Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Opinion: The incredible potential of soft robotics

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Alternatives to hard components hold potential for applications from surgery to space exploration

In January of 2019, Assistant Professor Ellen Mazumdar arrived in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering with the intention of building a robotic actuator without using a single hard component or material – a feat that, to her knowledge, had never been done before.

“We’re really interested in trying to build fully soft robots,” said Mazumdar. “In many current systems, soft components are hooked up to hard pumps or electronics. We want to move towards robots with soft actuators, soft sensors, soft electronics, and soft energy storage.”

In Mazumdar’s Sensing Technologies Laboratory, she is working with PhD student Noah Kohls to develop a biologically-inspired soft actuator that mimics the form and functionality of Xenia soft corals. [Read more…] about Opinion: The incredible potential of soft robotics

UCLA engineers develop miniaturized ‘warehouse robots’ for biotechnology applications

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UCLA engineers have developed minuscule warehouse logistics robots that could help expedite and automate medical diagnostic technologies and other applications that move and manipulate tiny drops of fluid. The study was published in Science Robotics.

The robots are disc-shaped magnets about 2 millimeters in diameter, designed to work together to move and manipulate droplets of blood or other fluids, with precision.

For example, the robots can cleave one large droplet of fluid into smaller drops that are equal in volume for consistent testing. [Read more…] about UCLA engineers develop miniaturized ‘warehouse robots’ for biotechnology applications

Essential webinar: New applications and latest trends in LiDAR

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Sensors specialist SICK is to present a webinar entitled “Latest trends in LiDAR”.

The webinar will presented by Aaron Rothmeyer, SICK’s product manager in the US, and aims to highlight the latest trends in LiDAR.

LiDAR technology is constantly evolving and provides a number of benefits for industrial automation. [Read more…] about Essential webinar: New applications and latest trends in LiDAR

Essential Webinar: Get up to date with the latest trends in LiDAR and its newest applications

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Webinar: Latest trends in LiDAR
March 10, 2020 10:00 am Central Time (US and Canada)

RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com is proud to present what will almost certainly be one of most important webinars of this year.

Entitled “Latest trends in LiDAR”, and presented by SICK sensors expert Aaron Rothmeyer, the webinar will take a deep dive into a technology that is constantly evolving and provides a number of benefits for industrial automation.

In recent years, LiDAR has been more heavily used on autonomous mobile robots. But from robotics to the factory floor, LiDAR technology is now commonplace in industrial automation of many types. [Read more…] about Essential Webinar: Get up to date with the latest trends in LiDAR and its newest applications

NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

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NXP Semiconductors has agreed a lead partnership role with Arm for Ethos-U55 microNPU (Neural Processing Unit), a machine learning accelerator targeted at resource-constrained industrial and IoT edge devices.

As an industry-leading innovator of microcontrollers (MCUs), NXP intends to implement Ethos U-55 in its Cortex-M based microcontrollers, crossover MCUs and real-time sub-systems in applications processors.

The expansion builds on the company’s growing ML offerings including the recently announced i.MX 8M Plus applications processors with a dedicated NPU. [Read more…] about NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

Bosch Rexroth adopts Ubuntu Core and snaps for app-based ctrlX Automation platform

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Bosch Rexroth has selected Ubuntu Core for its app-based platform ctrlX Automation.

ctrlX Automation leverages Ubuntu Core, designed for embedded devices, and snaps, the universal Linux application containers, to deliver an open source platform to remove the barriers between machine control, operation technology and information technology, or OT-IT.

Industrial manufacturing solutions built on ctrlX Automation with Ubuntu Core and snaps will benefit from an open ecosystem, faster time to production and stronger security across devices’ lifecycle. [Read more…] about Bosch Rexroth adopts Ubuntu Core and snaps for app-based ctrlX Automation platform

HOOPS Exchange 2020 ramps up support for manufacturing as a service

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Tech Soft 3D, a provider of software development toolkits to engineering software companies, has released HOOPS Exchange 2020.

The company describes it as “the industry’s fastest and most accurate CAD data access and reuse technology for manufacturing and architecture, engineering and construction workflows”.

Tech Soft adds that HOOPS Exchange 2020 continues to improve support for manufacturing as a service applications. [Read more…] about HOOPS Exchange 2020 ramps up support for manufacturing as a service

Zymergen installs ‘dozens’ of miniature industrial robots from Mecademic

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Zymergen, a science and materials innovation company based in California, has integrated “dozens” of Meca500 robots to automate experiments in their life sciences facility. (See video below.)

The Meca500 is a miniature industrial robot manufactured by startup company Mecademic. It has found a great number of applications in labs and industries such as watchmaking and medical technology.

Some predict that Mecademic has huge potential with its robot, especially in wtachmaking and medtech, especially as there is currently no other robot like it. [Read more…] about Zymergen installs ‘dozens’ of miniature industrial robots from Mecademic

SICK launches versatile new software development platform

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Sensors giant SICK has launched a new software development platform that it says is versatile enough to enable programmers to create solutions for the entire industrial process.

SICK says its AppSpace (see video below) offers system integrators and original equipment manufacturers the “freedom and flexibility” to independently develop application solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of any task.

Whether it’s designing the ideal online user interface, selecting the most suitable programming technology, or distributing the sensor app on various SICK sensors, SICK says AppSpace gives developers the power to develop their own customized solutions. [Read more…] about SICK launches versatile new software development platform

BICS powers first intelligent exoskeleton with global connectivity

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BICS, a global communications enabler, is providing global internet-of-things connectivity and asset management for a pioneering exoskeleton developed by German Bionic.

The Cray X is the first connected asset from the Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) provider and marks the first instance of a European manufacturer developing, producing and deploying smart exoskeletons for use in industrial production.

Designed to support and enhance the wearer’s movements, German Bionic’s Cray X reduces the risk of accidents and excessive strain for employees in sectors that involve repetitive but unpredictable heavy lifting. [Read more…] about BICS powers first intelligent exoskeleton with global connectivity