Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 9, 2020

BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

by Leave a Comment

BMW says it uses an “ongoing algorithm-based analysis” of dust content in vehicle paint booths and compares them to a database to predict the quality of coating it applies to cars

Artificial intelligence can bring even greater precision to controlling highly sensitive systems in automotive production, as a pilot project in the paint shop of the BMW’s Munich plant has demonstrated.

Despite state-of-the-art filtration technology, the content of finest dust particles in paint lines varies depending on the ambient air drawn in. If the dust content exceeded the threshold, the still wet paint could trap particles, thus visually impairing the painted surface.

AI specialists from what BMW calls its “central planning” and the Munich plant have now found a way to avoid this situation altogether: every freshly painted car body must undergo an automatic surface inspection in the paint shop. [Read more…] about BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

inVia Robotics expands into Asia with Kantsu implementation

by Leave a Comment

Kantsu has selected inVia Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation solutions, to supply autonomous mobile robots that automate fulfillment operations in its primary distribution center in Osaka, Japan.

inVia’s modular automation system, which includes a fleet of 200 autonomous mobile robots and AI-driven software, will modernize Kantsu’s e-commerce fulfillment process.

It will automate the picking process and allow warehouse workers to sort at rates of 800-900 units per hour per person, says inVia. [Read more…] about inVia Robotics expands into Asia with Kantsu implementation

Electric vehicles drop in price, but ‘most remain unprofitable’, says Lux Research

by Leave a Comment

Electric vehicles have fallen in price, but “most remain unprofitable”, according to Lux Research.

The automotive industry is under pressure to reduce emissions, both from government regulations and from consumers who are growing more conscious about the environmental impact of their vehicles.

Electrified powertrains are a promising avenue to reduce or eliminate vehicle emissions for automakers. [Read more…] about Electric vehicles drop in price, but ‘most remain unprofitable’, says Lux Research

Electric air taxi startup Lilium raises another $35 million to take total investment to $375 million

by Leave a Comment

Lilium, the Munich-based aviation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft for regional air mobility, has raised another $35 million. 

The company says investment management partnership, Baillie Gifford, the new investor, is known for its track record of investing in high-impact technology companies such as Amazon, Tesla, Airbnb, Spotify and SpaceX.

Baillie Gifford has invested $35m in Lilium, extending the startup’s current funding round to more than $275 million, and total investment to date to more than $375 million. [Read more…] about Electric air taxi startup Lilium raises another $35 million to take total investment to $375 million

International Manufacturing Technology Show cancelled for first time since World War 2

by Leave a Comment

One of the world’s largest trade shows, the International Manufacturing Technology Show, held every two years in Chicago, United States, has been cancelled for first time since World War 2.

The organisers cited concerns over coronavirus as the main reason.

In a press release, IMTS says: “Because of health and safety requirements imposed by the state of Illinois for holding conventions, which include the availability of a vaccine for the Covid-19 virus or a highly effective treatment protocol, IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show has announced that it has cancelled IMTS 2020.” [Read more…] about International Manufacturing Technology Show cancelled for first time since World War 2

ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology

by Leave a Comment

ADLINK Technology, a provider of edge computing systems, has launched the ROScube-I with Intel, providing a real-time ROS 2 robot controller for advanced robotic applications.

The ADLINK ROScube-I Series is a ROS 2-enabled robotic controller based on Intel Xeon E, 9th Gen Intel Core i7/i3 and 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processors, and features exceptional I/O connectivity supporting a wide variety of sensors and actuators to meet the needs of a wide range of robotic applications.

The ROScube-I supports an extension box for convenient functional and performance expansion with Intel VPU cards and the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit for computation of AI algorithms and inference. [Read more…] about ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology

Xilinx launches ‘industry’s first’ 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA chip

by Leave a Comment

Chipmaker Xilinx claims it has achieved “lift-off” with the launch of what it says is the industry’s first 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA for satellite and space applications.

Xilinx, which invented field-programmable gate array chips, says the new FPGA provides full radiation tolerance and ultra-high throughput and bandwidth performance for satellite and space applications.

The new 20nm Radiation Tolerant Kintex UltraScale XQRKU060 FPGA provides true unlimited on-orbit reconfiguration, over a 10x increase in digital signal processing (DSP) performance – ideal for payload applications – and full radiation tolerance across all orbits, says Xilinx. [Read more…] about Xilinx launches ‘industry’s first’ 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA chip

Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

by Leave a Comment

Intralogistics technology provider Dematic says that its parent company, Kion Group, has completed the acquisition of Digital Applications International, a UK-based software company specializing in logistics automation solutions, on its behalf.

Valued at around €120 million, the transaction is Kion’s largest investment since acquiring Dematic in 2016.

The addition of DAI significantly expands Dematic’s intralogistics software offerings to support the movement, storage and distribution of goods through the entire supply chain. [Read more…] about Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

Teradyne begins shipping new mobile memory testing equipment

by Leave a Comment

Teradyne, the company which owns Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, has successfully ramped high volume production of its new Magnum EPIC memory tester which provides flexibility to fully cover LPDDR5, DDR5, GDDR6, and future DRAM devices.

These next-generation memories deliver nearly twice the bandwidth of the previous generation to improve the performance of 5G smart phones, data centers, and high definition graphics applications.

Magnum EPIC delivers best-in-class signal integrity enabled by its revolutionary Near-DUT-Test technology. This technology also enables the highest parallelism available in the industry today. [Read more…] about Teradyne begins shipping new mobile memory testing equipment

Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution

by Leave a Comment

Autonomous Solutions Inc has launched an unmanned yard truck solution. The system is basically an industrial robotic arm on the back of a driverless truck. (See video below.)

The technology combines the expertise of four companies:

  • Autonomous Solutions Inc, which specialises in vehicle automation;
  • Phantom Auto, a provider of remote communication software for unmanned vehicles;
  • Fanuc America, a manufacturer of industrial robots, CNC systems, and factory automation products and services; and
  • Terberg, a truck manufacturer.

ASI’s Mobis software gives operators real-time awareness and control of a fleet of unmanned trucks, each of which is driven by ASI’s proven autonomous vehicle technology. [Read more…] about Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution