Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for April 8, 2019

Otto Motors launches new self-driving vehicle for material handling

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Otto Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics, has launched “Otto 750”, which it claims to be “the first self-driving vehicle for material handling with a payload of 750 kg”.

Otto 750 is a mid-range self-driving vehicle designed to move pallet-scale loads which would otherwise be manually moved by a pump truck or tugger.

Otto says the 750-kg payload is important because of how factories typically transport materials.  [Read more…] about Otto Motors launches new self-driving vehicle for material handling

Japan to send robots to Moon and remote control them to build lunar base

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The Japanese Aerospace and Exploration Agency is planning to send robots to the moon and remote-control them to build a lunar base.

Jaxa is partnering with Kajima Corporation, one of Japans oldest and largest construction companies, to promote research and development on the remote construction system by coordination of remote and automatic control.

The project got started in 2016 with the participation of educational establishments including Shibaura Institute of Technology, the University of Electro-Communications and Kyoto University.  [Read more…] about Japan to send robots to Moon and remote control them to build lunar base

Clearpath Robotics partners with Velodyne to integrate sensors into research vehicles

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Clearpath Robotics has become a value-add partner to offer Velodyne’s lidar sensors for the Clearpath research robot platform.

Clearpath Robotics, headquartered in Canada, offers Velodyne sensors to academic and corporate research organizations on its mobile robots for survey and inspection, oil and gas, agriculture, materials
handling and other applications.

Clearpath’s robotic solutions utilize Velodyne’s state-of-the-art lidar technology, which boasts industry-leading resolution, range, and field of view. Velodyne sensors create a 360° real-time map of the environment, allowing the robot to detect and avoid obstacles for safe autonomous navigation.  [Read more…] about Clearpath Robotics partners with Velodyne to integrate sensors into research vehicles

Robots set for uprising against taxes after taking too many jobs from humans

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New report warns against taxing robots

There are increasing calls for policymakers to impose taxes on robots and other capital goods based on the faulty analysis that doing so is necessary to raise adequate government revenue, restore labor income, and remove “distortions” in the tax code.

However, a new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the world’s leading think tank for science and technology policy, shows that these concerns are illusory and that taxing robots would slow productivity growth, as well as growth in wages and GDP.

Robert Atkinson, ITIF president and author of the report, says: “We need to increase productivity in order to increase wages and spur economic growth. The most important way to do this by encouraging the adoption of new machinery and equipment.  [Read more…] about Robots set for uprising against taxes after taking too many jobs from humans

Productive Robotics launches ‘first full line’ of next-generation teachable collaborative robots

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Productive Robotics is unveiling its full line of next-generation teachable collaborative robots at the Automate Show, which started today in Chicago.

The Santa Barbara, California-based cobot designer and manufacturer added an enhanced human sense of vision to its teach-and-learn platform, providing customers with a unique offering not currently available in the market.

Zac Bogart, president and CEO of Productive Robotics, says: “The Productive Robotics design and engineering team started building robots for movie special effects in the 1980s.  [Read more…] about Productive Robotics launches ‘first full line’ of next-generation teachable collaborative robots

Epson launches new ‘ultra low cost’ robot at Automate Show

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Epson Robots has launched a new “ultra-low-cost robot” at the Automate Show, which started today in Chicago, USA.

The new VT6L All-in-One 6-Axis robot is a new “entry-level” machine offering to the award-winning 6-Axis line up.

Epson says this robot is compact, easy to install and includes next-generation technology, adding that it is “ideal” for a wide range of simple applications and is offered at the “ultra-low cost of $13,900”.  [Read more…] about Epson launches new ‘ultra low cost’ robot at Automate Show

ABB shows expanded charging portfolio at Hannover

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At this year’s Hannover Messe, ABB showcased its latest future proof e-mobility solutions, with the new compact DC Wallbox and recently launched Terra 54 DC fast charger.

Designed to meet the demands of an increasingly connected and sustainable society, ABB’s DC Wallbox and Terra 54 offer an output range of up to 920V, ensuring they can support all existing 500V battery EVs, plus the next generation of high-voltage electric vehicles.

Both are part of the ABB AbilityTM portfolio of connected solutions, enabling authentication, integration with back offices and payment platforms, monitoring, remote diagnostics and repair, as well as over-the-air updates and upgrades.

[Read more…] about ABB shows expanded charging portfolio at Hannover