Market trends and business perspectives
by Mai Tao
Contract manufacturer New Kinpo Group says it has implemented a “significant industry 4.0 portfolio expansion” to its business.
As part of the new offering, the company has established a new brand, New Era AI Robotics.
New Kinpo says New Era is “designed to extend its combined additive manufacturing and robotics leadership and presence in North America”. [Read more…] about New Kinpo Group unveils AI robotic factory and service solutions at IMTS 2018
by Sam Francis
Plex Systems, a provider of cloud enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution system software, says plastic paint solution provider A&K Finishing has “doubled its sales one year after implementing the Plex Manufacturing Cloud”.
A&K Finishing paints components for industrial companies such as automotive manufacturers Tesla, BMW, and General Motors; electronics manufacturer Bose; and furniture company Steelcase.
The company uses advanced manufacturing technology on the shop floor, including automated robots and open spray booths on multiple paint lines, to complete many parts in just 44 minutes. [Read more…] about A&K Finishing achieves ‘record growth’ with Plex Manufacturing Cloud
by Sam Francis
Universal Robots has launched its “Application Builder” software, which is designed to make setting up a robotic work cells easier.
The company says the software provides step-by-step guidance on end effectors, programming, machine interfaces and other things.
The three popular collaborative applications available at launch include machine tending, assembly, and packaging. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches software to make setting up robotic work cells easier
by Sam Francis
Otto Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics, has launched the Otto Omega, which the company says is “the world’s first truly self-driving lift truck”.
Otto says the Omega is “the easiest, safest and most reliable automated lift truck for busy factories and warehouses”.
The company is targeting the vehicle at industrial engineers and operations professionals who need to reduce material handling costs, increase process throughput and improve plant safety. [Read more…] about Otto Motors launches ‘world’s first’ self-driving forklift truck
by Sam Francis
It’s taken more than 30 years, but carmakers are finally giving us all a chance to pretend to be David Hasselhoff in the Knight Rider television show from the 1980s.
Hasselhoff, it could be argued, played supporting actor to star of the show – a car called “Kitt”, short for Knight Industries Two Thousand.
Kitt, which was actually a Trans-Am in real life, could talk and hold conversations with Hasselhoff’s character, as well as drive itself, and thwart a variety of bad guys at the same time every week. [Read more…] about You too can pretend to be David Hasselhoff and talk to your car
by Anna
Hitachi is to launch “O&M Support Digital Solution” on 1 October for the water supply and sewage industry.
This service is said to contribute to the stable operations of plants by collecting and analysing a range of data using digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), and by supporting visualisation of the state of facilities and operation and maintenance work.
This Service uses Hitachi’s IoT platform Lumada. Hitachi will expand the functions of this service gradually in the future, and provide it for water supply and sewerage business entity as a comprehensive digital solution to help solve management issues in overall water supply and sewerage business.
[Read more…] about Hitachi launches water supply and sewerage cloud service using IoT
by Anna
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched “Energy Cloud Factory”, a new service package that uses artificial intelligence and intelligence of things technologies.
The energy solution was unveiled at Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Takasago Works in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, following pre-release usage at the main plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Using data acquired by “Netmation eFinder”, MHI’s independently developed system for collecting data on equipment operations, the system enables visual monitoring of production equipment operating ratios and energy consumption.
[Read more…] about MHI launches factory energy management package
by Sam Francis
Elevators, escalators and moving walkways are so ubiquitous in urban environments – at metro stations, airports and other places – that most people probably hardly notice them and perhaps take them for granted.
Not everyone, however: some of us still actually feel a sense of enjoyment at having their strolls through transport hubs aided by these automated systems, even if it’s part of a daily commute to work.
It’s probably fair to say, however, that these automation systems are less complex than ones which involve movement in less straightforward, distraction-filled environments – like, say, those involving an autonomous car. [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp agrees big contract to maintain automated movement at Stockholm’s spectacular metro stations
by Sam Francis
How a tiny powerhouse part – the inertial measurement unit – went from airplanes to self-driving cars.
Aerospace technology has come down to earth. The same navigation technology that guides airplanes, drones and spacecraft is now being applied to self-driving cars.
Minnesota-based VSI Labs has been working to improve the performance of autonomous vehicles since 2014. Recently VSI turned to us for a critical navigation component called the inertial measurement unit, or IMU.
Honeywell says it pioneered the development of IMUs back in the mid-1990s, and it changed the face of aerospace navigation. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Honeywell and VSI Labs building autonomous cars on IMUs
by Sam Francis
German auto giant BMW says it is building “the world’s most advanced” driving simulation centre in Munich.
The company says the facility is “the most advanced of its kind” and provides “unique possibilities for development of autonomous driving systems”.
The construction of the centre begins as part of BMW’s so-called “FIZ Future” masterplan, and completion is scheduled for 2020. [Read more…] about BMW building ‘world’s most advanced’ driving simulation facility in Munich
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