Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for November 2018

We appreciate your patience while we upgrade this website

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Thank you for visiting RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com and we appreciate your patience while we upgrade the website – there may be some glitches here and there. 

The number of visitors to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com has increased exponentially over the past couple of years, and so has the number of bots.

Either way, we find ourselves having to pay for a bigger hosting space and more processing power, and we express special gratitude to our paying subscribers and advertisers who have made this possible.  [Read more…] about We appreciate your patience while we upgrade this website

Ericsson and Volvo Cars sign five-year Connected Vehicle Cloud worldwide deal

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Ericsson has been selected by Volvo Car Group to provide the industrialised Ericsson Connected Vehicle Cloud (CVC) platform to further enable its digital vehicle services in more than 120 markets worldwide for the next five years.

Volvo Cars, like other major players in the automotive industry, is increasing focus on securing high-quality connected-vehicle services as digitisation increases the importance of software services.

The services will also benefit from the increased speed, low-latency and capacity for mission critical applications, such as autonomous driving, that commercial 5G networks will enable.

[Read more…] about Ericsson and Volvo Cars sign five-year Connected Vehicle Cloud worldwide deal

How to improve workflow with technology

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We rely heavily on technology to get us through our daily lives and with every change and introduction of new innovations, it’s no surprise that technology has created a huge impact on us.

Could you imagine trying to get hold of a business that doesn’t have a phone system or email to contact?

Well, not too long ago computers and technology were not viewed as compulsory. But, modern technology has proved necessary countless times over the years and has presented us with numerous ways to enhance business performance and workflow.  [Read more…] about How to improve workflow with technology

Google unveils cloud robotics initiative

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Google Cloud has unveiled what it describes as a “Cloud Robotics” service with a view to a commercial launch next year. The search giant says the initiative represents “a new approach to intelligent automation”.

Google says its Cloud Robotics platform will cover “foundational needs”, including “secure and robust connectivity between robots and the cloud”.

The management of digital assets can also be done with Kubernetes, which is described as “an open-source container-orchestration system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications”.  [Read more…] about Google unveils cloud robotics initiative

Kärcher Partners with the Aurora Economic Development Council

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Four powerful entities team up for new headquarter site

Kärcher and the US state of Colorado’s Aurora Economic Development Council are teaming up for a new North America headquarter facility in Aurora, Colorado, slated for opening in September 2019.

This next step for Kärcher is to improve the United States operations’ footprint to ensure competitiveness and sustainable growth.

Kärcher is a Germany-headquartered giant manufacturer of cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners and its annual revenues are approximately $2.5 billion.  [Read more…] about Kärcher Partners with the Aurora Economic Development Council

Vecna Robotics raises new investment and launches in new direction

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Vecna Robotics now a standalone company, separates from Vecna Technologies

Vecna Robotics, a developer of autonomous material handling technologies including warehouse robots, has separated from Vecna Technologies, creating two distinct companies.

As a standalone business, Vecna Robotics plans to play a major role in the coming transformation of industrial automation and robotics.

Powering this transformation, Vecna Robotics finalized an investment led by Drive Capital this summer to chart a new direction that will maximize both robotics and human workflow in the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics raises new investment and launches in new direction

First AI-powered astronaut assistant debuts in space station

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Cimon, the world’s first artificial intelligence-enabled astronaut assistant, has made its debut aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS’s newest crew member, developed and built in Germany, was called into action on Thursday with the command, “Wake up, Cimon!,” by German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, who has been living and working on the ISS since June 8.

Cimon (which stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion), responded to Commander Gerst by saying, “What can I do for you?” The five-kilogram, plastic orb then went through a series of operational steps, including weightless navigation, to demonstrate its capabilities.

[Read more…] about First AI-powered astronaut assistant debuts in space station

Samsung Electronics expands LED lineups for vertical farming

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Samsung Electronics has announced new horticulture LED lineups, including full-spectrum packages and modules as well as colour (monochromatic) LEDs.

Optimised for lighting in greenhouses and vertical farming, the new LEDs provide a broader spectrum of light for healthier plant growth, enhanced farming environments and reduced lighting system costs.

Full-spectrum light encompasses a continuous range of wavelengths from blue and green to red, creating a light blend suitable for horticultural uses.

[Read more…] about Samsung Electronics expands LED lineups for vertical farming

Kuka CEO Till Reuter leaves role after 10 years

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Dr Till Reuter has ended his time as the CEO of Kuka after a decade at one of the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers.

Kuka is a German industrial automation company which was established 120 years ago and last year generated revenue of almost $4 billion.

In 2016, Chinese home appliances manufacturing giant Midea increased its stake in the company and completed its takeover in 2017.

Reuter’s decision to leave the company in December is said to be in agreement with the supervisory board. Peter Mohnen is appointed to take over and the company says this ensures continuity.  [Read more…] about Kuka CEO Till Reuter leaves role after 10 years

Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome ‘major obstacle’ to commercial deployment of its exoskeletons

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Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome a “major obstacle” to the commercial deployment of its exoskeletons.

Sarcos says a number of significant technology advancements for its highly anticipated Guardianä XO Max full-body, powered industrial exoskeleton robotic system.

The company, which plans to start shipping the Guardian XO Max to customers in early 2020, has completed the assembly of the world’s first all-electric, battery-powered, full-body industrial exoskeleton capable of enabling a human operator to safely lift and manipulate up to 200 pounds for extended work sessions.  [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome ‘major obstacle’ to commercial deployment of its exoskeletons