Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Siemens acquires provider of virtual training for industrial companies Vizendo

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Siemens has acquired Swedish service and software company Vizendo, a provider of virtual operator training for automotive manufacturing.

Virtual training enables industrial companies to reduce their training times and launch new products faster and in higher quality.

Karen Florschütz, CEO of the customer services business unit at Siemens, says: “Virtual training has huge growth potential. Vizendo’s service and software range ideally complements our digital services and thus our Digital Enterprise portfolio. [Read more…] about Siemens acquires provider of virtual training for industrial companies Vizendo

Heraeus and Aachen University develop ‘fastest-ever’ artificial synapses

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The boffins say that the secret is ‘foreign atoms in the oxide layer’ which have so far gone unnoticed by experts

Scientists and researchers from the materials science-oriented technology group Heraeus and the Jülich Aachen Research Alliance have developed what they describe as “artificial synapses” similar to the ones found in the human brain.

The collective of brainboxes say that their discovery could be useful in the development of branches of artificial intelligence, such as machine learning and deep learning.

The boffins discovered how the switching properties of artificial synapses can be specifically influenced. [Read more…] about Heraeus and Aachen University develop ‘fastest-ever’ artificial synapses

How automation can help fast track a vaccine

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When there’s a Covid-19 vaccine, we’ll all want one fast. Here’s how Honeywell says digital tools can help speed up the process…

The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the need to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

The typical vaccine development and production process depends on how the vaccine is created, with the manufacturing process taking anywhere from several days to several weeks for a single batch.

As the coronavirus spreads around the world, the urgency of being able to scale up a vaccine is even more critical. [Read more…] about How automation can help fast track a vaccine

Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

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Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom is to trial what could be described as “fully driverless trains” in Germany. 

The company has going ahead with a test project to implement Automatic Train Operation technology in the daily passenger operation of regional trains.

The project will begin in 2021 in partnership with the Regional Association of the greater area of Braunschweig, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin). [Read more…] about Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

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Higher levels of automation is the “obvious answer” to the challenges brought about by the disruption to the e-grocery supply chain, according to warehouse robots maker Swisslog.

The company says Covid-19 is “accelerating changes to e-grocery fulfillment”.

After years of relatively stagnant demand, e-grocery services started to ramp up in 2019 and analysts were predicting significant growth in 2020. [Read more…] about Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

Einride launches ‘intelligent freight mobility platform’ in anticipation of autonomous logistics

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Einride is launching its freight mobility platform and says it’s designed for businesses that want to make their shipments sustainable.

The Swedish technology autonomous and electric truck developer has been beta testing with selected customers since the start of the year.

The platform provides live insights on emissions, energy usage, location data, and more, and generates recommendations on how exactly to electrify freight with the most impact for your business. [Read more…] about Einride launches ‘intelligent freight mobility platform’ in anticipation of autonomous logistics

MIPI Alliance completes development of new industry standard A-PHY v1.0

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The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, has completed the development of MIPI A-PHY v1.0, a long-reach serializer-deserializer (SerDes) physical layer interface for automotive applications.

The specification is undergoing member review, with official adoption expected within the next 90 days.

A-PHY will provide a physical layer for data transfers spanning an entire vehicle. As the first standard of its kind, it will help the automotive industry accelerate the availability of advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving systems and other surround-sensor applications, including cameras and in-vehicle infotainment displays. [Read more…] about MIPI Alliance completes development of new industry standard A-PHY v1.0

AMS launches new position sensors for high-speed electric motors to ‘improve car industry’s electrification efforts’

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AMS, a supplier of high performance sensor solutions, has introduced new position sensors that it says lower system cost and enhance electrification of safety-critical vehicle functions such as power steering, active damper control, and braking for safer, smarter, and greener cars.

The two new position sensors – the ams AS5147U and the AS5247U – bring new benefits and a lower system cost to the automotive industry, says ams.

The ams AS5147U is an intelligent magnetic rotary position sensor chip for use in electric motors that run at speeds up to 28,000 rpm. [Read more…] about AMS launches new position sensors for high-speed electric motors to ‘improve car industry’s electrification efforts’

Kuka milling robot used to manufacture film props

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Whether it is in series like Stranger Things or in blockbusters like Men in Black: International, filmmakers continuously need creative and high quality props.

To make these, a company called Robocarv, from the UK, is now using automation made in Germany – and have a Kuka milling robot manufacture the props.

The Kuka robot mills the props from blocks of plastic. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Kuka milling robot used to manufacture film props

Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle

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Nuro is partnering with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle.

Starting this month, the “first-of-its-kind partnership” brings Nuro into the health space as the startup utilizes its fleet of autonomous vehicles to deliver prescriptions and essentials across three zip codes in Houston, Texas.

Pharma is the third industry sector in which Nuro will introduce its autonomous vehicles. [Read more…] about Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle