Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Seniors and their Automobiles: Financial Protection after an Accident

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Most seniors like to be independent. This could mean continuing to drive their car even against their family’s advice. Thankfully, insurance proves to be a good financial cover against accidents.

For minor accidents like a fender bender or rear-end collision at low speed, car insurance can come in handy for seniors and their families.

One of the prominent names in the car insurance industry is Progressive. The provider is known for its cost-effective plans, with something for everybody, including seniors. Make sure you check for Progressive auto insurance reviews if your existing coverage is expiring or if you want to switch providers. [Read more…] about Seniors and their Automobiles: Financial Protection after an Accident

Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

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Industrial robot maker Kuka has teamed up with automation technology developer DesignPro to create new, advanced robotic welding processes.

Automating the welding process and employing robots enables manufacturers to achieve significant returns across several areas: application precision, speed and agility of task execution, waste reductions and increased safety.

The skills gap is also driving the take-up of automated robotics, as a means to sustain legacy manufacturing processes and support operational resilience. [Read more…] about Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

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At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, car manufacturing companies such as Ford quickly shifted their production focus from automobiles to masks and ventilators.

To make this switch possible, these companies relied on people working on an assembly line. It would have been too challenging for a robot to make this transition because robots are tied to their usual tasks.

Theoretically, a robot could pick up almost anything if its grippers could be swapped out for each task. To keep costs down, these grippers could be passive, meaning grippers pick up objects without changing shape, similar to how the tongs on a forklift work. [Read more…] about Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

Fanuc launches its first stainless steel delta robot

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Fanuc, the world’s largest industrial robot maker, has unveiled the new DR-3iB/6 Stainless delta robot for primary food handling.

The new DR-3iB/6 Stainless is Fanuc’s first stainless steel food-grade delta robot for picking and packing primary food products.

Rated IP69K, the robot meets USDA and FDA food safety standards, and sets a new benchmark for robotic food handling in terms of payload, speed, reach and sanitation. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches its first stainless steel delta robot

ABB and SKF increase collaboration on industrial automation

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Industrial automation giant ABB and SKF, one of the world’s largest suppliers of bearings, have agreed a partnership to explore the possibilities for a collaboration in the automation of manufacturing processes.

The agreement was signed at ABB’s Robotics Experience Center in Västerås, Sweden, by ABB CEO Björn Rosengren and SKF CEO Rickard Gustafson.

Following the successful delivery of a number of projects in SKF’s global manufacturing network, including in Gothenburg, where a fleet of industrial robots from ABB are installed in the bearing manufacturer’s state-of-the-art factory, the two companies are now taking the next step in their collaboration. [Read more…] about ABB and SKF increase collaboration on industrial automation

Autonomous aviation company Xwing expands its air cargo operations to 400 weekly flights

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Autonomous aviation company Xwing is marking what it describes as “significant milestones”, including the expansion of its commercial cargo operations under FAA CFR Part 135 Air Carrier certificate, the addition of FAA CFR Part 145 certificates and “rapid company growth”.

Over the last 12 months, Xwing has more than tripled its team to 180 employees.

Xwing has completed the acquisition of Martinaire Aviation, a Texas-based FAR Part 135 air cargo carrier with over 40 years of experience throughout the United States. [Read more…] about Autonomous aviation company Xwing expands its air cargo operations to 400 weekly flights

Flytrex receives FAA approval to double drone delivery radius to two nautical miles

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Flytrex, a specialist in on-demand drone delivery for food and retail, has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand its delivery radius from one to two nautical miles across all its operating stations in North Carolina and Texas.

Deliveries will be made in cooperation with longtime partner Causey Aviation Unmanned, offering food, drinks and other goods to approximately 100,000 eligible customers that can opt into the service – a substantial increase from the 40,000 customers that were previously eligible.

Flytrex and Causey will conduct all flights while maintaining the highest safety standards. [Read more…] about Flytrex receives FAA approval to double drone delivery radius to two nautical miles

ABB joins Berkshire Grey’s tech alliance program to deliver AI-enabled robotic solutions

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Berkshire Grey, a developer of AI-enabled robotic solutions that automate supply chain processes, says that industrial giant ABB has joined Berkshire Grey’s Technology Alliance Program to provide more customers with AI-enabled robotic solutions that improve e-commerce fulfillment throughput and warehouse efficiency while driving down operational costs.

The companies say ABB’s expertise in providing automation solutions to global e-commerce merchants, retailers, and third-party logistics complements Berkshire Grey’s extensive portfolio of AI-enabled robotic automation solutions for eCommerce fulfillment, store replenishment, back-of-store order collection, and package handling.

Berkshire Grey has extensive experience in incorporating ABB robotic technology into enterprise-scale automation solutions in production environments. [Read more…] about ABB joins Berkshire Grey’s tech alliance program to deliver AI-enabled robotic solutions

Universal Robots reports revenue of $83 million in Q2

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Universal Robots, the Danish collaborative robot maker, has reported Q2 revenue of $83 million, describing it as “robust growth” for the company.

Kim Povlsen, president of Universal Robots, says: “In headline terms, second quarter revenue is up 8 percent on the same period last year but in local Danish currency the company has seen growth of 22 percent for Q2.”

Povlsen adds that, measured this way, Universal Robots has seen growth of 30 percent across the first two quarters of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021. [Read more…] about Universal Robots reports revenue of $83 million in Q2

Industrial robot sales in North America ‘continue record surge into 2022’

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North American companies started the year by purchasing “the most robots ever in a single quarter”, with 11,595 robots sold at a value of $646 million.

According to the Association for Advancing Automation, these Q1 numbers represent growth of 28 percent and 43 percent respectively over the first quarter of 2021 and 7 percent and 25 percent respectively over the previous best quarter, Q4 of 2021. Each industry segment experienced double-digit growth over the same quarter of 2021. [Read more…] about Industrial robot sales in North America ‘continue record surge into 2022’