Market trends and business perspectives
Precision gearing specialist Harmonic Drive UK has released a one-page guide giving advice for those interested in a career in robotics.
The guide details the different routes that people can take to work in the sector, routes that depart from traditional robot manufacturing.
Given the engineering skills shortage, there are many jobs available in various areas of the robotics industry. [Read more…] about Thinking about the future? Top tips for a career in robotics
Akasol says it has agreed a deal with “an internationally operating commercial vehicle manufacturer based in northern Europe” for the serial production of lithium-ion battery systems for its entire fleet of e-buses.
Akasol claims the contract with the original equipment manufacturer is worth “hundreds of millions of euros” and lasts until 2023, and outlines a close, long-term partnership between both companies and involves the supply of up to 4,500 battery systems.
Sven Schulz, CEO of Akasol, says: “Thanks to our technological expertise and nearly 30 years of experience in the field of traction battery systems for the automotive industry, we made an impressive bid and were able to set ourselves apart from the competition.” [Read more…] about Akasol wins ‘major contract’ to supply lithium-ion battery systems for new e-buses
By Martinne Geller and Ben Hirschler, Reuters
Open markets and global trade have been blamed for job losses over the last decade, but global CEOs say the real culprits are increasingly machines.
And while business leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos relish the productivity gains technology can bring, they warned this week that the collateral damage to jobs needs to be addressed more seriously.
From taxi drivers to healthcare professionals, technologies such as robotics, driverless cars, artificial intelligence and 3D printing mean more and more types of jobs are at risk. [Read more…] about Job-stealing robots a growing concern for world leaders
Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump has signed an order aimed at reducing the amount of bureaucracy involved in getting permissions and licences in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
Trump got elected partly on a platform to rejuvenate manufacturing and industry – or his “make it in America” mantra – and these first few days have seen some big changes proposed.
The order he signed is designed to streamline the administrative process, which Trump said was “incredibly cumbersome, long, horrible”. [Read more…] about US President Donald Trump orders reduction of manufacturing and construction bureaucracy
Chipmaker Infineon Technologies has joined an organisation which is developing a global network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
Infineon says an appropriate charging infrastructure is “critical” to support the rapidly growing electric vehicles market worldwide.
Infineon often boasts that it is the world’s leading semiconductor supplier for driver assistance systems and electric mobility.
The company currently claims its technology is the “key” to securing the future of all life on Earth.
[Read more…] about Infineon joins electric charging association to support global standards
Article from Uppsala University website
In a new study, published in Nature this week, an international research group led from Uppsala University in Sweden presents the discovery of a group of microbes that provide new insights as to how complex cellular life emerged.
The study provides new details of how, billions of years ago, complex cell types that comprise plants, fungi, but also animals and humans, gradually evolved from simpler microbial ancestors.
Life on our planet can be divided into three major groups. Two of these groups are represented by tiny microbes, the Bacteria and the Archaea. The third group of organisms comprises all visible life, such as humans, animals, and fungi – collectively known as eukaryotes.
Whereas the cells of bacteria and archaea are generally small and simple, eukaryotes are made up of large and complex cell types.
The origin of these complex cell types has long been a mystery to the scientific community, but now an international collective of researchers led by Uppsala University has identified a group of microorganisms that provides a unique insight into the evolutionary transition from simple to complex cells. [Read more…] about Researchers discover ‘marvel microbes’ explaining how cells became complex
