Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for February 9, 2023

Hitachi to merge two business units to expand robotics offering in Asia

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Hitachi is planning to merge two of its business units to create one expanded robotics systems integration business for the Japanese and Asean markets.

Hitachi has been accelerating the global development of its line building business leveraging industrial robots – the robotic systems integration business – and will merge Hitachi Automation and Kyoto Robotics, Hitachi Group companies in Hitachi’s Industrial Digital Business Unit, on April 1, 2023 to strengthen the robotic systems integration business in Japan and Asean countries.

Hitachi Automation began operating within the Industrial Digital Business Unit in April 2022. Since then, it has been accelerating the fusion between digital solutions analyzing and optimizing data leveraging Lumada handled by Hitachi and robotic systems integration which involves a massive amount of data from shop floor. [Read more…] about Hitachi to merge two business units to expand robotics offering in Asia

Heraeus and AI Silk unveil ultra-light metaverse glove

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Heraeus Epurio, a specialist developer of conductive polymer materials, and AI Silk , a Japanese wearable-tech startup that has developed the proprietary and patented conductive fiber “Lead Skin”, have together unveiled the “Haptic Metaverse Glove”.

The “ultra-light” glove has no mechanical parts attached, that doubles as sensors and an AR/VR/XR controller.

Made from AI Silk’s proprietary conductive fiber, Lead Skin, Haptic Metaverse Glove powered by Lead Skin features built-in finger-bending sensors, as well as control buttons on the back of the wearer’s hand, all of which are also made of the same conductive fiber. [Read more…] about Heraeus and AI Silk unveil ultra-light metaverse glove

Mitsubishi Electric to invest $223 million to build new factory in India

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Mitsubishi Electric says it will invest approximately 26.7 billion yen (about $222.5 million), in its subsidiary company Mitsubishi Electric India to establish a factory for the production of room air conditioners and compressors in India.

Local production, targeted to start in October 2025, is expected to help the company meet growing demand in the Indian market. Initial annual capacity will total 300,000 room air conditioner outdoor units and, beginning in December 2025, 650,000 compressors.

The demand to replace older air conditioning and refrigeration systems with newer models is expected to continue growing as consumers and companies shift to energy-saving and low-GWP refrigerants. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to invest $223 million to build new factory in India

Bosch to acquire 12 percent of Husqvarna

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Bosch has agreed to acquire shares in the long-established Swedish company Husqvarna. The acquisition will increase its shareholding to roughly 12 percent in the company’s share capital in total. Numbers were not disclosed. 

Husqvarna is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. In acquiring these shares today, Bosch intends to strengthen the battery alliance between the two companies.

Husqvarna also includes the Gardena subsidiary and its Flymo brand, both of which are also partners in the Bosch Power Tools division’s “Power for All Alliance”. [Read more…] about Bosch to acquire 12 percent of Husqvarna

Angular or Laravel: How to Choose the Best Framework for Your Enterprise

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This article focuses on the two most popular frameworks, Angular and Laravel. Which one to choose for your enterprise to make a quality product? Read this article!  [Read more…] about Angular or Laravel: How to Choose the Best Framework for Your Enterprise

Carnegie Mellon University’s new robot collaborates with humans to create art

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Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has a new artist-in-residence.

FRIDA, a robotic arm with a paintbrush taped to it, uses artificial intelligence to collaborate with humans on works of art. Ask FRIDA to paint a picture, and it gets to work putting brush to canvas.

“There’s this one painting of a frog ballerina that I think turned out really nicely,” says Peter Schaldenbrand, a School of Computer Science PhD student in the Robotics Institute working with FRIDA and exploring AI and creativity. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon University’s new robot collaborates with humans to create art

Global cement producer Votorantim Cimentos achieves multi-site digitalization with ABB

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ABB has delivered advanced automation and digital technologies to global building materials and sustainable solutions company Votorantim Cimentos, as it embraces Industry 4.0 in cement to simultaneously optimize production and decarbonize operations.

Industrial companies, including Votorantim Cimentos Europe, Asia and Africa Region (VCEAA) – which has the worldwide capacity to produce 55.7 million tons of cement per annum, are ramping up their efforts to ensure lower emissions as governments and international organizations push for net-zero emissions by 2030.

Digital solutions ABB Ability Expert Optimizer and ABB Ability Knowledge Manager have recently been installed in the customer’s plants in Spain, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco with proven impacts for enhanced productivity, streamlined processes, reduced maintenance and energy savings. [Read more…] about Global cement producer Votorantim Cimentos achieves multi-site digitalization with ABB

Starship Technologies launches robot food delivery at University of Notre Dame

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The University of Notre Dame, Grubhub and Starship Technologies are introducing robot delivery via Starship’s fleet on campus.

During the initial launch, Starship’s fleet of up to 30 on-demand robots will deliver from six campus eateries: Au Bon Pain, Garbanzo, The Gilded Bean, Hagerty Family Cafe, Modern Market and Taco Bell.

The University’s more than 17,000 students, faculty and staff can now use the Grubhub app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from on-campus retailers to be delivered nearly anywhere on campus, within minutes. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies launches robot food delivery at University of Notre Dame

Seed Group and Samotics partner to bring condition monitoring and energy optimization services to the Middle East

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Seed Group, a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, has entered into a strategic partnership with Samotics, a provider of real-time actionable insights to eliminate industrial energy waste and unplanned downtime, to bring enhanced condition monitoring and energy optimization services to the Middle East.

As part of this partnership, Seed Group will support Samotics to expand its operations and establish its offering in the Emirates and the wider Middle East region.

The companies will collaborate to identify approaches and opportunities to bring Samotics’ innovative solutions to the region’s industrial players, helping them eliminate unplanned downtime and improve energy efficiency. [Read more…] about Seed Group and Samotics partner to bring condition monitoring and energy optimization services to the Middle East

GXO expands partnership with Robotic Assistance Devices to enhance safety and security

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GXO Logistics, one of the world’s largest contract logistics companies, is expanding its technology partnership with Robotic Assistance Devices, a subsidiary of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions.

GXO is developing advanced security solutions with RAD to improve the safety and efficiency of its customers’ logistics operations.

Thomas Nelson, senior director of security at GXO, says: “GXO’s customers depend on our technological expertise and operational excellence and having a robust security program is a key part of the solution suite we offer. [Read more…] about GXO expands partnership with Robotic Assistance Devices to enhance safety and security