Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 2018

Opinion: Accelerating innovation in China’s automobility sector

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By Edward Tse, Gao Feng Advisory

China’s National Development and Reform Commission recently announced the elimination of foreign equity restrictions on special-purpose vehicles and new energy vehicles in 2018, on commercial vehicles in 2020 and on passenger vehicles in 2022.

In addition to the opportunity to own their own manufacturing ventures, foreign automakers are no longer restricted to having only two joint ventures in China.

The 50:50 joint venture equity rule dates back to 1994. The government hoped a domestic industry would emerge whereby the Chinese domestic companies would learn from their partners and eventually emerge as successful global automakers in their own right.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Accelerating innovation in China’s automobility sector

‘Growing confidence in robotics’ leads to $2.7 billion in venture capital funding, says report

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2017 was a bumper year for robotics investment, with even more funds to come, according to a report by ABI Research

The robotics industry continued to go from strength to strength as 2017 represented the largest year of investment, with the total amount adding up to $2.7 billion, according to ABI Research, a market-forecast advisory firm.

Rian Whitton, research analyst at ABI Research, says: “While the growth in investment from 2016 to 2017, at 23.2 per cent, slowed from growth between 2015 and 2016, this was affected by applying a narrower understanding of robotics, leaving out categories like autonomous cars.

“Had the same definition of robotics been used as in previous years, total investment would have exceeded $5 billion.”  [Read more…] about ‘Growing confidence in robotics’ leads to $2.7 billion in venture capital funding, says report

Opinion: The automated road to supercomputing and the quantum world

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This month’s issue of Sensor Readings magazine – which you can find soon on this website and on Issuu.com – features an article about the recent Automatica event, held every two years in Munich, Germany. 

It’s probably the largest exhibition in the world built around the industrial automation industry.

The main themes or trends Automatica is highlighting this year appear to be collaborative robots, industrial internet, digitalisation, and new telecommunications networks, such as 5G.  [Read more…] about Opinion: The automated road to supercomputing and the quantum world

30 automation solutions for warehouses and supply chain operations

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It took a while to get going, but after many years of relatively slow progress, now, the market for logistics and supply chain robotics and automation is in good flow. 

A significant number of companies have developed systems for automating warehouse operations – both in the area of software and hardware.

But while Amazon has taken the lead in warehouse automation by building its massive logistics operation around the Kiva Systems robots it acquired, other companies are catching up.  [Read more…] about 30 automation solutions for warehouses and supply chain operations

World Robot Olympiad coming to Montreal in 2020

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From November 13 to 15, 2020, the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Canada, will serve as the venue for the International Final of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO).

The event, organised by Zone01, will draw 2,000 participants to Montreal. This international competition attracts students between the ages of 7 and 25 from over 60 countries.

Each year, more than 20,000 teams from all over the world build robots and take on various WRO challenges in order to qualify for the International Final and represent their country.

[Read more…] about World Robot Olympiad coming to Montreal in 2020

Oceaneering joins study for offshore floating wind project

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Oceaneering International Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oceaneering International, Inc., has been selected as a contributor to the Carbon Trust-led Floating Wind Joint Industry Partnership (JIP) study supporting the monitoring and inspection requirements for commercial floating wind power projects.

Oceaneering will deliver a study to investigate monitoring and inspection requirements for floating wind farms, including programs associated with the components used in commercial deployments.

Floating wind farms require a large number of components, such as hulls, mooring lines, anchors, and cabling. The extensive list of required assets has the potential to create challenges for operators when developing cost-effective monitoring and inspection solutions.

[Read more…] about Oceaneering joins study for offshore floating wind project

Spherical robot designed and developed by Airbus, IBM and DLR to be launched into space later today

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Later today – at 5.42am EST to be exact – a spherical robot designed and developed by IBM, Airbus and DLR will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket on a journey to the International Space Station.

The robot, called “Cimon”, is said to contain “next-level intelligence” and will take part in many scientific experiments on the ISS mission.

Cimon – which is pronounced “Simon” and stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion – is about the size of a basketball and will accompany German astronaut Alexander Gerst.  [Read more…] about Spherical robot designed and developed by Airbus, IBM and DLR to be launched into space later today

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing ‘increases efficiency’ with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer collaborative robot

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CNC machine shop has “increased speed and adaptability” with collaborative automation solution

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, a CNC machine shop and custom manufacturer, has installed a Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer collaborative robot at its Sterling Heights, Michigan, facility to increase operational efficiency and to counterbalance a tight labor market.

Founded in 1952, Fitzpatrick Manufacturing supplies parts to more than a dozen sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical equipment and oil and gas.

The company is noted for its innovation and regularly brings new technology into the factory to increase speed, improve efficiency and remain competitive.  [Read more…] about Fitzpatrick Manufacturing ‘increases efficiency’ with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer collaborative robot

Kuka collaborates with architecture organisation and supercar maker McLaren on art project

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Industrial robot manufacturer Kuka has teamed up with an architectural organisation and the supercar maker McLaren on an art project, as part of what is called the “McLaren Summer Boutique”.

At the McLaren Summer Boutique in Zurich, Kuka, in collaboration with McLaren Zurich and the Association for Robots in Architecture, is presenting an art project based on the latest generation of industrial robots.

The installation symbolizes the fusion of first-class vehicle design with state-of-the-art automation technology and maximum precision.  [Read more…] about Kuka collaborates with architecture organisation and supercar maker McLaren on art project

Hyundai Motor agrees partnership with AI startup and signs deal with Baidu on driverless tech

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Hyundai Motor has agreed a new partnership with Chinese startup DeepGlint, which provides artificial intelligence products and solutions for the security and transportation market.

Hyundai says the DeepGlint partnership will enable it to utilize AI technology in multiple layers of its business and improve product quality as well as customer experience.

Hyundai has also signed a separate deal with Baidu to jointly develop autonomous driving technology.  [Read more…] about Hyundai Motor agrees partnership with AI startup and signs deal with Baidu on driverless tech

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