Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for March 3, 2016

Global industrial robot population set to reach 1.3 million by 2018, says IFR

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industrial robots

By 2018, approximately 1.3 million industrial robots will be entering service in factories around the world, according to the International Federation of Robotics.

In the high-revenue automotive sector, global investments in industrial robots increased by a record-breaking 43 percent (2013-2014) within one year. Viewed on a cross-sector basis, the international market value for robotic systems now lies at around 32 billion US dollars.

The figures have been published in the IFR’s report, 2015 World Robot Statistics.

The robotic density figure is a key performance indicator for gauging the current degree of automation within the international markets. For example, the average global robotic density in producing industries lies at 66 robot units per 10,000 employees. [Read more…] about Global industrial robot population set to reach 1.3 million by 2018, says IFR

Technavio survey lists ‘world’s top four’ robot companies

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Technavio has listed what it claims are the top four leading vendors in their recent global articulated robots market 2015-2019 report. This research report also lists numerous prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

Competitive vendor landscape

According to Bharath Kanniappan, lead research analyst at Technavio for robotics, “The top four vendors in the global articulated robots market concentrate on the development of application-specific and industry-specific articulated robots, which help them to have a competitive edge.”

ABB is the market leader in the global industrial robotics market. Fanuc is one of the leading industrial automation vendors and offers various industrial robots under its robotics business unit.  [Read more…] about Technavio survey lists ‘world’s top four’ robot companies

Industrial robots can now do their work uninterrupted thanks to the cloud and offline programming

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fanuc industrial robot

Industrial robots are increasingly being connected to the cloud, where they can be managed centrally in some sort of control room, which means that a small number of human staff could theoretically manage hundreds, if not thousands, of machines.

Previously they were almost always operated in isolated circumstances within factories, inside a work cell, fenced off from human workers because of safety concerns. They were programmed individually, using a teach pendant, which is like a 20-years-out-of-date oversized mobile phone.

The teach pendant is still used for refinements and modifications after the machine goes online, into work, but nowadays most industrial robots are prepared for a life of work using offline programming. [Read more…] about Industrial robots can now do their work uninterrupted thanks to the cloud and offline programming

Norway’s railroad network replaces 40-year-old technology with new automation software

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norway national rail system, copa-data
Norway has integrated an automation solution from COPA-DATA into the national rail network

The rail travel network in Norway has taken its very own “great leap forward” in technological terms with the introduction of new automation software.

The Norwegian National Rail Administration (NNRA, also known as Jernbaneverket) decided to perform a major upgrade to its infrastructure in order to modernize rail service delivery and optimize maintenance and performance.

The technology for controlling the power transformer stations throughout its nationwide operations was more than forty years old in some areas, so a modern solution for controlling and monitoring these stations was required. The decision was made in favor of zenon, the HMI/SCADA software from COPA-DATA. [Read more…] about Norway’s railroad network replaces 40-year-old technology with new automation software

Tata to launch first Indian-made robot Brabo

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tata brabo robot
Tata shows off its Brabo robot

In what is described as a major push for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Make In India campaign, Tal Manufacturing Solutions, a Tata Group company, is all set to launch first India-made robot Tata Brabo in the next two months.

To be showcased for the first time at the ongoing Make in India Week in Mumbai, Tata Brabo has been developed in-house by a team of six engineers. On its official website, the company has also invited one and all to “join the robolution”.

Anil Bhingurde, chief operating officer of Tal Manufacturing Solutions led the group of six engineers whose average age is 24 years. In May last year, Bhingurde had made a presentation on the company’s robotic venture to Ravikant, the chairman, and to the board of the company. [Read more…] about Tata to launch first Indian-made robot Brabo

Stanford engineers test autonomous car algorithms in quest for safer driving

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Stanford University’s autonomous car
Stanford University’s autonomous car

When Stanford’s autonomous car Shelley nears speeds of 120 mph as it tears around a racetrack without a driver, observers’ natural inclinations are to exchange high-fives or simply mouth, “wow”.

Chris Gerdes and his students, however, flip open laptops and begin dissecting the car’s performance. How many g-forces did Shelley pull through turns 14 and 15? How did it navigate the twisty chicane? What did the braking forces look like through the tight turn 5?

For the past several years, Gerdes and his students have been testing their autonomous driving algorithms with Shelley, a custom-rigged Audi TTS, on the 3-mile track at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. Although the speedometer needle sometimes flies past 110 mph, the car spends a good deal of the course maneuvering at speeds of 50 to 75 mph.  [Read more…] about Stanford engineers test autonomous car algorithms in quest for safer driving

The future of small and cooperative robotics, according to Mathias Wiklund of Comau

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Mathias Wiklund, chief operating officer, Comau
Mathias Wiklund, chief operating officer, Comau

An interview with Mathias Wiklund, chief operating officer, Comau Robotics. ‘Bringing intelligent robotics to the market means combining ease of use with advanced performance.’

When did you join Comau?

I joined Comau in 2011 as the managing director for Comau Germany, and became the COO of the Robotics Business Unit in 2013. I’m also a member of the Comau Executive Committee.

Having spent most of my career living and working around the world, including Germany, Italy, Sweden, Thailand and the USA, I now enjoy splitting my time between Germany and Italy.  [Read more…] about The future of small and cooperative robotics, according to Mathias Wiklund of Comau

DJI unveils new Phantom 4 drone with ‘highly advanced’ computer vision and sensing technology

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dji phantom 4
The new DJI Phantom 4

DJI has launched the Phantom 4, which it says is the first consumer quadcopter camera – or drone – to use “highly advanced” computer vision and sensing technology.

The Phantom 4 expands on previous generations of DJI’s iconic Phantom line by adding new on-board intelligence that makes piloting and shooting great shots simple through features like its Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack and TapFly functionality.

“With the Phantom 4, we are entering an era where even beginners can fly with confidence,” said DJI CEO Frank Wang. “People have dreamed about one day having a drone collaborate creatively with them. That day has arrived.” [Read more…] about DJI unveils new Phantom 4 drone with ‘highly advanced’ computer vision and sensing technology