Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for April 2016

Most people don’t know what a smart city is, say engineers

by

future world
What the future might look like

IET calls for public engagement campaign around benefits of new technology

Only 18 per cent of the British public has heard of a “smart city”, according to research carried out by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The research is reported in a new IET report, Smart Cities – Time to involve the people, which also reveals low interest in the technologies typically associated with smart cities. For example, only 8 per cent saw a value in being able to order driverless or electric transport from their smart phone.

Cities’ adoption of new technologies has traditionally involved little consultation with consumers. As a result, the report suggests that the public has yet to buy into the idea of smart cities – and be convinced of the value and benefits that technology, delivered on a city-scale, could bring to their daily lives.

New disruptive technologies and applications such as Uber (on-demand taxi services) and Airbnb (online accommodation service) may help to change hearts and minds, but the findings suggest there is still some way to go.  [Read more…] about Most people don’t know what a smart city is, say engineers

Honeywell establishes new industrial internet of things business unit

by

honeywell process solutions

Honeywell Process Solutions has established a new industrial internet of things (IIoT) business unit.

The company says its new IIoT unit will help manufacturers harness the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and more rapidly deploy technologies that will allow them to better manage and analyze data, making their operations safer, more reliable and more efficient.

Vimal Kapur, HPS president, says: “Since HPS’s introduction of the modern automation control system, we have helped plants and manufacturing sites around the world use an increasing amount of data to solve customer’s productivity and safety challenges.

“As manufacturers are looking to take the next step to manage and exploit data across multiple sites in locations across the globe, our new business unit will be a focused resource to provide that expertise.”  [Read more…] about Honeywell establishes new industrial internet of things business unit

CeMAT 2016 puts spotlight on digitization and automation

by

cemat preview

CeMAT, which describes itself as the world’s leading tradeshow for intralogistics and supply chain management, expects to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors from around the globe 

Logistics is as complex as it sounds, and CeMAT, which takes place from31 May to 3 June, aims to explain all the latest developments.

Numerous individual elements come together in logistics to make a functioning whole, as increasingly dynamic production and logistics processes become ever more closely intertwined.

Anyone who wants to compete successfully in the logistics growth market needs to consistently update their own holistic concepts and systems for optimized material and information flows – with an emphasis on solutions.  [Read more…] about CeMAT 2016 puts spotlight on digitization and automation

Bodacious BlueBotics sells hundreds of Ant systems around the world

by

Autonomous logistics robotics and autonomous systems made by BlueBotics are totally selling well

Hollywood film star Keanu Reeves may not like to remember one of the phrases that made him famous, but for Dr Nicola Tomatis, it’s a phrase he seems to enjoy using.

“Excellent!”

Tomatis is CEO of BlueBotics, a Switzerland-based maker of autonomous vehicles for industrial applications, such as logistics. We didn’t ask him if he was aware of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.  [Read more…] about Bodacious BlueBotics sells hundreds of Ant systems around the world

Infosys to network all Kuka industrial robots in new global Cloud platform

by

The two companies say they will jointly develop Industry 4.0 solutions, while Kuka has established a new software company 

Kuka and Infosys say they will jointly develop solutions to support companies embracing Industry 4.0.

Kuka is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots, and Infosys specialises in software solutions for large businesses.

The aim of the collaboration is the development of a software platform that will allow customers to collect, evaluate and utilize data for improving their own processes.  [Read more…] about Infosys to network all Kuka industrial robots in new global Cloud platform

Denso, eSol, and NEC form joint venture for connected cars

by

connected car

Denso is teaming up with eSol and NEC to develop superfast networks for connected cars. 

The three companies will form a joint venture to develop basic software that can support high-speed data communication, high-quality security, and high-performance microcomputers, in order to advance in-vehicle systems used for automated driving and other control actions.

The joint venture will provide easy-to-use basic software to help automakers and electronic control unit suppliers increase their quality and efficiency when developing products.  [Read more…] about Denso, eSol, and NEC form joint venture for connected cars

Clearpath to provide GE Healthcare repair center with self-driving vehicles

by

The Clearpath Otto logistics robot
The Clearpath Otto logistics robot

A fleet of Otto self-driving vehicles will automate just-in-time parts delivery within Milwaukee facility 

Clearpath, the developer of Otto – a self-driving vehicle designed for material transport, has been selected to automate just-in-time parts delivery in a GE Healthcare repair facility being expanded near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“The Otto fleet will optimize GE Healthcare’s just-in-time manufacturing process to help enable repair cells to operate at full capacity,” said Matt Rendall, chief executive officer at Clearpath Robotics.  [Read more…] about Clearpath to provide GE Healthcare repair center with self-driving vehicles

Jaguar XFL: hand-built by 300 robots and featuring driverless car technology

by

jaguar xfl

Jaguar is rolling out its ‘all-new’ XFL model and says it features the latest in autonomous technology 

The new Jaguar XFL is to feature a range of autonomous technologies that the automaker says bring “unparalleled luxury and technology to the business segment”.

The XFL will feature a host of advanced and autonomous technologies including adaptive full-LED headlights, a laser head-up display, all surface progress control, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with queue-assist, lane keep-assist, reverse traffic detection and park-assist.  [Read more…] about Jaguar XFL: hand-built by 300 robots and featuring driverless car technology

Microsoft adds OPC support to IIoT applications

by

microsoft-internet-of-things

Company to support Open Platform Communications standard across IoT offerings 

Microsoft says it is working with the Open Platform Communications Foundation to enable almost any industrial internet of things network through interoperability between the millions of applications and industrial equipment compliant with the OPC Unified Architecture standard.

Microsoft will further enable its IIoT customers to connect a broad range of manufacturing equipment and software that can span decades of investment with extended support of the OPC UA open source software stack.

Interoperability between devices and assets is critical for today’s factories, which are increasingly bringing new and legacy systems online and modernizing their plants and facilities.  [Read more…] about Microsoft adds OPC support to IIoT applications

Yaskawa releases new line of drive servos and amplifiers

by

yaskawa drive

Yaskawa has launched a new line of rotary, linear and direct drive servos and amplifiers that the company says “bring a new level of operating efficiency to automated equipment”.

Yaskawa, one of the world’s biggest industrial robot manufacturers, says its Sigma-7 has bandwidth and resolution improvements.

Yaskawa says system designers and automation end users will benefit from the speed, precision and efficiency improvements in Sigma-7, adding that it is “the most technologically advanced servo systems ever created” by the company.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa releases new line of drive servos and amplifiers