system platform designed to advance toward autonomous operations in industrial control rooms.
The solution integrates artificial intelligence capabilities with Honeywell’s expertise in process automation to provide advanced recommendations and execute automated decisions that improve industrial plant performance, reduce downtime, and increase operational safety.
Artificial intelligence to anticipate operational anomalies
One of the primary goals of Experion Cognition is to detect and mitigate anomalous situations before they affect industrial processes. According to Honeywell, the platform employs AI agents capable of continuously monitoring operations and acting proactively to help operators resolve potentially critical events.
During multiple pilot tests, the platform successfully anticipated incidents that subsequently triggered alarms with an average window of five to ten minutes in advance, providing additional time for decision-making and the implementation of corrective actions.
Jim Masso, President and CEO of Honeywell Process Automation, highlighted that the technology represents a significant advancement in the evolution of industrial control rooms.
Automation to address the industrial talent gap
The platform also responds to one of the most relevant challenges for the process industry: the growing shortage of highly experienced personnel and the transfer of knowledge as veteran operators retire.
Honeywell explained that Experion Cognition’s autonomous agents can take over cognitive tasks related to managing operational situations, allowing less experienced professionals to perform with knowledge levels comparable to those of more experienced operators.
This approach seeks to reduce dependence on individual expertise and increase consistency in the operation of complex industrial facilities.
Borouge drives the first autonomous petrochemical application
Borouge International participated in the practical demonstration of the technology as part of its digitalization and artificial intelligence strategy applied to petrochemical production.
Dr. Hasan Karam, Chief Operating Officer of Borouge International, highlighted the project’s relevance for the sector.
“This collaboration represents the first AI-driven autonomous operations in the petrochemical industry. It sets a new standard in efficiency and innovation, strengthening our operational capabilities and competitiveness,” he stated.
Integration with existing control systems
Experion Cognition has been developed as part of Honeywell’s Experion PKS distributed control ecosystem, allowing for its integration with infrastructure already installed in industrial plants without requiring significant modifications.
The company reported that the platform will be commercially available during the third quarter of 2026 and can be implemented in sectors such as petrochemicals, refining, energy, manufacturing, and other process industries seeking to move toward more autonomous operating models.
With this launch, Honeywell reinforces the growing adoption of industrial artificial intelligence to improve the safety, productivity, and resilience of critical operations, marking a new step toward the advanced digitalization of control rooms.
Source: https://www.honeywell.com/
Photo: Borouge-Honeywell
