Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 18, 2018

Self-driving car companies face choice between active and passive sensors

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Self-driving cars are close to becoming a reality. When this happens, the sensors they use will be particularly important, says Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd, parent company of Foresight Automotive.

Foresight is developing a sensor system that uses multiple visual light and infrared cameras in stereoscopic technology to interpret its surroundings.

Google’s parent company Alphabet, Inc.  is installing a wide range of sensors in its cars, combining their different inputs to create a fuller picture.

[Read more…] about Self-driving car companies face choice between active and passive sensors

Briefing – Products and Markets: Automatica provides ideal platform for new and established companies

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In this article, Robotics and Automation News highlights some of the products being showcased at the Automatica trade show later this month 

For anyone who has developed and built a robotic or automation technology of some description, there’s no better place to market it than Automatica.

Automatica is probably the world’s largest trade event for the automation industry.

Held every two years in Munich, Germany, the show attracts approximately 50,000 visitors from 100 countries, and about almost 1,000 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries.
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MontraTec to launch self-propelling ‘shuttle carrier’ for intralogistics applications

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Intralogistics solutions provider MontraTec is launching a new self-propelling “shuttle carrier” at Automatica.

The company says it will also be showcasing five new product developments of their future-oriented automation and transport system “montrac”.

The product highlight, however, is the new “shuttle carrier”, which the company says is about connecting rail-bound workstations without rail.  [Read more…] about MontraTec to launch self-propelling ‘shuttle carrier’ for intralogistics applications

Mecademic to showcase latest generation of tiniest industrial robot in the world

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Canadian startup company Mecademic is to showcase the latest generation of its tiny industrial robots at Automatica.

Mecademic says its “ultra-compact and precise robots” as a further sign that the automation industry is seeing innovation.

Mecademic says the newest generation of its Meca500 six-axis industrial robot now includes absolute encoders, no mechanical limits on joint 6, faster joint velocities and a safety module with integrated power supply.  [Read more…] about Mecademic to showcase latest generation of tiniest industrial robot in the world

Kassow Robots to launch lightweight collaborative robot at Automatica

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Kassow Robots, the Denmark-based brainchild of robotics engineer Kristian Kassow and his two co-founders, is set to launch itself on a global stage at the Automatica trade fair in Munich in June 2018.

The Danish start-up, whose motto is “strong, fast, simple,” has been developing uniquely efficient 7-axis industrial lightweight robots since it was founded in 2014. Kassow robots are extremely fast and powerful, and are suitable for use in small spaces.

The company says its robots’ “user-friendly interface” provides businesses with greater flexibility, enabling smaller businesses without their own robotics specialists to achieve complex automation and programming cost-effectively and independently.  [Read more…] about Kassow Robots to launch lightweight collaborative robot at Automatica

Volvo Penta unveils self-docking yacht technology

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Aiming to tackle one of boating’s most stressful manoeuvres – docking – Volvo Penta has unveiled an advanced self-docking solution, targeted for launch in 2020.

The Gothenburg, Sweden, stopover of the Volvo Ocean race was the scene for the unveiling of the self-docking system. In a live demonstration, a 68 ft yacht fitted with the technology skilfully manoeuvred itself into the tightest of spaces between two of the Volvo Ocean Race 65 racing yachts.

“Docking is one of the most challenging boat handling manoeuvres – getting it wrong can be embarrassing, expensive and precarious,” says Björn Ingemanson, President of Volvo Penta.

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Epson Robots showcases robotics solutions for factory automation at ATX East

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Epson Robots showcased its range of robotics solutions in factory automation at the Automation Technology show, ATX East.

At its booth was the new Synthis T3 All-in-One SCARA robot. It comes with a built-in controller, a new technology feature that is designed to reduce space requirements and simplify setup.

It offers an easy-to-install and fast integration solution perfect for simple applications such as pick and place, assembly, parts handling and dispensing, says the company. It is said to be ideal for customers looking to automate their factory without using complex slide-based solutions.

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Smart cities: Embracing technology for urban mobility advancement

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By Francois-Joseph Van Audenhove, partner at Arthur D. Little

Urban mobility operators face evolving customer needs and behaviors as well as a spate of technological advancements, driven by the fourth industrial revolution, that must be embraced in order to stay competitive in the short term, and require transformation for operators to stay relevant in the long term.

Major developments have opened up a range of new mobility options for individuals and now customers expect operators, particularly of public transport, to offer services that are fast, reliable, convenient and personalized.

As such, technological trends and new mobility solutions could lead to a very different mobility ecosystem in the future.  [Read more…] about Smart cities: Embracing technology for urban mobility advancement

Comau and Argotec develop pioneering system for testing satellite parts

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Argotec and Comau are working together to create an innovative system aimed at testing and validating the functionality of nanosatellites.

The verification of a satellite’s hardware, software and its navigation and control algorithms is generally carried out through simulation and complex numerical analysis, but the results are often hard to interpret.

To overcome these difficulties, Argotec has developed ATENA (Advanced Testing Emulator for Nanosatellite Arm), a system which provides immediate verification and constant monitoring of satellite parameters by means of a robotic arm.

[Read more…] about Comau and Argotec develop pioneering system for testing satellite parts