Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for September 24, 2019

Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot shows off its gymnastic skills

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Boston Dynamics, the much-talked-about maker of humanoid and canine robots, has been demonstrating the gymnastic skills of one of its robots, Atlas. (See video below.)

Atlas is about 1.5 metres tall, weighs approximately 80 kg, and has 28 hydraulic joints.

The Boston Dynamics team have always impressed with their ability to mimic natural human or canine movements with their robots, and the new gymnastic skills they have taught Atlas are equally as accomplished. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot shows off its gymnastic skills

General Motors opens $65 million parts processing center in Flint

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General Motors has opened a new ACDelco and GM Genuine Parts processing center in the Flint, Michigan, suburb of Burton. The facility will employ more than 800 hourly and salaried employees.

GM now employs more than 9,500 people in Genesee County, including the Grand Blanc headquarters of the company’s Customer Care and Aftersales business and the Flint manufacturing complex.

Barry Engle, GM executive vice president and president, the Americas, says: “This new facility in Burton will help us continue to deliver the industry’s best possible sales, service and ownership experience. [Read more…] about General Motors opens $65 million parts processing center in Flint

Groupe PSA tests vehicle-to-infrastructure tech in Spanish city

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Groupe PSA is testing vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) technology for the first time in the Spanish city of Vigo.

The company has been partnering with the Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia on the testing, and the results are intended to help the development of automated vehicle functions.

The aim is to see how well vehicles can communicate with the surrounding infrastructure in a complex urban environment. [Read more…] about Groupe PSA tests vehicle-to-infrastructure tech in Spanish city

Hyundai and Aptiv form autonomous driving joint venture

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Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv are forming an autonomous driving joint venture.

The companies say the partnership “brings together one of the industry’s most innovative vehicle technology providers and one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers”.

The joint venture will advance the design, development and commercialization of SAE Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies, furthering the partners’ leadership position in the global autonomous driving ecosystem. [Read more…] about Hyundai and Aptiv form autonomous driving joint venture

Continental shows off autonomous mobility tech to German chancellor

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Automotive components giant Continental has been showing off its latest autonomous mobility technology to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, at the IAA event.

Continental says Merkel’s visit is an implicit acknowledgment that autonomous vehicles have the potential to change everyone’s lives.

Chancellor was pictured (above) getting off a driverless “Robo-Taxi” – also called the “CUbE” and “EZ10 Shuttle” – which Continental developed in partnership with French company EasyMile, of which Continental has been a shareholder since 2017. [Read more…] about Continental shows off autonomous mobility tech to German chancellor

SICK showcases new monitoring system for packaging operations

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SICK is showcasing a new monitoring system for packaging operations at Pack Expo.

The company describes it as “a revolutionary way to improve packaging processes”, and says it’s part of what it sees as a “smart moonitoring kit”.

Called “4.0 NOW Factory”, the sensor technology and dashboard represents how SICK can provide manufacturers greater visibility to their production processes, making it easier to implement improvements and new innovations. [Read more…] about SICK showcases new monitoring system for packaging operations