Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for May 2016

Japan leader promotes robot revolution at G7 Summit

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Local automakers take G7 Summit opportunity to show off new autonomous car technology 

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe claims autonomous car technology will be safer than the human motorists of today, according to an official translation of his comments.

Abe, a fanatical supporter of artificial intelligence who recently launched a “robot revolution” to accelerate the robot takeover of the world, made his remarks at the G7 Summit, where leaders of the seven most powerful trading nations in the world were given a closer look at the latest in autonomous car technology, as well as more environmentally friendly fuel systems.

The G7 Summit was held last week in Ise-Shima, Japan, and local carmakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan took the opportunity to unveil some new innovations in their autonomous product range.  [Read more…] about Japan leader promotes robot revolution at G7 Summit

Manufacturers turn to industrial robots and 3D printing for growth

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Manufacturers are investing in artificial intelligence, 3D printing and robotics. Picture: Rolling Stone

Overall market expansion is limited, but manufacturers investing in robotics and automation to make the most of opportunities, says new report

Manufacturers are making the most robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence in an attempt to make the most of limited overall market growth, according to a new report by KPMG. 

The business consultancy conducted a survey which asked which technologies manufacturers will turn to in the hope of increasing market share.  [Read more…] about Manufacturers turn to industrial robots and 3D printing for growth

O’Reilly says artificial intelligence is ‘going mainstream’

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Tim O’Reilly, founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media

Artificial intelligence has come out of the dark corners of science fiction and is ready to become ubiquitous in the real world, according to one of the most influential tech gurus of the internet era.

Writing on the company’s website, Tim O’Reilly, founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, say humanity is “at the beginning of an explosion of intelligent software” which could change everything.

O’Reilly says: “It’s easy to get excited about recent progress but much more difficult to understand what lies ahead. Researchers have built some excellent, but very specialized, systems. Still, we’re far from anything that looks like a general intelligence system.

“We have programs that can play Go, drive a car, chat, manage investments, and identify pictures; we don’t have programs that can do all of the thousands of things that humans do every day. Integrating many systems that can each do one very specific task is a challenging problem, if that’s even the right approach. What does the future hold, and how are we to get there?”  [Read more…] about O’Reilly says artificial intelligence is ‘going mainstream’

If AI ruled the world: Exclusive interview with Jane Zavalishina, CEO, Yandex Data Factory

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Jane Zavalishina, Yandex Data Factory

Some people say artificial intelligence will eventually take over the world, and make humans obsolete and useless in large parts of society, starting with firing us from all employment – low-skilled or high. Others say it’s already happened – that AI rules the world. 

From artificially intelligent assistants which answer your emails and manage your diary, to artificially intelligent industrial robots that can custom manufacture products to individual customer specifications and that can tell you when they need a little maintenance, not to mention the AI in the latest cars of today which can brake and change lanes to avoid you having an accident because you fell asleep at the wheel, AI is everywhere.

And like the concept of the omnipresent deities that many religious people believe in, AI – and its attributes of machine learning and deep learning and so on – has inspired a massive global following which is growing every day. [Read more…] about If AI ruled the world: Exclusive interview with Jane Zavalishina, CEO, Yandex Data Factory

Epson sells 10,000 more industrial robots

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Company claims 20 per cent increase of its global install base 

Epson Robots claims to have sold 10,000 robots since last year’s publication of a list of the largest industrial robot manufacturers in the world.

RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com had previously listed Epson as having 45,000 industrial robots installed worldwide, but this has now been updated to 55,000.  [Read more…] about Epson sells 10,000 more industrial robots

Cemtrex to acquire electronics manufacturer specializing in automotive technologies

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Cemtrex, an industrial and manufacturing solutions company, has entered into an agreement to acquire electronics manufacturer, The Target.

The Target is a company focused on electronic manufacturing services primarily for the major German automotive manufacturers, including Tier 1 suppliers in the industry, as well as for industries like telecommunications, industrial goods, luxury consumer products, display technology, and other industrial OEMs.

The Target’s projected annual revenues for the next 12 months is expected around €30 million and the company has a history in the electronics manufacturing industry extending back decades.  [Read more…] about Cemtrex to acquire electronics manufacturer specializing in automotive technologies

Honda presents autonomous car tech at G7 Summit

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Honda presented its latest autonomous car technology, as well as its environmentally friendly vehicles, to G7 leaders at the summit in Japan. 

Honda showed off its Clarity Fuel Cell, its fuel cell vehicle, and Automated Drive, an autonomous development vehicle, for the G7 Summit 2016 Japan in Ise-Shima, which was held on May 26 and 27, 2016.

Honda, the developer of the Asimo robot, has been providing support to the Japanese government’s plans to showcase the attractiveness unique to Japan at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, including high-tech products and innovations that it says “will convey such attractiveness of Japan to the world”.  [Read more…] about Honda presents autonomous car tech at G7 Summit

Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7

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Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7

Toyota offered test drives of an experimental vehicle featuring a newly developed automated driving system, Urban Teammate, during the 42nd G7 Summit in Ise-Shima, held on May 26 and 27.

In keeping with the philosophy behind Toyota’s Mobility Teammate Concept ― which the company claims is a unique approach to automated driving that “stresses the importance of a partner-like relationship between people and cars” – the Urban Teammate system was created to test the application of automated driving technologies on ordinary roads.

Urban Teammate is Toyota’s successor to Highway Teammate, which was unveiled in October last year. Highway Teammate was developed exclusively to enable vehicles to handle every aspect of highway driving without assistance, including negotiating on-ramps and exit ramps.

[Read more…] about Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7

Nissan demonstrates autonomous car technology at G7 Summit

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Nissan ProPilot autonomous technology applied to a Nissan Leaf car, seen here at Ise-Shima G7 Summit
Nissan ProPilot autonomous technology applied to a Nissan Leaf car, seen here at Ise-Shima G7 Summit

Nissan has shown off its ProPilot autonomous drive technology at the G7 summit, which is currently being held in Ise-shima, Japan.

European Council President Donald Tusk had a front-seat view, as his car was among a cavalcade of Group of Seven next-generation vehicles.

The Nissan autonomous drive road session was one of a number of events planned during the Japan-hosted G7 Summit on May 26 and 27. [Read more…] about Nissan demonstrates autonomous car technology at G7 Summit

Kuka takeover bid welcomed by Reuter, according to Reuters

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Dr Till Reuter, chief executive of Kuka

The boss of Kuka has welcomed the takeover bid by Chinese company Midea, according to the Reuters news agency. 

Dr Till Reuter, chief executive of Kuka, is said to have made the comments at a shareholders’ meeting today.

Speaking of the proposal by Midea, Dr Reuter says: “The bid, as it has been announced, can support our strategy.”   [Read more…] about Kuka takeover bid welcomed by Reuter, according to Reuters