Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Virginia Tech researchers aim to give robots bio-inspired gaits

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Two years ago, Kaveh Hamed saw his son Nikaan take his first steps on his own. He watched Nikaan’s one-year-old body teeter on wobbly legs as the baby walked forward.

And he saw Nikaan’s progress: he went from crawling on his belly to standing with a sway, to the first walks, to taking off across the floor on two sure feet.

These memories make Hamed think about math, as he does when he watches his dog Telli run. When he sees her bound toward him and switch to a trot, he starts to wonder again about the ways he might impart her agility to a robot. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech researchers aim to give robots bio-inspired gaits

Slack expands its usage of Cobalt’s security robots

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Communications app developer Slack has expanded its utilisation of Cobalt Robotics’ mobile security robot.

While Cobalt robots have been patrolling the hallways at Slack offices for some time now, the company’s says its recent trip to Chicago for GSX came with “some exciting news about the next phase of our relationship with Slack”.

The new integration with Slack’s widely used enterprise communications and collaboration platform “will help keep safety and security a priority for you and your entire office”, says Cobalt. [Read more…] about Slack expands its usage of Cobalt’s security robots

Key Ways in Which InventHelp Can Assist New Inventors

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Have you ever had a great idea for an invention but given up because you had no idea what to do next?

Well, if so, don’t worry because you are one of many people who have done the same thing.

This does mean that lots of great ideas have gone to waste unnecessarily, as there is support and help out there for new inventors such as the support from InventHelp. [Read more…] about Key Ways in Which InventHelp Can Assist New Inventors

FedEx to test Wing Aviation drone for Walgreens deliveries

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Wing Aviation, an Alphabet company, is collaborating with FedEx and pharmaceuticals retailer Walgreens to launch a first-of-its-kind drone delivery service in Christiansburg, Virginia next month.

The pilot program will demonstrate the many benefits of drone delivery to communities by exploring methods to enhance last-mile delivery service, improve access to health care products, and create a new avenue of growth for local businesses.

Drone delivery in the United States has historically been limited to small-scale demonstrations on designated test sites, or extremely short flights along pre-planned, fixed routes – all within the visual line of sight of the drone operator. [Read more…] about FedEx to test Wing Aviation drone for Walgreens deliveries

NIU partners with Omron to introduce first PhD programs in engineering

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The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University (NIU) will begin offering its first doctoral programs with three PhD degrees in electrical, mechanical, and industrial and systems engineering.

The new programs, which will take advantage of online and on-campus learning, were approved Tuesday, September 10 by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).

NIU executive vice president and provost Beth Ingram says the degrees keep NIU relevant in the rapidly expanding field of engineering. [Read more…] about NIU partners with Omron to introduce first PhD programs in engineering

JTEKT partners with Plug and Play to invest in startups

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Automotive components and systems maker JTEKT is partnering with Plug and Play, an innovation platform, to work on supporting and nurturing start-ups together.

The two companies have signed a partnership agreement aimed at technological innovation and new business creation in new areas. [Read more…] about JTEKT partners with Plug and Play to invest in startups

Senseye partners with Fanuc on its ‘Field’ IIoT platform

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Senseye, an industrial software company that specialises in vision systems, says its Senseye PdM technology suite will be made available through Fanuc’s “Field” industrial internet of things platform when it launches in Europe later this year.

FIELD stands for “Fanuc Intelligent Edge Link and Drive” system, and is basically a system for monitoring and managing Fanuc robots and devices through a computer network, enabling artificial intelligence to be applied across an entire operation to find efficiencies and productivity gains.

Senseye provides a range of technologies and methodologies that are used globally by Fortune 500 industrial organisations as part of digital transformation initiatives to improve the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing and maintenance operations. [Read more…] about Senseye partners with Fanuc on its ‘Field’ IIoT platform

All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

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MakerBot, a 3D printing equipment supplier, says All Axis Robotics is implementing the MakerBot “Method” manufacturing workstation – or 3D printer – into its automation processes to produce custom tooling parts for its legacy machines as well as customers.

All Axis Robotics is a Dallas, Texas-based machine shop and a leader in turnkey custom robot solutions for other machine shops and manufacturing facilities in need of automated machine tending.

Customers enlist the expertise of All Axis Robotics’ mechanical and manufacturing engineers to streamline their manufacturing operations with robotic arms and custom end-effectors, including those for CNC machine tending, automated part sanding, and brake press machine tending, among others. [Read more…] about All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

BlueBotics says 1,750 AGVs worldwide now use its Ant navigation system

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Just over a year after supplying its 1,000th ANT navigation unit to Swiss customer Cleanfix, BlueBotics says it has now surpassed 1,750 ANT-driven AGVs in operation.

ANT stands for “Autonomous Navigation Technology” and is a hardware-plus-software solution offered by BlueBotics in a variety of configurations.

Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics, says: “As we close in on 2,000 vehicles running around the world, we find ourselves considering how we achieved this success. [Read more…] about BlueBotics says 1,750 AGVs worldwide now use its Ant navigation system

Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

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Automaker Ford has for the first time introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside engineers in Cologne, Germany, to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.

The six cobots complete a choreographed sequence to sand the entire body surface in just 35 seconds. The initiative does not replace employees but allows operators to use their time on more complex tasks and avoid suffering the strains associated with performing repetitive tasks.

Dennis Kuhn, senior manufacturing engineer, paint shop, Ford of Europe, says: “The cobots can feel when more force needs to be applied, just like we can, and they can more easily get to hard-to-reach places, like the centre of the roof.” [Read more…] about Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line