Archives for July 2, 2017

BMW and General Electric invest in Xometry manufacturing marketplace

An online marketplace which offers custom-manufactured parts using 3D printing and machine learning to generate instant price quotes has raised $15 million in its latest funding round.

Relatively new startup company Xometry – which rhymes with geometry and is pronounced zometry – has raised a total of $38 million since it was established in 2013.

The company already generates approximately $20 million in annual revenue and has hundreds of providers and more than 5,000 customers. [Read more…] about BMW and General Electric invest in Xometry manufacturing marketplace

Ten must-read books on robotics and technology

Books are the perfect way to explore all sorts of topics. Whether you are a fan of fiction or non-fiction, the book world offers plenty of exciting options when it comes to robotics and technology.

So, if you are looking for something to read over the summer holidays, here are ten must-read books on these current topics.

The list below is a good mixture of fiction and non-fiction to give a unique look in robotics and technology. [Read more…] about Ten must-read books on robotics and technology

Volkswagen buys D-Wave quantum computers which sell for $15 million each

Volkswagen has become a customer of D-Wave Systems, which builds quantum computers that cost $15 million each.

Martin Hofmann, VW’s chief information officer, told New York Times that the investment in quantum computing technology is a sign of things to come. “For us, it’s a new era of technology,” he said.

VW is claimed to have used a D-Wave computer to steer the movements of 10,000 taxis in Beijing simultaneously, optimising their routes and reducing congestion, according to the report in NYT. [Read more…] about Volkswagen buys D-Wave quantum computers which sell for $15 million each

Interview: Fast-moving robotics and automation market prompts updates to forecasts

The global market for robotics and automation systems is growing so fast that it’s causing seasoned industry analysts to revise their forecasts.

For example, the Boston Consulting Group released a report into the robotics which it has now updated with new numbers.

The causes of the reviews include the relatively new interest in personal robotics technology for the home, and the burgeoning market in collaborative robots for industry.

Another key development is the launch of the Apple HomePod, which, along with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, looks set to automate a huge number of homes to levels never seen before.

Toyota demonstrates ‘human service robot’ of a type that may take over a lot of homes

Toyota has been demonstrating what it calls its “Human Support Robot”, a type of robot which looks likely to take over millions of homes all over the world in the next few years.

The market for this type of so-called personal assistance robot is forecast to grow very quickly over the next few years because of advances in the technology.

According to analysts at ResearchAndMarkets.com, the personal robotics market will grow by almost 40 per cent within the next five years to a total size of $34 billion. [Read more…] about Toyota demonstrates ‘human service robot’ of a type that may take over a lot of homes

Industrial internet of things improving everything, says Rockwell Automation CEO

Industrial internet of things applications are leading to better collaboration, faster problem-solving and increased productivity, according the boss of Rockwell Automation.

Blake Moret, president and CEO of Rockwell, spoke on internet of things adoption and its impact on industrial productivity, sharing insights with more than 1,200 business leaders at Cisco’s IoT World Forum.

Rockwell claims to be the industry’s only company solely dedicated to industrial automation and information, and says it is “uniquely positioned to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with harnessing the future of smart manufacturing”. [Read more…] about Industrial internet of things improving everything, says Rockwell Automation CEO

Harman introduces Sherlock AI system to help its designers and engineers find and put things together more quickly

Harman International, a design and engineering company which supplies a range of products and services to automotive companies, has introduced a new artificial intelligence system into its company.

The AI system, Sherlock, is described as a “virtual colleague” for Harman employees, and is said to have completely redefined the innovation management workflow in some of the company’s divisions.

Armin Prommersberger, senior vice president technology, lifestyle audio division, at Harman, says Sherlock offers a level of insight into the business that would be impossible to gain without it. [Read more…] about Harman introduces Sherlock AI system to help its designers and engineers find and put things together more quickly