Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for July 28, 2016

Nissan to launch ‘revolutionary’ new Serena autonomous car

by

The Nissan Serena, with ProPilot autonomous technology
The Nissan Serena, with ProPilot autonomous technology

Nissan is to introduce its new Serena autonomous car to the Japanese market

Nissan says the new Serena, scheduled to go on sale in Japan in late August, will come equipped with the company’s ProPilot autonomous drive technology. 

Nissan says ProPilot is a “revolutionary” autonomous drive technology designed for highway use in single-lane traffic.

Nissan claims to be the first Japanese automaker to introduce a combination of steering, accelerator and braking that can be operated in full automatic mode, easing driver workload in heavy highway traffic and long commutes.  [Read more…] about Nissan to launch ‘revolutionary’ new Serena autonomous car

Epson expands LS series SCARA industrial robot lineup

by

Epson_LS20_850-LS20_1000_pair
New Epson robot models

Epson says its “robust” SCARA lineup now offers “even more robots for more applications” 

Epson Robots, the global leader in SCARA Robots, expands their SCARA robot lineup with the introduction of 3 new robots – the LS20, LS6-500 and LS6-700. 

Built to carry heavy objects at high speeds, the LS20 offers a maximum payload of 20 kg and arm lengths in 800mm and 1000mm. Both arm lengths feature a 420mm Z-Axis length.

Notable features include high speed cycle times, superior accel/decel rates with smooth start/stop motion and reduced vibration due to Epson’s proprietary QMEMS vibration sensing technology.

Epson says the LS20 is “extremely useful in industries ranging from automotive and appliance to industrial”.  [Read more…] about Epson expands LS series SCARA industrial robot lineup

Seegrid names Pete Chryplewicz to Detroit, Michigan robotics leadership initiative

by

Promoted 

Seegrid, the pioneer and leader in vision-based autonomous industrial vehicles, today announced the addition of Pete Chryplewicz to the Company’s strategic account sales team.  Chryplewicz will be heading up the important Detroit, Michigan robotics leadership initiative. 

Pete Chryplewicz, Seegrid
Pete Chryplewicz, Seegrid

“I am honored to be leading the Seegrid Michigan robotics initiative. Seegrid recognizes the value of the state, its industries, and the role of automotive automation in the global economy.  I look forward to working with Michigan’s top automotive manufacturing companies and their team members to innovate manufacturing processes and increase competitiveness with Seegrid vision guided vehicles,” stated Chryplewicz.

Chris Visnic, Seegrid Vice President of Sales, noted, “Pete is an industry veteran and Seegrid is honored to have him on our team.  His expertise in automotive manufacturing will greatly benefit Seegrid and the clients he works with.  He understands the needs of manufacturing companies and will work hard to expand Seegrid’s presence within the state.”  [Read more…] about Seegrid names Pete Chryplewicz to Detroit, Michigan robotics leadership initiative

NXP and eSSys to deliver intelligent transport systems for Korean government project

by

nxp

NXP to supply RoadLink chipsets for secure vehicle-to-x communications in Korea’s next-generation intelligent transportation system project

NXP Semiconductors and eSSys will be technology partners in Korea’s next-generation Cooperative Intelligent Transportation System (C-ITS) project promoted by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

NXP will supply eSSys with its RoadLink V2X chipset, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication and security solution which will be test-operated on an 87.8 km route between Sejong City (city of government offices) and Daejon. The year-long pilot operation started this month.

Currently, a variety of smart transport technologies are being installed on national highways, including the primary highway for access to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.  [Read more…] about NXP and eSSys to deliver intelligent transport systems for Korean government project

Qualcomm signs up partners to develop smart cities and industrial applications

by

qualcomm snapdragon chipset

Qualcomm says a large number of companies have agreed to use its chipsets in their future technologies for smart cities and industrial applications 

Qualcomm Technologies says it has secured more than 100 design wins across more than 60 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and module OEMs based on its MDM9x07 chipset family comprised of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X5 LTE (9×07) modem and MDM9207-1 modem for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The flexible chipset family offers security-focused and optimized cellular connectivity, as well as edge processing for a large array of devices and systems within the IoT.

These modems are designed to address customer connectivity and power challenges in a wide range of use cases including in:

  • smart cities;
  • commercial applications; and
  • industrial designs.

[Read more…] about Qualcomm signs up partners to develop smart cities and industrial applications

‘One in every 15 cars uses our chips,’ boasts Infineon

by

System diagram of automotive 77 GHz radar system
System diagram of automotive 77 GHz radar system

Infineon Technologies predicts that by the end of 2016, more than half of all new automotive 77-GHz radar systems worldwide will be equipped with chips from the company. 

Statistically speaking, that means around one in 15 new cars will use a driver assistance system with 77-GHz radar chips from Infineon.

Given these figures, Infineon claims “market leadership… in the rapidly growing market for radar chips for driver assistance systems”. [Read more…] about ‘One in every 15 cars uses our chips,’ boasts Infineon

Roke demonstrates ‘3D’ black box technology for vehicles

by

roke black box for cars

A UK company called Roke Manor Research has demonstrated what it claims is the “world’s first viable 3D black box technology for vehicles” using just a single dashboard camera.

Fitted to an autonomous Toyota Prius, Roke demonstrated how data captured via vision processing technology could be used to provide a precise 3D reconstruction following a road incident.

It’s set to offer insurers, drivers and, in the case of autonomous vehicles, manufacturers independent evidence of what happened. This will not just lead to safer vehicles but also help to build public trust in driverless vehicles.  [Read more…] about Roke demonstrates ‘3D’ black box technology for vehicles

Survey suggests most drivers want telematics insurance

by

telematics inforgraphic

New study suggests majority of people favour personalised insurance premiums based on telematics data

Many people believe autonomous cars will have fewer accidents than human drivers. But that’s just a prediction, and driverless cars may not be allowed on the roads for decades, so no one can know for sure at the moment. 

But even now, with all the advanced driver assistance systems – which is basically autonomous car technology – in today’s cars, human drivers are becoming safer.

However, those who drive safely are not always rewarded through lower insurance premiums, as they are calculated based on the behaviour of all drivers, good or bad.  [Read more…] about Survey suggests most drivers want telematics insurance

Automated manufacturing equipment suppliers join to create Smart Automation Group

by

eclipse automation

Partnership designed to deliver a new global standard of custom automation services to “help clients grow today and build for tomorrow”

A number of suppliers of custom automated manufacturing equipment have joined forces to launch the Smart Automation Group, a collaborative partnership designed to innovate the custom automation services industry. 

The partnership includes Eclipse Automation, Insys Industriesysteme, Transmoduls, SMZ Wickel-und Montagetechnik, Juli Technology, and ITE Automation.

The companies are joining together to share best practices, industry intellectual property, experience, and know-how to provide customers with what they say will be “automation solutions in a way unlike anything on the market today”.  [Read more…] about Automated manufacturing equipment suppliers join to create Smart Automation Group