Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 20, 2016

IBM teams up with Local Motors to launch self-driving vehicle

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local motors ceo john rogers, olli self-driving vehicle, ibm watson
Local Motors CEO and co-founder John Rogers with Olli. (Rich Riggins/Feature Photo Service for IBM)

Local Motors, a vehicle technology integrator and claimed to be the creator of the world’s first 3D-printed cars, has introduced the first self-driving vehicle to integrate the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of IBM Watson. 

The vehicle, dubbed “Olli”, was unveiled during the opening of a new Local Motors facility in National Harbor, MD last week, and transported Local Motors CEO and co-founder John Rogers along with vehicle designer Edgar Sarmiento from the Local Motors co-creation community into the new facility.

The electric vehicle, which can carry up to 12 people, is equipped with some of the world’s most advanced vehicle technology, including IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive, to improve the passenger experience and allow natural interaction with the vehicle.  [Read more…] about IBM teams up with Local Motors to launch self-driving vehicle

White House could replace millions of US government workers with robots

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IPSoft’s Amelia digital assistant
IPSoft’s Amelia digital assistant, which recently found a government job in the UK

The White House is preparing to replace millions of US government workers with robots, if comments by a senior technology official is anything to go by. 

Writing on the White House blog, Ed Felten, deputy US chief technology officer, says the government is working with various agencies to integrate artificial intelligence systems into its operations.

His title for the piece takes the view that the government is “preparing for the future”, and talks of the “tremendous opportunities… across the federal government in privacy, security, regulation, law, and research and development” in incorporating AI into government.

The US government currently employs approximately 22 million humans.

[Read more…] about White House could replace millions of US government workers with robots

Raspberry Pi could help farmers manage crops better and more cheaply than current systems, say scientists

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Raspberry Pi may be strongly associated with hobbyists, but now it’s been recruited as a farm hand. 

Inventors of the credit-card sized computers have shipped more than 5 million units at less than $50 each since launch in 2012. Most of them have found their way into toy cars and other devices.

But now a team of researchers has integrated Raspberry Pi into what’s called an “automated field phenomics” system, or what could be thought of as a sophisticated scarecrow. And the team claims their system will cost a fraction of the phenotyping solutions currently on the market.  [Read more…] about Raspberry Pi could help farmers manage crops better and more cheaply than current systems, say scientists

German Chancellor Angela Merkel looking for a ‘good solution’ in response to Chinese bid for Kuka Robots

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chancellor anglea merkel
Chancellor Angela Merkel says she does not see why there cannot be a German solution to the Chinese takeover of Kuka Robots

Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported by Reuters news agency as saying she is looking for a “good solution” in response to the Chinese takeover bid for Kuka, one of the biggest industrial robot manufacturers in the world.

Midea, a Chinese producer of household appliances, recently offered $5 billion to take over Kuka, and the robot-maker’s chairman, Dr Till Reuter, has already said the bid “can support our strategy”.

However, Dr Reuter’s apparently positive vibes has many in Germany seething and looking for a counter-offer which will keep Kuka under German control.  [Read more…] about German Chancellor Angela Merkel looking for a ‘good solution’ in response to Chinese bid for Kuka Robots