Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Abdul Montaqim

Apple unveils home automation device and the most expensive desktop computer ever

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Apple CEO Tim Cook welcomes developers from 75 different countries to WWDC 2017

So the rumours were true about the home automation device. Some of the other rumours ahead of the ongoing Apple Worldwide Developers Conference were also true, but then there have been some surprises as well. 

First, the home automation device. Apple has launched what it calls HomePod – a voice assistant much like Amazon Alexa-enabled Echo and Google Home – within which Siri will live.

The question with such voice devices is always, how good are they at conversation with humans? In general, natural language processing technology is not yet able to understand human speech well enough to make such devices easy to use.  [Read more…] about Apple unveils home automation device and the most expensive desktop computer ever

Manufacturing industry critical to economic prosperity, say Americans

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national assn manufacturing pic

The vast majority of Americans believe manufacturing plays a vital role in safeguarding US economic prosperity and maintaining their quality of life, according to the 2017 Manufacturing Perceptions Survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute.

The study found more than three-quarters (76 percent) of Americans surveyed believe the US should invest further in the manufacturing industry.

Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, says: “Modern manufacturing has captured the imagination of the American public and our elected leaders.

“This important research indicates public opinion of the future of the industry has taken a measurable, positive jump as people acknowledge the strong connection between this industry, the US economy and the American way of life.

“As we have done with our Creators Wanted video series, manufacturers are taking it upon themselves to tell the story of our industry and the lives we touch. It’s encouraging to see that our story is resonating.”  [Read more…] about Manufacturing industry critical to economic prosperity, say Americans

What’s in the stars for manufacturing in India?

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Exclusive interview with Sharmila Annaswamy, India-based consultant specialising in industry

Apple recently established a manufacturing facility in India, through Foxconn, the Taiwanese company which makes its iPhones, iPads and other devices. 

For Sharmila Annaswamy, a Frost & Sullivan consultant specialising in industry, the tech giant’s decision is one of the “remarkable achievements” of the government’s Make in India campaign.

As well as Apple and Foxconn, a number of Chinese companies have set up manufacturing facilities in India. Huawei, for example, plans to make smartphones in the country.

In an exclusive interview with RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, Annaswamy says: “Apple and other large companies moving into India is one of the good things that is happening with the Make in India campaign, which the government has been promoting on a large scale.  [Read more…] about What’s in the stars for manufacturing in India?

Tend claims launch of first ‘smart cloud’ to enable remote control of robots

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tend.ai in.control

Tend says its new in.control platform is the first smart cloud robotics platform for remote control, monitoring and analysis of production lines. 

Tend announced it has introduced the first hardware-agnostic, smart cloud robotics software platform that allows manufacturers to remotely control, monitor and analyze the performance of their robots and production equipment from their mobile devices.

Tend’s in.control – short for “intelligent control” – software has made smart manufacturing simple and accessible for companies of all sizes, allowing them to monitor and control any robot, tending any machine, from any location.  [Read more…] about Tend claims launch of first ‘smart cloud’ to enable remote control of robots

Bosch reports increased sales of €73 billion. Wins massive new sensor contract from Apple

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Bosch – one of the world’s largest industrial companies, producing a wide variety of engineered products, from automotive components to home appliances – has reported increased sales for the year 2016. 

In a press conference last week to launch the German giant’s annual report, Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner listed the key figures:

  • sales rose from €70.6 billion in 2015 to €73.1 billion last year; and
  • earnings before tax in 2016 reached a total of €4.3 billion.

Sales in all business segments and geographical regions had increased, added Denner.

As positive as the figures may seem, Denner said the company was nonetheless undergoing “profound transformation”, partly brought about by a range of new technologies which are changing the global industrial landscape, and because diesel engines may be phased out.  [Read more…] about Bosch reports increased sales of €73 billion. Wins massive new sensor contract from Apple

Hannover Messe: Global software update

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Special report from Hannover Messe: How hard-bitten industrialists are turning to software 

Back in the old days, you knew what was what, who was whom, and industrial companies built machines and stuff, like cars, aircraft, power stations and whatnot.

In the past, General Electric could be said to have been a typical industrial company; so could ABB, Bosch and many others.

But now, all of them, almost without exception, seem to have caught the software bug. Now they all want to be software companies.

“Software will take over the world,” says Matt Wells, senior product general manager, GE Digital, in an exclusive interview with this website. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Global software update

Zymo and Hamilton Robotics develop new system for genetic testing

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Hamilton robotics zymo

Zymo Research and Hamilton Robotics have agreed an ongoing collaboration that teams Zymo Research’s DNA methylation detection and quantitation products and RNA and DNA extraction products with Hamilton’s high-throughput automation platforms.

Zymo Research has already created optimized methods for microbiomics and RNA isolation for use on Hamilton’s automated liquid handling workstations, including a timesaving and robust automated method for non-biased extraction of DNA and RNA.

Additional integrated workflow methods will be released to the academic, biopharma and diagnostics markets in the future.  [Read more…] about Zymo and Hamilton Robotics develop new system for genetic testing

Auto manufacturers refusing to take responsibility for their robot car failures, says campaign group

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Outspoken safety advocate says the same week in which Volkswagen pleaded guilty to felonies in connection with vast emissions deception, the automaker claimed it would stand on its record when it comes to autonomous vehicles

The Safe Autonomous Vehicles Campaign says that out of more than a dozen automakers it challenged to take responsibility for failures in their autonomous vehicle technology, only Volvo has publicly agreed to accept responsibility for their robot cars at some levels of automation.

Meanwhile, the campaign noted that VW, just days after pleading guilty to a massive effort to deceive customers, responded to the challenge by pledging that its “long track record … stand on its own merits”.  [Read more…] about Auto manufacturers refusing to take responsibility for their robot car failures, says campaign group

MDA recognized by Nasa for robotic servicing of International Space Station

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nasa ssl robotic spacecraft to fix satellites
Artist’s illustration of the robotic spacecraft which will float around in space, fixing satellites. Picture courtesy of SSL

MDA US Systems, a division of MDA managed by SSL, has been recognized by Nasa’s Johnson Space Center for its “outstanding support” of a robotic upgrade to the International Space Station’s power system which took place in January.

The MDA team based in Houston played a critical role in planning and validating the robotic maneuvering both before and during the mission.

Nasa JSC ground controllers used the 15-degrees-of-freedom Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (Dextre) arm to install six new 430-pound lithium-ion batteries in two power channel integrated electronics assembly pallets.

Dextre first removed 12 older and depleted 740-pound nickel-hydrogen batteries from the pallets, nine of which were put on the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle’s external pallet to burn up on re-entry with it.  [Read more…] about MDA recognized by Nasa for robotic servicing of International Space Station