Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Construction and mining ‘next frontier’ for robotics adoption, says research company

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The construction and mining industries are the “next frontier” for robotics adoption, according to a report by ABI Research.

In the past, for heavy industry-related locations like mines, robots must either be controlled by teleoperation or navigate autonomously across uneven terrain or within subterranean interiors with little to no human interaction.

This was the same for construction sites, where robots must understand changing floor plans, keep track of inventory, and navigate stairs.  [Read more…] about Construction and mining ‘next frontier’ for robotics adoption, says research company

Healthcare assistive robot market to surpass $1.2 billion by 2024

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The Healthcare Assistive Robot Market is set to grow from its current market value of more than $359 million to over $1.2 billion by 2024, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights.

Increasing incidence of stroke coupled with rising geriatric population worldwide is the key factor that will escalate the demand for healthcare assistive robots during the forecast period.

According to the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, each year, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke of which around 6 million cases lead to mortality whereas about 5 million remain permanently disabled.  [Read more…] about Healthcare assistive robot market to surpass $1.2 billion by 2024

ISL introduces customizable stepper motors for ‘unlimited industrial automation applications’

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ISL has launched customizable stepper motors for “unlimited industrial automation applications”.

ISL is a provider of value-added manufacturing and engineering services for electronic and electromechanical components.

The company says the hybrid, permanent magnet and variable reluctance stepper motors meet the exact positioning, holding torque, and repeatability specifications of the broadest array of automation designs.  [Read more…] about ISL introduces customizable stepper motors for ‘unlimited industrial automation applications’

Global mobile robot market forecast to grow by more than 30 percent

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The worldwide market for mobile robots is forecast to grow by more than 30 percent, according to a report by Interact Analysis. 

In its latest quarterly report on the global mobile robot market, Interact Analysis says: “Following a strong first half, revenue growth from automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots accelerated in Q3 2018, with the industry expanding by more than 30 percent compared to the same quarter a year before.

“All major regions – Americas, APAC, EMEA – experienced growth in the quarter, but the Americas was highest overall.”  [Read more…] about Global mobile robot market forecast to grow by more than 30 percent

Kollmorgen says its new servo motor offers ‘greater performance’

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Kollmorgen says its automation partners are “delighted” about the company’s new servo motor, the AKM2G.

“Smaller with greater performance. That is a very good combination, allowing us to equip machines better and more flexibly.”

These were the comments often heard at the Kollmorgen European partner event.  [Read more…] about Kollmorgen says its new servo motor offers ‘greater performance’

Investcorp acquires Ubisense SmartSpace business and Ubisense brand

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Investcorp has acquired the Ubisense SmartSpace business as well as the Ubisense brand for an undisclosed amount.

Arma Partners acted as the exclusive financial adviser in the deal and says Ubisense is “a leader in the industrial internet of things” space.

SmartSpace is an enterprise software and sensor platform that generates and interprets vast amounts of location data to create visibility of real-world objects and their interactions in real-time, enabling complex manufacturing processes with high levels of variability to be more flexible, easier to manage and easier to control.  [Read more…] about Investcorp acquires Ubisense SmartSpace business and Ubisense brand

Rubedos launches 3D visual perception system for robot applications

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Rubedos has launched a 3D visual perception system for robot applications.

The company says its new Viper system “equips robots with eyes and brain”.

It adds that the system addresses the technological needs for next-generation industry and service robots.  [Read more…] about Rubedos launches 3D visual perception system for robot applications

Omron to launch ‘industry’s first’ 2D dimensioning and visual inspection machine

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Omron has launched what it says “the automation industry’s first VT-M121: 2D dimension and visual inspection machine”, which performs simultaneously dimension and visual inspection to detect scratches and cracks on products.

VT-M121 demonstrates the feasible full inspection to meet the required quality standard of the automotive industry in full cooperation with SIIX Corporation that is the nation’s largest provider of EMS and works to improve the production quality of electronics components and to increase their reliability.

Instead of the inspection process of the sampling inspection by operators, VT-M121 enables full inspection automatically in the production line and contributes to achieving “zero defects” in automotive electronics which are required to have high quality and high reliability.  [Read more…] about Omron to launch ‘industry’s first’ 2D dimensioning and visual inspection machine

Investments in digital engineering expected to grow

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Investments in digital engineering are expected to account for 37 percent of the engineering research and design (ER&D) market by 2023, according to a report by Zinnov.

Global corporate engineering and R&D spend is in excess of $1.2 trillion in 2018
Z1000 organizations account for $812 billion of the global R&D spend.

Digital engineering spend is estimated at $293 billion and accounts for 24 percent of overall global corporate engineering spend.  [Read more…] about Investments in digital engineering expected to grow

Why e-commerce is shifting towards the warehouse model of ‘distributed distribution’

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By Lior Elazary, CEO and co-founder, inVia Robotics

E-commerce sales continue to climb at a record pace; at least 80 percent of US consumers with internet access have made a purchase online in the last 30 days.

E-commerce giants, namely Amazon, have set customer expectations for free and fast shipping incredibly high.

It’s a major factor influencing purchase decisions – 28 percent of online shoppers abandon carts because of unexpected shipping costs while 54 percent shared they don’t always request same day delivery, but still expect non-urgent items “reasonably quickly” (generally thought of as within two days).  [Read more…] about Why e-commerce is shifting towards the warehouse model of ‘distributed distribution’