Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for August 24, 2017

Delphi partners with Innoviz Technologies on ‘high-performance’ lidar solutions for autonomous vehicles

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Delphi Automotive has signed a commercial partnership agreement with Innoviz Technologies, a developer of lidar technology for the mass commercialization of autonomous vehicles.

Lidar, which stands for light detection and ranging, is a laser-based mapping system which is expected to play a big part in future vehicles. Currently, lidar is used in such technologies as speed guns and spacecraft.

Innoviz’s proprietary lidar sensing solutions will be integrated into Delphi’s systems to provide automakers with what the companies say will be “a comprehensive portfolio of autonomous driving technologies”.  [Read more…] about Delphi partners with Innoviz Technologies on ‘high-performance’ lidar solutions for autonomous vehicles

Opinion: How the ‘digital cockpit’ will improve user experience, both now and in autonomous vehicles

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By Arvin Baalu, vice president of the integrated digital cockpit platform group at Harman International

As the automotive industry continues on the road to autonomous vehicles, user experience will be a decisive purchase factor.

Harman believes that key to achieving positive user experiences will be an integrated digital cockpit that ensures the “driver” does not feel redundant as the car begins to take control. ‎ [Read more…] about Opinion: How the ‘digital cockpit’ will improve user experience, both now and in autonomous vehicles

Amazon has 100,000 robots working at its warehouses worldwide

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Amazon is estimated to have a total of 100,000 robots working at its numerous locations worldwide, according to a report on the Seattle Times website. 

And so far this year, the company has produced 55,000 of the little machines.

The world’s largest online retailer bought logistics robot-maker Kiva Systems in 2012 and has since built a separate business unit – Amazon Robotics – based on the technology it acquired.

The main robot is a small mobile platform for use in warehouses, and it’s manufactured in Amazon Robotics research and production facility in North Reading, Massachusetts, in the US (video below).

Kuka wins multi-million-dollar order to supply robotic work cell to make batteries for electric vehicles

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Industrial robotics and automation company Kuka Industries has received an order from what it says is “a leading European manufacturer in the automotive industry” to supply a battery production system. 

Kuka Industries, which is part of Kuka, would not say which company it was which placed the order, but it has supplied the same company before with a similar system, and now the customer seems to be selling or expecting to sell more electric cars, or maybe battery systems for electric vehicles.

Kuka says the order value lies in the “mid-double-digit million euro range” and was booked in the second quarter of 2017. Start of production is planned for mid-2019.  [Read more…] about Kuka wins multi-million-dollar order to supply robotic work cell to make batteries for electric vehicles

General Electric resumes talks to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB

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General Electric has resumed negotiations to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB, according to a report on Reuters.com. 

The US conglomerate’s industrial solutions business includes products such as circuit breakers, relays, panel boards and other technologies for sectors including power generation, telecommunications and mining.

Swiss company ABB had previously talked to GE about possibly purchasing the business, and the price it offered was said to be $2 billion.  [Read more…] about General Electric resumes talks to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB

Midea planning robot bartenders and factories with no human workers in them

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Midea, the Chinese company which acquired industrial robotics and automation systems supplier Kuka, is planning to launch robot bartenders and design factories where no humans are needed. 

Neither one of the ideas is new, since most visitors to robotics industry events may have seen at least one robotic arm pouring and serving up a drink, and fully automated factories have been much discussed for some time.

However, Midea is thought to be the world’s largest appliance maker, producing a wide range of washing machines, fridge-freezers and other gadgets for the home.  [Read more…] about Midea planning robot bartenders and factories with no human workers in them