Artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering: A bibliometric review on research trends, industrial applications, and future perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37135/ns.01.17.02Keywords:
Industry, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Smart manufacturing, Bibliometric reviewAbstract
His review article aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mechanical engineering and its application in industrial environments, examining how it has evolved and where current trends in this field are heading. To conduct this research, a bibliometric methodology was implemented based on the quantitative analysis of 166 scientific articles indexed in the Scopus database, considering the following topics: year of publication, field of knowledge, keyword analysis, countries with the highest research output, sponsoring entities, sources with the most publications, types of sources, most cited publications, and language of publication. Since a single database was selected for the analysis, no exclusion criteria were applied. This approach allowed us to characterize the temporal evolution of scientific production and identify the most relevant thematic axes in the use of AI in mechanical engineering. The results demonstrate sustained growth in publications over the past decade, highlighting the consolidation of applications in mechanical design, smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and process optimization. Additionally, emerging research areas were identified, including digital twins, explainable artificial intelligence, and adaptive automation, which represent opportunities for innovation in the industry. Based on these analyses, the integration of AI into mechanical processes requires a clear strategy that considers standardized methodologies, cross-sector collaboration, and the development of technical capabilities to ensure its effective and sustainable adoption. In summary, the most relevant finding of this review is that AI not only transforms the practice of mechanical engineering but also positions itself as a strategic axis for future industrial competitiveness, underscoring the need to accelerate its incorporation into academic training and technology management.
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