Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for February 24, 2016

Industrial Networks prepares to launch rail automation drone

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inet drone
The INet drone

Industrial Networks (INet) is launching a drone that it says is “capable of fully autonomous scanning of the railyard for inventory and inspection of a railcar”. The company has been developing the drone since 2005, and last year applied to the authorities for a drone flying licence.

INet says the drone has transformed the rail industry for shippers and provided tools to automate the complete process of rail and truck shipping.

INet’s stationary and mobile Automated Equipment Identification (AEI) readers provide pivotal rail and truck shipment management for control over in-plant operations. This automation reduces the occurrence of errors and improves overall productivity for shippers across North America.  [Read more…] about Industrial Networks prepares to launch rail automation drone

DecisionPoint Systems automates warehouse operations of Modell’s sporting goods

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modell's sporting goods
Image courtesy DeMartino Construction Company

Billion-dollar sporting goods retailer upgrades systems at distribution center with new automation technology 

DecisionPoint Systems, a provider and integrator of enterprise mobility, wireless applications and IoT solutions, has been selected by Modell’s Sporting Goods to lead its distribution technology refresh initiative.

Modell’s will be implementing the latest Zebra Technologies’ mobile handheld, mobile printer devices, and wireless infrastructure in their distribution center, and selected DecisionPoint to oversee both deployment and maintenance services of this critical initiative. [Read more…] about DecisionPoint Systems automates warehouse operations of Modell’s sporting goods

Aido home robot launches on Indiegogo

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Aido, which its maker modestly describes as “the world’s most advanced interactive home robot”, has launched on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.

InGen Dynamics is a Palo Alto based privately held company with strategic partnerships with vision, sound, technology, artificial intelligence and optics companies.

Ingen Dynamic’s human-centered approach to design and engineering has led to the award-winning Aido home robot platform, which utilizes a ground breaking ballbot based mobility design, linking advanced vision recognition to an intelligent network of cameras, sensors, and microprocessors. [Read more…] about Aido home robot launches on Indiegogo

ZTE signs ‘major agreement’ with Mojio to launch connected car solution for mobile operators

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connected carZTE has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Mojio to capitalise on the rapidly growing global connected car market.

ZTE is an international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet. The company made the deal through its subsidiary, ZTEWelink. Moijo is an open connected-car cloud platform provider. The contract was signed at the Mobile World Congress 2016.

Lv Qianhao, VP of strategy and marketing, ZTE terminal business, Kenny Hawk, CEO of Mojio and Wang Zhijun, VP of ZTEWelink attended the signing ceremony. [Read more…] about ZTE signs ‘major agreement’ with Mojio to launch connected car solution for mobile operators

Investment industry embraces and fears robo-advisors – but bionic advisor may be the better answer

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robo advisor

High net worth investors need and want human advice backed by technology for better recommendations, reporting and access, says InvestEdge

The future of investment advice isn’t a battle of man versus machine, according to a commentary from InvestEdge.

The investment industry is excited – and fearful – about the rise of “robo-advisors”, systems that give automated investment advice. Robo-advisors offer investors lower costs and minimums, and some worry they will wipe out traditional “human” investment guidance. [Read more…] about Investment industry embraces and fears robo-advisors – but bionic advisor may be the better answer

Schaefer launches smartwatch, declares it a ‘mini revolution’, appropriates ‘007’ label

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The Schaefer ‘Bond’ watch
The Schaefer ‘Bond’ watch: picks are confirmed on the display of the watch and verified by a software

Company claims its new gadget is “just like the watches that help James Bond to complete his mission” 

Schaefer has unveiled “Pick by Watch”, which it considers to be a “mini revolution in picking” amid all the current talk of Industry 4.0.

As you may imagine, the new picking strategy “does exactly as it says on the tin”. A smartwatch worn on the wrist shows the picker from which storage location in the warehouse the articles are to be picked. The picks are confirmed on the smartwatch display and verified by the software.

In keeping with the goal of continuously optimising warehouse picking processes for the operator, the result is an extremely innovative picking strategy. [Read more…] about Schaefer launches smartwatch, declares it a ‘mini revolution’, appropriates ‘007’ label

Universal Robots sees 91% growth in revenue

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universal robots office building

Universal Robots’ recently published financial statements leave no doubt as to the enormous growth potential of the robot industry.

With revenue reaching 418 million DKK in 2015, the Odense-based company achieved 91% growth compared to 2014, while delivering a brilliant bottom line performance: a profit of 65.4 million Danish krone (DKK) before tax.

It created quite a stir when American Teradyne paid more than $285 million for all the shares in the Odense-based company Universal Robots in the spring of 2015. [Read more…] about Universal Robots sees 91% growth in revenue