Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Adient breaks ground on ‘largest-ever’ automotive seats prototyping and testing facility in India

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Adient, a provider of automotive seating, has broken ground on a new automotive seating prototyping and testing facility in Pune that the company says will be “the largest of its kind ever to be built in India”.

Construction of the new facility marks a major expansion of Adient’s existing technical center in Pune, already a world-class facility with the largest workforce among the automotive seating suppliers global network of tech centers.

The new facility, which is scheduled to open in late 2018, will provide physical testing to augment the capabilities of the existing technical center in Pune, a global Center of Competence at Adient for computer-aided engineering, computer-aided design automation and finite element analysis simulation expertise.  [Read more…] about Adient breaks ground on ‘largest-ever’ automotive seats prototyping and testing facility in India

Omron Microscan releases new ‘high-performance smart camera’

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Omron Microscan Systems, has launched its newest smart camera, the Hawk MV-4000, which the company says has developmental roots stretching back to automotive and robotics development.

Omron says the Hawk MV-4000 has “exceptional processing capabilities in a compact form factor”, is easy to use, and constitutes a “golden middle” between PC-based devices and the average smart camera on the market.

Omron says the new smart camera could be used in a wide range of industries to streamline companies’ operations.  [Read more…] about Omron Microscan releases new ‘high-performance smart camera’

Cognex launches new real-time monitoring system for factory automation

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Cognex, a provider of machine vision and industrial barcode reading, has released a new monitoring system for factory automation.

Cognex Explorer Real Time Monitoring aggregates and reports trends in data captured by DataMan barcode readers and provides instant facility-wide feedback to identify process errors, minimize no-reads, and maximize throughput, says the company.

The company says RTM tracks trends in barcode quality, monitors configuration changes, and analyzes data from every DataMan barcode reader to quickly identify the causes of low read rates and other errors that threaten the efficiency of an operation.  [Read more…] about Cognex launches new real-time monitoring system for factory automation

Huawei partners with PCITC to develop smart factory technologies

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Huawei is partnering with Petro-Cyberworks Information Technology Company to develop what the companies call “Smart Factory 2.0” technologies.

The aim is to contribute to the progress made in energy conservation and emission reduction.

In a statement, Huwaei says: “Our Earth faces increasingly grave environmental problems.

“Although more people have realized the significance of environmental protection and have chosen shared bicycles and electric cars as part of their low-carbon lifestyles, yet we still rely heavily on non-renewable energy such as petroleum.”  [Read more…] about Huawei partners with PCITC to develop smart factory technologies

Savigent Software becomes first national member of Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute

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The Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute has announced that Savigent Software has joined the Manufacturing USA initiative as its first national member.

In partnership with the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, CESMII brings over $140 million in public-private investment to enable smart manufacturing technologies and systems to become the driving, sustainable engine that delivers real-time business and energy improvements in US manufacturing.

Jim Wetzel, CEO of CESMII, says: “Savigent is not only our first national member, but will be an important technical partner moving forward.  [Read more…] about Savigent Software becomes first national member of Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Landis+Gyr adds cellular option to line sensor products

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Intelligent sensor gives utilities more choices as part of a connected data acquisition platform

Landis+Gyr is expanding its distribution sensor product portfolio by adding a cellular communication option to its S610 Line Sensor.

The S610 is used for detecting and locating faults quickly, monitoring power flows, and improving grid reliability.

The new cellular model provides the same line monitoring functions as the RF Mesh S610 Line Sensor, but uses a cellular radio to communicate directly with utility Scada or other types of grid management systems.  [Read more…] about Landis+Gyr adds cellular option to line sensor products

ZF testing driverless tractors and combine harvesters using new AI computing device

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ZF, the German company known worldwide for its automotive technology, has launched a new computing device specifically aimed at making combine harvesters, tractors and other farming vehicles more autonomous.

The new device, which features artificial intelligence, is called the “ZF ProAI” processor unit.

The company will be demonstrating the new technology at Agritechnica, an event to showcase agricultural machinery.  [Read more…] about ZF testing driverless tractors and combine harvesters using new AI computing device

Giant alien may have lived inside Great Pyramid of Egypt

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Who knows? The entire thing’s been a mystery for millennia, and remains so to this day, but new technology has enabled the discovery of a previously undetected cavern inside the supermassive structure, shedding new light on the baffling, age-old conundrum

The ScanPyramids Project has made a rare discovery in the Great Pyramid in Egypt. 

The project was supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes and Emissive, and the mission is developing an unprecedented virtual reality experience to imagine new cultural and educational uses.

Launched in October 2015, the Egypto-international ScanPyramids project uses non-invasive and non-destructive detection techniques to scan the Egyptian pyramids trying to uncover their secrets.  [Read more…] about Giant alien may have lived inside Great Pyramid of Egypt

Warehouse management systems: A next-minute overview

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With warehouses increasingly becoming a hub of robotic and automation innovation, we thought now would be a good time to take a closer look at this dynamic sector. 

First, the basics. What is a warehouse management system?

Basically, it’s a software application which enables the digital management of a warehouse.  [Read more…] about Warehouse management systems: A next-minute overview

Kuka demonstrates cloud-connected robotic machining cell

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Kuka has demonstrated a cloud-connected robotic work cell which it says represents “the next step towards the production of the future”.

Kuka recently showcased many of its technologies at the China International Industry Fair for the first time since joining the Midea group.

The company is promoting what it calls its “ready2_use packages”, which the company says offers “preconfigured, coordinated application packages that can be integrated quickly and easily into an existing production facility”.  [Read more…] about Kuka demonstrates cloud-connected robotic machining cell