Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for August 15, 2018

Boeing invests in high-speed metal 3D printing company Digital Alloys

by

Boeing has invested an undisclosed sum in Digital Alloys, a Burlington, Massachusetts-based company developing high-speed, multi-metal additive manufacturing systems that produce 3D-printed parts for aerospace and other production applications.

Digital Alloys’ Joule Printing technology is said to be able to “rapidly combine multiple metals into each part, which enhances thermal, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties”.

The process allows metals like titanium and high-temperature alloys to be 3D-printed for parts that could be used on Boeing products.  [Read more…] about Boeing invests in high-speed metal 3D printing company Digital Alloys

Nasa selects some early winners in its Astrobee robotic arm competition

by

Nasa turns to freelancers to design a robotic arm for a flying robotic assistant on the International Space Station

Nasa and Freelancer.com announced three of the winners of the ongoing Astrobee Challenges Series, the latest crowdsourcing contest held by Nasa via Freelancer.com.

In recent years, Nasa has used Freelancer.com to hold several crowdsourcing campaigns in order to find innovative solutions to engineering problems they come across.

This time the Astrobee Challenges Series encouraged participants to design a robotic arm for a project on the International Space Station.  [Read more…] about Nasa selects some early winners in its Astrobee robotic arm competition

Hitachi Vantara to acquire Rean Cloud to strengthen IIoT offering

by

Hitachi Vantara, the industrial internet of things business unit of Hitachi, has agreed to acquire Rean Cloud, a global cloud systems integrator, managed services provider and solutions developer of cloud-native applications across big data, machine learning and emerging internet of things spaces.

Founded in 2013, Rean Cloud has quickly been recognized as a leading cloud systems integrator, earning the status of Amazon Web Services Premier Consulting Partner and Microsoft Azure Silver Partner.

Rean Cloud’s deep hyperscale expertise and industry-leading infrastructure-as-code Rean Cloud Accelerator Platform enable highly automated, intelligent, scalable and secure cloud adoption and managed services.  [Read more…] about Hitachi Vantara to acquire Rean Cloud to strengthen IIoT offering

Space scientists are building ‘robotoids’ because ‘humans never went to the moon’, says researcher

by

Space scientists are developing humanoid robots that they can send to the moon and other celestial bodies because human beings are biologically incapable of leaving Earth’s protective layers without dying, according to an alternative historian.

Michael Tsarion, who is a well-known conspiracy buff and has a massive following, shares an opinion that, in fact, is held by many millions of people around the world.

That view is that the Apollo moon landing in 1969, led by Neil Armstrong, was a hoax and the filming for it was done by Stanley Kubrick, the famous director who made classic sci-fi films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey.  [Read more…] about Space scientists are building ‘robotoids’ because ‘humans never went to the moon’, says researcher

General Electric to connect 10,000 Aggreko assets to its IIoT network

by

General Electric has signed a multiyear supply agreement with Aggreko, a supplier of temporary power and temperature control solutions.

The plan is to connect up to 10,000 assets to GE’s Distributed Power myPlant Asset Performance Management (APM) solution over the next five years.

GE says its myPlant APM is an “original equipment manufacturer-agnostic”, industrial internet of things solution for reciprocating engines and generators, which will provide Aggreko with a digital toolset to manage its equipment fleet.  [Read more…] about General Electric to connect 10,000 Aggreko assets to its IIoT network

IMTS exhibitors to display full range of CNC technologies

by

CNCs and Beyond: IMTS 2018 Metal Cutting Pavilion exhibitors to emphasize connectivity, controls, process integration and automation

First came smartphones, then intelligent cars and houses. Now, visitors to the Metal Cutting Pavilion at IMTS 2018 – the International Manufacturing Technology Show, can experience the explosive productivity growth possible with smart, connected machining centers.

“The conversations at IMTS have changed from spindle speeds and traverse rates to how to deliver pertinent information so job shops and manufacturers can better manage their assets,” says Marlow Knabach, executive VP, national engineering, DMG Mori USA.

“To start the conversation, exhibitors in the Metal Cutting Pavilion at IMTS will demonstrate smart machines with the ability to monitor critical elements, such as spindle bearing temperature, spindle vibration, ball screw temperature, coolant level and tool wear to identify potential sources of downtime before they occur.”  [Read more…] about IMTS exhibitors to display full range of CNC technologies

ATS Automation reports $300 million revenue

by

ATS Automation Tooling Systems has reported revenue of $300 million for the quarter ending July 1, 2018.

The company says the $300 million is 14 percent higher than the same quarter last year.

Earnings from operations were $27 million (9 percent operating margin), compared to $21.3 million (8 percent operating margin) a year ago.  [Read more…] about ATS Automation reports $300 million revenue

3D Systems and GF Machining Solutions partner on metal part production

by

3D Systems and Georg Fischer AG GF Machining Solutions today announced a partnership that will enhance metal parts production and redefine how manufacturers think about their manufacturing environments.

GF Machining Solutions is one of the world’s leading providers of complete solutions to the precision machining industry and to manufacturers of precision components.

By combining the strength of 3D Systems’ innovation and expertise in additive manufacturing with GF Machining Solutions’ renowned leadership in precision machining, this partnership will enable manufacturers to more efficiently produce complex metal parts within tight tolerances, and reduce total cost of operation.

[Read more…] about 3D Systems and GF Machining Solutions partner on metal part production