Archives for December 21, 2016

Connected asparagus: Bosch outlines vision of a future with connected factories and robotic farmers

December 21, 2016 by Sam Francis

Bosch Apas workstation, which includes a cobot the company claims is “the first collaborative robot to be certified as an assistance system”

One of the world’s largest engineering companies, Bosch, has outlined its vision of the future, which includes a world full of smart factories, robotic farmers and connected asparagus.

Bosch made its views available to Robotics and Automation News in a series of documents sent to us this week.

The company believes two main areas of technological development stand out from the rest: connectivity and sensors. [Read more…] about Connected asparagus: Bosch outlines vision of a future with connected factories and robotic farmers

Industrial internet: Hannover Messe increases activity in industrial automation markets around the world

December 21, 2016 by Mark Allinson

Get your complementary ticket to Hannover Messe 2017

Whether it is referred to as the Industrial Internet or Industrie 4.0, digitalization is currently on the agenda in every major economy.

The approaches taken and the expectations raised are very different, as two new studies demonstrate.

“Around the world, digitalization of the economy is being approached from different angles,” explains Acatech president Henning Kagermann in the preface to the new Huawei survey, An International Comparison of Industrie 4.0. [Read more…] about Industrial internet: Hannover Messe increases activity in industrial automation markets around the world

President-elect Donald Trump meets with tech leaders for informal chinwag before inauguration

December 21, 2016 by Mark Allinson

By Gina Cherelus and Dustin Volz, Reuters

President-elect Donald Trump and some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful executives met at his Manhattan tower in the past week, at a summit convened to smooth over frictions after both sides made no secret of their disdain for each other during the election campaign.

The meeting focused chiefly on economic issues, including job creation, lowering taxes and trade dynamics with China, while largely skirting the many disagreements the tech industry has with Trump on matters ranging from immigration to digital privacy, according to a Trump transition team statement.

Trump proposed reconvening with the tech leaders as often as every quarter, the statement said. [Read more…] about President-elect Donald Trump meets with tech leaders for informal chinwag before inauguration

Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

December 21, 2016 by Mark Allinson

By David Shepardson, Reuters

Apple is wading in to the debate over regulation of self-driving cars, declaring it is excited about the potential for automated transportation and calling on US regulators not to restrict testing of such vehicles.

A five-page letter from Steve Kenner, Apple’s director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the company’s most comprehensive statement yet about its interest in self-driving vehicle technology.

The November 22 letter followed more than a year of industry speculation about the computer and iPhone maker’s plans for expanding into transportation. [Read more…] about Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

Manufacturing: Apple considers making in India

December 21, 2016 by David Edwards

India’s significant presence at Hannover Messe in 2015 signalled the country’s renewed determination to reinvigorate its manufacturing base. And in the last couple of years, it has made significant progress with its ambitions.

The government has been pouring money into the manufacturing sector, and encouraging foreign direct investment through a range of incentives, not least of which is more attention and action to facilitate the sector’s development through the upgrading of infrastructure and business practices.

One example of the country’s technological ambition is the KEF Industrial Park, which is shown in the video above. As one observer put it: “It is a mind-blowing set-up and only believable if you see it. They make everything at the factory. Even the bathrooms and rooms, and then transport it by road to the site. The interiors and wirings are done at the site. [Read more…] about Manufacturing: Apple considers making in India