Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for February 2016

SSL developing robotic sample handling assembly for NASA Mars 2020 Project

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ssl mars-surface

Space Systems Loral (SSL) says it will design and build a robotic Sample Handling Assembly (SHA) for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) through MDA US Systems, a division of MDA, managed by SSL.

The arm will be used on a rover vehicle exploring Mars to process and store samples acquired from the planet’s surface.

“Our space-proven technology positions SSL well to help support JPL’s robotic space exploration activities,” said Nick Zello, director, emerging markets operations.

“As an industry partner we bring cost-effective solutions and a highly responsive and flexible environment to assist NASA in its mission to bring the world new insights and discoveries.” [Read more…] about SSL developing robotic sample handling assembly for NASA Mars 2020 Project

Airbus to develop humanoid robots with Japanese and French partners

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Kawada Industries’ HRP-4 humanoid robot
Kawada Industries’ HRP-4 humanoid robot

Airbus Group Innovations (AGI), the global research and technology network of Airbus Group, has agreed a joint robotics research programme with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

The programme will be dedicated to the research and development of humanoid robotic technology to perform complex manufacturing tasks in factories. The majority of research will be conducted at the CNRS-AIST Joint Robotics Laboratory (JRL), which was established in 2004 on the AIST campus in Tsukuba, Japan.

Satoshi Sekiguchi, Director General of the Department of Information Technology and Human Factors at AIST, inaugurated the new project together with Jean-Yves Marzin, Head of the CNRS Institute for Engineering and Systems Sciences (INSIS), and Sébastien Remy, Head of Airbus Group Innovations. [Read more…] about Airbus to develop humanoid robots with Japanese and French partners

SS&C automates processes to manage its clients’ $1 trillion of assets

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Picture courtesy rentvine.com
Picture courtesy rentvine.com

SS&C Technologies, a global provider of financial services software and software-enabled services, has automated agent notices processing within SS&C Bank Loan Services.

The company says the new agent notices process streamlines the labor intensive and opaque processes that currently exist in today’s workflows.

Replaced with a fully automated process, managers can provide transparency through an easy-to-access client portal to store and process documentation related to bank loan holdings.  [Read more…] about SS&C automates processes to manage its clients’ $1 trillion of assets

ATS wins $100m automation deal

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ATS Automation Tooling Systems building
ATS Automation Tooling Systems building

ATS Automation Tooling Systems has received an enterprise order from a company which it would only describe as “a North American-based customer that is a global leader in its market”.

ATS adds that it has provided core manufacturing solutions to the customer for a number of years.

The “Order Booking” is valued at approximately $100 million and involves delivery and installation of systems at several locations that will enable the customer to roll out a new global product. [Read more…] about ATS wins $100m automation deal

Artificial Intelligence: Toward a technology-powered, human-led revolution

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artificial intelligence

By Abdul Razack, SVP of platforms, big data and analytics at Infosys

In 2011, Apple’s Siri began guiding, following, organizing, informing, taking notes and tailoring search results for millions of mobile users worldwide. She was one of the first mainstream machine learning tools powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). And though AI has been around for decades behind the scenes and in academic circles, it was the first time the wider public took note of all the things a computer or personal device can learn to do.

Only in the 21st century has AI come to maturity, and today it is completely changing the way the working world functions. AI is everywhere around us, including at the heart of our discussions on innovation.

We are learning to capture this opportunity in the business world, in order to accelerate growth, and only by embracing technology-led innovation will we be able to unleash our true human potential. Routine tasks, which can consume us by eating away at time and resources, are well-suited for AI and automation, freeing workers to pursue new ideas and new ways tackle challenges that can only be solved with human imagination.  [Read more…] about Artificial Intelligence: Toward a technology-powered, human-led revolution

Industrial Vision Systems aims for the collaborative robot market

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industrial vision systems, machine vision, automotive factory
IVS designed and built a 15 camera integrated machine vision system to automatically inspect a large automotive sub-assembly

The machine vision market is expected to grow from $8 billion in 2015 to $12.5 billion by 2020, according to a report by Markets and Markets. 

With such huge financial rewards potentially available, many machine vision companies are competing to put themselves in a market-leading position going forward.

One of those companies is Industrial Vision Systems, which is already well established with “traditional” robot users such as large automakers.

Now, it’s looking to grow its market by further strengthening its association with collaborative robots. IVS says its machine vision enhances the productivity of co-bots.      [Read more…] about Industrial Vision Systems aims for the collaborative robot market

Surgical robotics market forecast to reach $30 billion globally by 2020

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The global sales of surgical robotic systems is projected to reach $6.4 billion by 2020.

This is according to a new report by Allied Market Research, titled, World Surgical Robotics Market – Opportunities and Forecasts, 2014-2020.

The gynecology application segment accounted for 28 per cent share of the surgical robotic systems market share in 2014, and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.  [Read more…] about Surgical robotics market forecast to reach $30 billion globally by 2020

IBM endows Watson with new powers of humanity

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ibm watson
IBM Watson gains new knowledge and some emotional capaibilities

IBM has introduced new and expanded cognitive APIs for developers that the company claims “enhance Watson’s emotional and visual senses, further extending the capabilities of the industry’s largest and most diverse set of cognitive technologies and tools”.

Three APIs, Tone Analyzer, Emotion Analysis and Visual Recognition, are now available in beta. Additionally, Text to Speech (TTS) has been updated with new emotional capabilities and is being re-released as Expressive TTS for general availability.

These APIs are pushing the sensory boundaries of how humans and machines interact, and they are designed to improve how developers embed these technologies to create solutions that can think, perceive and empathize.  [Read more…] about IBM endows Watson with new powers of humanity

NXP signs deal with China’s Xiaomi on intelligent transport payments technology using NFC

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NXP and Xiaomi have agreed a mobile payments technology deal for public transit systems in China, a country with some plans for intelligent transport networks. 

As a key part of the deal, Xiaomi integrated NXP’s Secure Element and Near Field Communication (NFC) solution into its next-generation flagship Mi 5 smartphone, which the companies believe will help accelerate the adoption of mobile payments in China.

The newly launched Mi 5 models will allow customers to use tap-to-pay for travelling, seamlessly enter and exit public transport systems without using a ticket or travel card, and enable simple balance checking all while ensuring payment security, claimed the companies. [Read more…] about NXP signs deal with China’s Xiaomi on intelligent transport payments technology using NFC

LG and Intel to develop 5G technology for connected cars

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intel, yuneec, unmanned aerial vehicle
Intel demonstrates its technology in a Yuneec unmanned aerial vehicle

LG and Intel are working together to bring 5G technologies to the car.

5G telematics delivers data faster than 4G LTE, even reducing latency when cars are traveling at high speeds, allowing for greater vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure, and vehicle to pedestrian communication.

LTE stands for long term evolution, which basically is a relatively new communications network that has the capacity to evolve and improve over time, 5G being the next stage. [Read more…] about LG and Intel to develop 5G technology for connected cars