Robotics & Automation News

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Archives for August 18, 2016

Airbus and Renishaw team up to develop ‘innovative design approach to meet future demand for new aircraft’

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airbus

Renishaw is contributing its additive manufacturing expertise to a new £17.7 million project, being led by Airbus in the UK, to develop an innovative way of designing and manufacturing aircraft wings, which will encourage a “right first time approach” and reduce development time. 

More than 30,000 new aircraft are expected to be required in the next 15-20 years, replacing existing in-service models and also to expand airlines’ fleets as the number of air travellers increases. 

The project, called Wing Design Methodology Validation – or Windy – has been made possible thanks to joint industry and UK government investment from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). It was one of a number of projects announced by BEIS during the Farnborough International Airshow.  [Read more…] about Airbus and Renishaw team up to develop ‘innovative design approach to meet future demand for new aircraft’

Amazon to open logistics centre filled with robot workers

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Amazon is growing its UK fulfilment centre network as it expands to meet customer demand, increases its product selection and supports more third party Marketplace sellers with Fulfilment by Amazon. 

The fulfilment centre will be Amazon’s 13th in the UK and will be equipped with advanced Amazon Robotics technology.

Amazon says its new fulfilment centre in Tilbury, Essex, will open in 2017, and create more than 1,500 new permanent jobs for humans next year. This is in addition to the 3,500 other humans the company already employs in the UK. The new centre will also be filled with autonomous logistics robots.  [Read more…] about Amazon to open logistics centre filled with robot workers

Volvo and Uber join forces to develop autonomous driving cars

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Volvo Cars, the Swedish car maker, and Uber, the ride-sharing company, are to join forces to develop next-generation autonomous driving cars.

The two companies have signed an agreement to establish a joint project that will develop new base vehicles that will be able to incorporate the latest developments in advanced driving technologies, up to and including fully autonomous driverless cars.

The base vehicles will be manufactured by Volvo Cars and then purchased from Volvo by Uber. Volvo Cars and Uber are contributing a combined $300 million to the project.  [Read more…] about Volvo and Uber join forces to develop autonomous driving cars

Giant distribution centers look to robots to deal with increasing e-commerce orders

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axium Distribution-center-robotic-depalletizing

Changes taking place in consumer behavior have drawn a new map, a new type of building and a new kind of automation for the retail sector.

Growth has taken place in both the number and size of the facilities that turn e-commerce orders into product deliveries. The distribution center, or operation fulfillment center, is increasingly emerging in locations that experience low real estate costs, offer tax incentives to locate there, have an available workforce for seasonal surges and offer multiple ways of transporting goods from their locations.

In the US, that means areas close to major metropolises, such as New Jersey and Oakland, CA, Midwestern hubs that are unencumbered by traffic-congested highways, such as Omaha, NB and Kansas City, MO, and traditional port cities such as Houston, TX, Norfolk, VA, and Savannah, GA. [Read more…] about Giant distribution centers look to robots to deal with increasing e-commerce orders

New Nitco solutions feature collaborative robotics and automation technology

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nitco Landoll-PT40-Precision-Telehandler-in-Action

Northland Industrial Truck (Nitco) has created a new division to concentrate on collaborative robotics and automation technologies. 

Nitco, which has been in business nearly 50 years, says its new strategic accounts division will “focus on many things including disruptive technology, innovation, fuel sources, automation, and cobotics”. 

Collaborative robotics, or cobotics, describes how the integration of robotic equipment coexists with people in the workplace.  [Read more…] about New Nitco solutions feature collaborative robotics and automation technology

IMTS visitors offered free ride in Olli, the self-driving vehicle from Local Motors

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olli self-driving bus

Visitors to this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) will be offered a free ride in Olli, the first self-driving vehicle from Local Motors, developed in association with IBM. 

IMTS has partnered with Local Motors to offer the IMTS Ride Experience featuring the breakthrough technology in Olli, the first self-driving electric vehicle equipped with IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

Built by Local Motors, Olli can carry up to 12 riders and will navigate a track in the C Hall of the North Building at IMTS 2016, September 12-17, McCormick Place, Chicago.  [Read more…] about IMTS visitors offered free ride in Olli, the self-driving vehicle from Local Motors

Commercial vehicles ‘on the road to digital transformation’

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iaa lorries

Lorries and other commercial vehicles are on the way toward “digital transformation”, according to the organisers of the IAA event.

Now in its 66th year, the IAA Commercial Vehicles exhibition is regarded as one of the the most important trade fairs for mobility, transport and logistics.

Some 2,000 exhibitors are expected to showcase their products at the event, due to be held in Hannover, Germany.  [Read more…] about Commercial vehicles ‘on the road to digital transformation’

Zeiss to show the latest networking technologies at IMTS 2016

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zeiss industrial metrology

Zeiss Industrial Metrology is planning to show its latest networking technologies for Industry 4.0 at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS).

The latest developments of Zeiss PiWeb quality data management software and Zeiss Calypso measurement software, along with further enhancements of computer tomography and white light sensor technology will be highlighted.

Customers can explore CT images virtually, get up-close views of the robotic sensor display and learn about the latest specials, available only at IMTS.

InnoTrans 2016 prepares for record number of exhibitors

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tgv

This year’s InnoTrans event is set to be the biggest in its 11-year history, with record numbers of companies booked to showcase their transport solutions. 

InnoTrans claims it is the world’s leading international trade fair for transport technology, and this year almost 3,000 exhibitors are preparing their stalls for the 100,000 trade visitors the organisers are predicting will attend.

InnoTrans is a favourite with train companies, particularly as they look to upgrade their rail networks using automation  technology as did Norway, and because there is increasing interest in and talk of intelligent transport systems.

And this year the French are particularly enthusiastic about the event.

Famed for the TGV – Train à Grande Vitesse – high-speed rail service, the French legion readying themselves to go to the event boast that the French are “at the forefront of the rail industry not only in France but all over the world”.  [Read more…] about InnoTrans 2016 prepares for record number of exhibitors