Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Think Surgical receives FDA clearance for new robot

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Think Surgical has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for its second-generation “active robot”.

Think Surgical is an innovator in the field of orthopedic active robot surgery, and says the FDA has cleared the its robotic system called TSolution One Total Knee Application.

The system features an active robot for total knee replacement, providing fully automated bone preparation, and gives surgeons a choice of implant options. [Read more…] about Think Surgical receives FDA clearance for new robot

ABB selects Google Cloud to expand its cloud coverage

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Google Cloud has been selected by ABB to further expand the cloud footprint of its ABB Information Systems (IS) services business unit.

The Swiss-headquartered global technology leader has chosen Google Cloud as part of the organization’s “Rationalizing IT Operations” – codenamed “Program RIO” – initiative, which seeks to further increase the scalability and resilience of its infrastructure services to all ABB businesses.

Google Cloud will collaborate with ABB’s hosting services team to layout an optimized cloud migration that is tailored to meet the IS needs of ABB businesses. [Read more…] about ABB selects Google Cloud to expand its cloud coverage

High-precision watchmaking technology developer H2i wins grand prize in EPHJ awards

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High-precision watchmaking technology company H2i has won the grand prize in the EPHJ industry awards.

EPHJ is held every year in Geneva, Switzerland, and showcases companies in the microtechnology sector, including watchmaking, jewellery-making and medtech.

Although the 2020 edition of the EPHJ Trade Show was cancelled due to the pandemic, the traditional Grand Prix des Exposants was able to go ahead as normal as a result of the many innovations received by the Jury for initial selection. [Read more…] about High-precision watchmaking technology developer H2i wins grand prize in EPHJ awards

Showing robots how to drive a car… in just a few easy lessons

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USC researchers have developed a method that could allow robots to learn new tasks, like setting a table or driving a car, from observing a small number of demonstrations.

Imagine if robots could learn from watching demonstrations: you could show a domestic robot how to do routine chores or set a dinner table. In the workplace, you could train robots like new employees, showing them how to perform many duties. On the road, your self-driving car could learn how to drive safely by watching you drive around your neighborhood.

Making progress on that vision, USC researchers have designed a system that lets robots autonomously learn complicated tasks from a very small number of demonstrations – even imperfect ones. The paper, titled Learning from Demonstrations Using Signal Temporal Logic, was presented at the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL). [Read more…] about Showing robots how to drive a car… in just a few easy lessons

SICK unveils new sensor that takes laser-based ranging to ‘new levels and applications’ for warehouse robots

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SICK has expanded its 2D LiDAR sensor offerings for localization and anti-collision applications with the compact TiM2xx product family. This is in response to the new requirements on functionality, size, and price.

Globally, the e-commerce sector continues to experience strong growth. This has also led to an increase in demand for automation solutions to support the growing logistics infrastructure and the transport of goods and products.

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are handling more logistics tasks of varying kinds. Simultaneously, the latest AMR designs are becoming increasingly compact and streamlined. [Read more…] about SICK unveils new sensor that takes laser-based ranging to ‘new levels and applications’ for warehouse robots

Astrobotic unveils new 47,000 sq ft headquarters in Pittsburgh

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Space robotics startup Astrobotic has officially opened its new headquarters in Pittsburgh in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics. Astrobotic’s Peregrine and Griffin lunar landers will be built on-site, with Peregrine set to become the first commercial mission to the Moon, and the first American lander on the Moon since the Apollo missions.

John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic, says: “I like to say we’re a 13-year overnight success story. [Read more…] about Astrobotic unveils new 47,000 sq ft headquarters in Pittsburgh

BMG unveils robotic paper cup manufacturing system

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Brown Machine Group (BMG) has designed a robotic paper cup manufacturing system for use in paper cup manufacturing applications.

BMG says its aXatronics C-Rush System is the first of its kind to automatically remove sidewalls, or Blanks, from high-speed, vertical die-cutters and robotically place them into work-in-progress containers, the C-Rush System significantly reduces manual labor and improves die-cutter productivity.

C-Rush is equipped with Smart-Dola – a new patent pending die-cutter output lane assembly (Dola) fixture that dramatically improves overall system throughput. [Read more…] about BMG unveils robotic paper cup manufacturing system

Badger Technologies and STCR plan to take Autonomous Robots to independent grocers

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Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil, is teaming up with STCR, a provider of advanced retail point of sale (POS) and self-checkout solutions, to increase the momentum of multipurpose robot rollouts by independent and regional grocers around the world.

This collaboration will speed deployments of Badger Technologies autonomous robots to address critical out-of-stock, price integrity, planogram compliance and other operational inefficiencies.

Farrell McKenna, GM of STCR, says: “Our mission is to bring much-needed retail automation to the independent and regional grocer, empowering them to run their stores more efficiently while competing more effectively with the largest supermarket chains. [Read more…] about Badger Technologies and STCR plan to take Autonomous Robots to independent grocers

OnRobot launches new gripper for demanding applications

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OnRobot has launched a new gripper for demanding applications.

OnRobot’s cleanroom-ready, IP67-certified, collaborative 2FG7 parallel gripper is the latest addition to OnRobot’s range of all-electric gripper products.

OnRobot describes the 2FG7 as “a complete, low cost, easy to use, out-of-the-box, cleanroom-ready parallel gripper”. [Read more…] about OnRobot launches new gripper for demanding applications

IDS establishes new research and development facility in Serbia

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IDS has established a new research and development facility in Serbia.

The industrial camera manufacturer says it is investing in new technologies and has expanded its team of experts in artificial intelligence.

Since July 2020, IDS Imaging Development Systems has been represented in Serbia with its own subsidiary.

Based in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city and considered the country’s technological centre, the pure development unit is closely linked to the Faculty of Technical Sciences of the local university. [Read more…] about IDS establishes new research and development facility in Serbia