Market trends and business perspectives
German industrial giant Harting is accelerating the research and development of its electric mobility product range.
The company will begin to showcase its offerings at high-profile trade shows.
The Harting stand at Hannover Messe will be also be presenting the “MicroSnap”, the latest vehicle concept from Swiss automotive visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht. [Read more…] about Harting accelerates electric mobility offerings
Logistics automation company Ground Inc concluded a sales partnership agreement with Soft Robotics to provide the first of its “SuperPick” solution in Japan.
Soft Robotics is a startup company originating in the United States, founded mainly in 2013 by researchers at Harvard University.
The company’s “SuperPick” is to apply atypical individuals with high precision and speed like a human hand by applying technologies such as proprietary latest vision technology, algorithms, patented materials, and so on. [Read more…] about Ground and Soft Robotics partner on material handling solution
Arrow Electronics has enabled Nikko Group, a Hong Kong-based lift services company, to incorporate IoT and sensor technologies in a solution that provides real-time data monitoring for a lift safety protection mechanism.
Following a series of fatal lift accidents in Hong Kong in recent years, the Electrical and Mechanical Service Department reported that 80 percent of lifts in Hong Kong have not adopted the recommended enhancement solutions set out in the government’s “Guidelines for Modernising Existing Lifts”.
This includes the installation of an Unintended Car Movement Protection (UCMP) device, which is a safety device that triggers emergency braking systems to prevent unintended lift car movements which may cause fatal injuries.
Epson Robots has signed FPE Automation as an official distributor for the full line of Epson Robots automation products.
This includes Epson SCARA, 6-axis and linear module robots as well as integrated solutions such as Vision and Force Guide, fieldbus I/O and many other industrial automation products offered by Epson Robots.
The distribution territory will cover the state of Illinois, eastern Missouri and eastern Iowa. [Read more…] about Epson signs FPE Automation as distributor in US
Kivnon has launched a new autonomous guided vehicle for logistics and supply chain operations. The company plans to showcase it at the LogiMAT event, in Germany, next week.
Unlike an “automated” guided vehicle, which often requires tracks or markings on the ground to guide it through an environment, an “autonomous” collects data about its environment and uses artificial intelligence in order to navigate without requiring tracks or markings on the ground.
The company describes the vehicles as “an omnidirectional AGV superfine” that is designed for all types of surroundings and which can lift and carry up to 1.000 kg with “free navigation”. [Read more…] about Kivnon launches new autonomous guided vehicle for supply chain and logistics operations
BP Ventures has invested $5 million in Belmont Technology’s Series A financing to further bolster BP’s artificial intelligence (AI) and digital capabilities in its Upstream business.
The investment supports BP’s ongoing work exploring opportunities to apply machine learning and cognitive computing in its global oil and gas business.
The Houston technology start-up has developed a cloud-based geoscience platform using AI. The platform has a string of unique capabilities including specially-designed ‘knowledge-graphs’.
[Read more…] about BP invests in new artificial intelligence technology
Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and The Ohio State University have been awarded a grant by The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to research the safety and potential positive impact that Honda’s Walking Assist Device could have in helping people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The research partners will conduct a Phase II randomised controlled trial to study the impact of an eight week intervention using the Walking Assist Device to improve mobility in people with PD.
“We have a large body of evidence which suggests that the Honda Walking Assist Device safely and effectively improves the mobility of individuals affected by stroke,” said Kenton Williams, one of the lead research engineers at Honda R&D Americas for the Walking Assist Device development.
