Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for October 1, 2020

Softbank Robotics launches automation analytics software for its floor scrubber

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SoftBank Robotics America (SBRA) has elevated the ability to enable continuous data delivery for the health and safety of indoor spaces, via an enterprise-grade application and dashboard called Whiz Connect.

As part of the Whiz solution, Whiz Connect centralizes customer automation portfolios, empowering users and stakeholders to make informed decisions on their occupant experience, optimize their Whiz fleet, and quantify the value of robotics in their workplace.

“Whiz with Whiz Connect is part of the heightened, people-first standard for our surroundings in this critical time. Providing continuous data, access and collaboration is at the core of how cobotics and technology can help simplify and rebuild trust in workplace wellness,” said Brady Watkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SBRA. [Read more…] about Softbank Robotics launches automation analytics software for its floor scrubber

ROEQ’s new GuardCom system delivers faster transfer of goods between mobile robots and stationary conveyors

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ROEQ, the leader in mobile robotic equipment, is launching GuardCom, leveraging robust sensor technology for instant communication between ROEQ’s top rollers – conveyors on top of mobile robots – and stationary conveyors.

This new solution replaces cumbersome, Wi-Fi-dependent 3rd party setups that often cause delays and mismanagement in the transfer of goods from mobile robots onto conveyors and vice versa. ROEQ is now also releasing top rollers with adjustable height for Mobile Industrial Robots’ models, MiR250, MiR500 and MiR1000.

Wi-Fi instability is a common workplace challenge. In material handling applications with devices communicating through complicated setups passing data around between mobile robots, 3rd party receiving stations and conveyors, an intermittent Wi-Fi network is prone to cause costly errors and downtime. [Read more…] about ROEQ’s new GuardCom system delivers faster transfer of goods between mobile robots and stationary conveyors

Motional expands nuScenes datasets for autonomous driving

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Motional, a startup developing driverless vehicle technology, has expanded nuScenes, the dataset that teaches autonomous vehicles how to safely engage with ever-changing road environments – nuScenes now includes nuScenes-lidarseg and nuImages.

nuScenes, created in March 2019, was the first publicly available dataset of its kind, and pioneered an industry-wide culture of safety-focused data-sharing and collaboration.

It launched as a collection of 1,000 urban “street-scenes” in Boston and Singapore. The scenes, composed of millions of photos and data-points collected from the vehicles’ full sensor suites, were then meticulously hand-annotated, and used to inform and advance machine learning models to build the safest possible self-driving vehicles. [Read more…] about Motional expands nuScenes datasets for autonomous driving

SICK launches sensor-based people-counting system

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In reaction to new developments to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus, SICK has launched its new PeopleCounter (PeCo) SensorApp. Using 3D LiDAR sensors, the system enables facility managers to maintain recommended occupancy levels in public spaces and in manufacturing settings.

Unlike the use of camera technology, the PeCo LiDAR sensor solution does not process personal information. This ensures companies can maintain any health and safety recommendations, but also respect private individuals’ data privacy concerns.

Operators of institutions of public life as well as those that deal in tourism, cruise ships, restaurants, retail, and various other industries can profit from a simple solution that makes it easy to safely maximize utilization of space and still maintain the required occupancy levels. [Read more…] about SICK launches sensor-based people-counting system

IDS launches new ‘extremely high-resolution’ camera sensor

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IDS has launched its 20.35 MP IMX541 sensor from the Pregius S series.

IDS says the high-performance, extremely high-resolution sensor IMX541 from the Pregius S series is integrated into the versatile uEye SE camera family. Its compact 1.1″ format means the 20.35 MP CMOS sensor is compatible with C-mount lenses.

The industrial cameras feature a practical USB3 Vision interface, deliver 20 fps and will be available from September either as board-level models or with a robust metal housing. [Read more…] about IDS launches new ‘extremely high-resolution’ camera sensor

Plastic-eating bacteria could help recycle waste ‘six times faster’

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The University of Portsmouth scientists who re-engineered the plastic-eating enzyme PETase have now created an enzyme “cocktail” which can digest plastic up to six times faster.

A second enzyme, found in the same rubbish dwelling bacterium that lives on a diet of plastic bottles, has been combined with PETase to speed up the breakdown of plastic.

PETase breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) back into its building blocks, creating an opportunity to recycle plastic infinitely and reduce plastic pollution and the greenhouse gases driving climate change. [Read more…] about Plastic-eating bacteria could help recycle waste ‘six times faster’