Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 2018

ABB and Kawasaki partner to launch ‘world’s first’ operating system for collaborative robots

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ABB and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are showcasing the world’s first common collaborative robot operating interface at the ongoing Automatica event. 

The two companies are among the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers, with almost half a million installations worldwide.

The companies say the new common interface will help address the shortage of skilled workers in many industries. In Japan, for example, one person in five is within a decade of retirement.  [Read more…] about ABB and Kawasaki partner to launch ‘world’s first’ operating system for collaborative robots

Reko inaugurates new automation and innovation facility

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Reko International Group Inc. has opened its new state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the design, development, and build of innovative industrial automation solutions.

Reko Automation, a division of Reko International Group, will now operate out of their newly constructed 48,600 sq.ft. facility in Lakeshore, Ontario.

With three 150-foot long bays, 19-foot ceilings, and up to 30 metric tonne crane capacity, Reko Automation now has the infrastructure in place to deliver large scale, turn-key automation projects and Industry 4.0 solutions.

[Read more…] about Reko inaugurates new automation and innovation facility

North American semiconductor equipment sales at an all-time high

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North American semiconductor equipment sales are at an all-time high, according to the leading industry association, Semi.

North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $2.7 billion in billings worldwide in May 2018, according to the May Equipment Market Data Subscription Billings Report, published by Semi.

The billings figure is 0.6 percent higher than the final April 2018 level of $2.69 billion, and is 19.2 percent higher than the May 2017 billings level of $2.27 billion.  [Read more…] about North American semiconductor equipment sales at an all-time high

Briefing – Investing: Robotics-related funds doing well on the markets

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In this article, Robotics and Automation News takes a look at the exchange-traded funds that are earning profits from investing in robotics, automation and artificial intelligence stocks.

This is not a financial advice article and we are not suggesting or recommending any investment funds, policies or ideas.

We are simply commenting on investment funds that we have noticed are doing well on the stock markets.  [Read more…] about Briefing – Investing: Robotics-related funds doing well on the markets

H2O.ai enhances H2O Driverless AI with new ‘time series’ version

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H2O.ai, the open source AI company, has released a new version of its automated machine learning platform H2O Driverless AI, with enhancements that it says will enable organisations to expand their current AI strategy and improve accuracy of predictive datasets.

The latest innovations in Driverless AI include time series support aimed at improving predictions within transactional datasets and auto documentation, as well as updated AutoViz, Machine Learning Interpretability (MLI) and Automatic Pipelines.

With the time series capability in Driverless AI, H2O.ai directly addresses some of the most pressing concerns of organisations across industries for use cases such as transactional data in capital markets, tracking in-store and online sales in retail, and using sensor data to improve supply chain or predictive maintenance in manufacturing.

[Read more…] about H2O.ai enhances H2O Driverless AI with new ‘time series’ version

Canada prepares for connected and automated vehicles

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Transport Canada is providing $2.9M in funding under the program to Advance Connectivity and Automation in the Transportation System in order to help Canadian jurisdictions prepare for connected and automated vehicles.

Connected and automated vehicles will bring about significant transformation in Canada’s transportation system, its communities, and its economy.

They have the potential to improve road safety, reduce congestion, increase mobility, protect the environment, and generate new economic opportunities for middle-class Canadians.

[Read more…] about Canada prepares for connected and automated vehicles

Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

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Industrial automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas recently announced the 2017 fiscal year’s winners of its “Distributor of the Year” award at its 2018 Sales Conference during the week of May 21st.

More than 650 representatives of Omron and the company’s channel partners participated in the event, which included new technology presentations, product training, business planning and team building activities.

The Sales Conference was truly an Americas event, with attendees hailing from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American countries.  [Read more…] about Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

Pilz launches its first service robotics solutions at Automatica

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A German company called Pilz has launched what it describes as a new range of “service robotics modules”. The company showcased the solutions at the ongoing Automatica event.

By “service robotics”, Pilz appears to mean solutions which include small, collaborative robots the company appears to have built by itself (see main picture).

The new range of solutions includes:

  • a “manipulator module” – by which Pilz seems to mean the robotic arm – with 6 axes and a load of 6 kg;
  • the control module with drive and control technology; and
  • the operator module including an operator and visualisation software developed by Pilz.

[Read more…] about Pilz launches its first service robotics solutions at Automatica

Sandia’s robotic work cell conducts high-throughput testing ‘in an instant’

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Automation speeds up 3D-printed part testing, materials science data collection

Today with 3D printing you can make almost anything in a matter of hours. However, making sure that part works reliably takes weeks or even months.

Until now, according to a group of scientists.

Sandia National Laboratories has designed and built a six-sided work cell, similar to a circular desk, with a commercial robot at its center that conducts high-throughput testing to quickly determine the performance and properties of the part.

They call this flexible, modular and scalable system Alinstante, Spanish for “in an instant” (see video below). Sandia is seeking industry partners to help expand or discover more uses for the new robotic testing system.  [Read more…] about Sandia’s robotic work cell conducts high-throughput testing ‘in an instant’

Denison Consulting Group offers power management for manufacturers

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Denison Consulting Group has launched a managed service to support how global manufacturers measure and manage energy and power quality.

U.S. manufacturers consume approximately 30 percent of the nation’s energy, and conservative estimates predict energy costs will rise over 70 percent by 2035.

Poor power quality is the reported cause of up to 70 percent of production disruptions and can cost manufacturers billions of dollars in downtime, lost production and inefficiencies.

[Read more…] about Denison Consulting Group offers power management for manufacturers