Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Anna

Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

by

Omron Corporation has launched the E2EW Series of Full Metal Proximity Sensors, which have the world’s longest sensing distances, the company claims.

The automotive industry needs lighter automobiles, for electric vehicles and low fuel consumption, encouraging the material change in automotive components from iron to aluminium.

This will increase mixed production lines containing iron and aluminium. Full metal proximity sensors are mainly used in welding processes. However, previous full metal proximity sensors have short sensing distances.

[Read more…] about Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

DHL Trend Report: Digital twins to significantly improve logistics operations

by

DHL has released a new Trend Report, Digital Twins in Logistics, at the inaugural Internet of Things (IoT) Day, at DHL’s Innovation Centre in Germany.

The report explains the concept and rise of digital twins as well as how it creates value.

The technology, which involves using digital models to better understand and manage physical assets is already well established in some industries and has the potential to significantly change logistics operations.

[Read more…] about DHL Trend Report: Digital twins to significantly improve logistics operations

Nokia partners on wireless digitalisation infrastructure for ports and terminals

by

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, a pioneer in terminal automation and energy-efficient cargo handling, and Ukkoverkot, leading private LTE network provider, have signed a two-year co-operation agreement with Nokia to design, build and operate a private LTE network.

Nokia brings the digital automation platform that is well suited for mobile machinery and industrial Internet of Things.

A test network reflecting an actual terminal environment will be built for research and development purposes.

[Read more…] about Nokia partners on wireless digitalisation infrastructure for ports and terminals

Nippon Express to construct new Shanghai warehouse

by

Nippon Express Global has begun construction on a new warehouse in Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Park.

Situated in the western part of Shanghai, Qingpu Industrial Park was opened in 1995 as an industrial park receiving key municipal-level industrial support, and its location within 50 minutes of central Shanghai has attracted electronics, biotech, and hi-tech companies.

The industrial park is located adjacent to a highway linking Shanghai with cities across Jiangsu Province, which is now developing into a major production area, and growing attention on this strategic logistics location is driving warehouse demand higher.

[Read more…] about Nippon Express to construct new Shanghai warehouse

HP opens 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Spain

by

HP has opened a new 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Barcelona, Spain – one of the world’s largest and most advanced research and development facilities for those technologies.

The new centre brings together hundreds of the world’s leading additive manufacturing experts in more than 150,000 square feet of space.

The 3+ acre facility at HP’s Barcelona campus is dedicated to the development of HP’s industrial 3D printing portfolio and provides a large-scale factory environment to collaborate with customers and partners on digital manufacturing technologies.

[Read more…] about HP opens 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Spain

IBM develops ‘world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer’ for Total

by

IBM has built Pangea III, which it claims is the world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer, for Total, a global energy company operating in more than 130 countries.

The new IBM POWER9-based supercomputer will help Total more accurately locate new resources and better assess the potential associated revenue opportunities.

According to Total, Pangea III requires 1.5 Megawatts, compared to 4.5 MW for its predecessor system. Combined with the increased performance of Pangea III, Total has reported that they have observed that the new system uses less than 10% the energy consumption per petaflop as its predecessor.

[Read more…] about IBM develops ‘world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer’ for Total

Danish robot industry makes 5 recommendations for continued growth

by

For the last 20 years, Denmark has succeeded in becoming one of the world’s leading robot nations. New figures show great potential for future growth, exports and employment within the Danish robot industry.

The Danish robot industry wants to realise this potential and has launched five recommendations for the newly elected Danish Parliament.

By 2025, up to 25,000 may be directly employed in the robot industry – from a current level of 8,500 employees – and total revenue has the potential to reach DKK 52 billion.

If one counts the derived revenue and employment (growth that is dependent on activities in the robot industry), then the total potential is DKK 80 billion in turnover and 55,000 employees in 2025.

[Read more…] about Danish robot industry makes 5 recommendations for continued growth

UPS upgrades European network with ‘highly automated’ Dutch superhub

by

UPS has opened a new automated package sorting and delivery facility in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, aimed at facilitating cross-border trade and improving its package delivery service for businesses.

The 27,000 square metre superhub is equipped with advanced technology that can sort up to 29,000 packages per hour, with the potential to expand to 40,000 per hour.

“Superhubs like this one are game changers and drive our European transborder connectivity, especially in the tech corridor where Eindhoven sits, the fastest growing part of the country where speed and reliability count,” said Nando Cesarone, President, UPS International.

[Read more…] about UPS upgrades European network with ‘highly automated’ Dutch superhub

Volvo Group partners with Nvidia on AI platform for autonomous trucks

by

The Volvo Group has signed an agreement with Nvidia to jointly develop the decision-making system of autonomous commercial vehicles and machines.

Using Nvidia’s end-to-end artificial intelligence platform for training, simulation and in-vehicle computing, the resulting system is designed to safely handle fully autonomous driving on public roads and highways.

The solution will be built on Nvidia’s full software stack for sensor processing, perception, map localisation and path planning, enabling a wide range of possible autonomous driving applications, such as freight transport, refuse and recycling collection, public transport, construction, mining, forestry and more.

[Read more…] about Volvo Group partners with Nvidia on AI platform for autonomous trucks

Inventory management using drones

by

FlytBase, Inc., an enterprise drone automation company, has released a white paper highlighting the role of autonomous drones in the digital transformation of warehouses.

Driven by safety, cost and revenue benefits, warehouses across the world are adopting technologies such as Internet-of-Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Drones are playing a central role in the intelligent automation of warehouse operations – given their ability to fly and hover autonomously, avoid obstacles, navigate indoors without GPS, land precisely on docking stations, operate in fleets and be remotely managed.

[Read more…] about Inventory management using drones