Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Archives for January 2020

When it comes to wireless transmission, power must catch up with data in Industry 4.0

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By Paul Wiener, VP strategic marketing, GaN Systems

With the proliferation of robotics, artificial intelligence, and sensors – the increasingly intelligent industrial environments of today are barely recognizable when compared to the assembly lines introduced 100 years ago.

This is true – with one important exception. In some of the most advanced factory and warehouse spaces, power-reliant hardware devices are still plugged into a fixed electrical outlet to operate or charge.

So while data transmission has successfully evolved from wired to wireless, this is only beginning to be true for power. [Read more…] about When it comes to wireless transmission, power must catch up with data in Industry 4.0

Now you can make Boston Dynamics’ robot dog as scary as you like with the new SDK

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Boston Dynamics has launched a software development kit for its robot dog, Spot.

Already one of the scariest robots the world has ever seen, now the nightmare canine can be made even more terrifying by sick and twisted developers.

Boston Dynamics says the SDK enables a broad range of developers and non-traditional roboticists to communicate with the robot and develop custom applications that enable Spot to do useful tasks across a wide range of industries. [Read more…] about Now you can make Boston Dynamics’ robot dog as scary as you like with the new SDK

Swiss scientist developing robot that ‘grips without touching’

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A scientist at the Swiss university ETH Zurich is developing a robot that “grips without touching”.

The technology is based on sound waves, or “ultrasound waves”, to be more precise.

ETH pioneer fellow Marcel Schuck is responsible for the invention, and has a small version of the robot on his desk. [Read more…] about Swiss scientist developing robot that ‘grips without touching’

Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

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Continued disruption, restructuring and re-shaping of the automotive industry will be required to make increasing levels of R&D affordable whilst simultaneously representing a major growth opportunity in the year ahead, according to engineering consultancy Horiba Mira.

The proliferation of electrification and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies will continue to be amongst the top automotive trends in 2020 which will continue to push up the already soaring costs of research and development.

Indeed, latest figures show European auto manufacturers spent a record £33.3 billion on R&D – 35 per cent more than the £24.6 billion spent in 2014/15. [Read more…] about Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

Opinion: New EC boss calls for ‘unleashing of Europe’s entrepreneurial talent’

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By Martin Kern, director of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology

The new president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for the unleashing of Europe’s entrepreneurial talent in a speech to highlight the EC’s Green Deal at this year’s Davos. 

Von der Leyen said: “We will need to invest in innovation and research, redesign our economy and update our industrial policy.

“Those who act first and fastest will also be the ones who grasp the opportunities from the ecological transition.” [Read more…] about Opinion: New EC boss calls for ‘unleashing of Europe’s entrepreneurial talent’

Automotive manufacturers need digital transformation to survive disruption

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Automotive manufacturers need to accelerate digital transformation initiatives in order to survive disruption, according to analysis by GlobalData.

From automation and seamless connectivity to personalization, digital technologies are putting the automotive industry in a state of disruptive transition.

Against this backdrop, auto manufacturers need to explore new digital solutions across the value chain to conceive new models and survive in the rapidly transforming industry, says GlobalData, a data and analytics company. [Read more…] about Automotive manufacturers need digital transformation to survive disruption

ABB adds 3D printing capabilities to its RobotStudio simulation software

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ABB is introducing 3D printing capabilities to its RobotStudio simulation and offline programming software, which will enable users to program ABB robots for additive manufacturing “in just 30 minutes”. (See video below.)

Part of the PowerPac portfolio of RobotStudio, the new 3D Printing feature eliminates manual programming to allow faster prototype production.

The 3D Printing PowerPac supports a variety of processes, such as welding and printing with granules or concrete and is ideal for low-volume, high-mix printing. [Read more…] about ABB adds 3D printing capabilities to its RobotStudio simulation software

Bosch increases stake in fuel-cell maker Ceres Power to €90 million

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Bosch is strengthening its strategic collaboration with fuel-cell expert Ceres Power by increasing its stake to 18 per cent.

Bosch, an industrial giant and a leading provider of automotive systems, previously had a stake in Ceres of 3.9 per cent.

The stake increase is achieved through a subscription by Bosch for new Ceres Power shares, as well as the purchase of further shares from existing shareholders. [Read more…] about Bosch increases stake in fuel-cell maker Ceres Power to €90 million

Future trends in steel development to be analysed at SCT 2020

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Future trends in steel development, processing technologies and applications are to be analysed at the industry event SCT 2020.

In close cooperation with the Steel Institute VDEh and the Research Association for Steel Application (Fosta), Düsseldorf, the international conference Steels in Cars and Trucks (SCT 2020) will be held for the sixth time.

The conference with an accompanying exhibition opens its doors from 14 to 18 June 2020 in Milan under the motto: “Bringing the automotive, supplier and steel industries together”. [Read more…] about Future trends in steel development to be analysed at SCT 2020

Brain Corp achieves ‘record sales growth’ in 2019 amid strong demand for autonomous mobile robots

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Brain Corp, a San Diego-based robotics and artificial intelligence company, says it achieved “record sales and revenue growth in 2019” as retailers increasingly turn to robotic solutions to reduce costs and enhance in-store experiences.

Brain Corp achieved more than a 300 percent increase in revenue last year, fueled by a surge in interest for BrainOS-powered floor care machines by major retailers, including Walmart.

The company also saw a 760 percent increase in global deployments. It now provides the intelligent backend for one of the largest fleets of its kind in the world – approximately 10,000 robots deployed or enabled. [Read more…] about Brain Corp achieves ‘record sales growth’ in 2019 amid strong demand for autonomous mobile robots

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