Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Advantech wins award from Chinese consulting company for its digital factory technologies

by

Advantech, a provider of industrial computers and related technologies, has received an award from from ROI Management Consulting, in China.

The award is for its Industry 4.0-compliant digital factory.

The “ROI Industry 4.0 Award China” was given to Advantech at the awards ceremony in Shanghai in recognition of its “Industry 4.0 achievements as a pioneer in the practical implementation of real-time equipment and resource monitoring”.  [Read more…] about Advantech wins award from Chinese consulting company for its digital factory technologies

Industrial sector ‘still in early stages’ of IoT, says report

by

The industrial sector is “still in the early stages” of internet of things adoption, according to a new report, although it says the vast majority have made a start.

Bsquare’s 2017 Annual IIoT Maturity Study reveals 86 percent of industrial organizations have adopted IoT but “fewer than half” are using advanced analytics and only a quarter have taken steps to automate the application of insights

Bsquare is a provider of industrial IoT solutions, and its report explores the current IoT adoption progress of business buyers in the sectors of manufacturing, transportation, and oil and gas.  [Read more…] about Industrial sector ‘still in early stages’ of IoT, says report

Systems engineering: An insight from a professional systems engineer

by

Systems engineering and systems design might sound fascinating to someone interested in the area of technology and building, making, developing, and organising things. 

But even to understand what the terms mean, from a beginner’s or outsider’s point of view, can be difficult.

And to summarise them probably wouldn’t explain things adequately because they really sound like a big jobs, involving a large number of tasks across many different disciplines and departments.

[Read more…] about Systems engineering: An insight from a professional systems engineer

Toyota Research Institute partners with GoMentum to test autonomous vehicles in California

by

Toyota Research Institute has signed an agreement with GoMentum Station to test autonomous vehicle technology at the 5,000 acre autonomous vehicle proving grounds located in Concord, California.

Managed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, this partnership enables TRI to expand closed course testing of its two-prong approach to vehicle automation – Guardian and Chauffeur.

Established in 2015, TRI has made rapid advancements in its research into automated driving and recently demonstrated Platform 2.1, its new advanced safety research vehicle that allows for testing of both Guardian and Chauffeur in a single vehicle.  [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute partners with GoMentum to test autonomous vehicles in California

Camille Bauer Metrawatt launches new product which combines measurement device with programmable logic controller

by

Camille Bauer Metrawatt says it has combined the functionality of a highly accurate measurement device for heavy current applications with the capabilities of an integrated programmable logic controller.

The company claims this is the first time such a device – the Centrax CU5000 – has been launched.

With this solution, closely coupled automation tasks can be carried out directly and flexibly by programmable logic, says CBM.  [Read more…] about Camille Bauer Metrawatt launches new product which combines measurement device with programmable logic controller

Fanuc reports more than 40 per cent increase in profits on strength of China sales

by

The world’s largest industrial robot manufacturer, Fanuc, says its profits have increased by more than 40 per cent as a result of strong demand from China, according to a report on Nikkei. 

The company is currently reporting its financial performance for the six-month period up to September.

It says its profits for the period were $750 million, which is more than a 42 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.  [Read more…] about Fanuc reports more than 40 per cent increase in profits on strength of China sales

Cloos and Baumüller find increased efficiency in automated welding technology

by

Cloos and Baumüller say they have found efficiencies in the new robotic welding system they have implemented. 

The two companies introduced a platform-independent and scalable control solution last year.

The aim was to achieve the highest level of precision with accelerated dynamics.  [Read more…] about Cloos and Baumüller find increased efficiency in automated welding technology

WinSystems launches new single-board computer for industrial applications

by

WinSystems, a provider of industrial embedded solutions, has launched a new single-board computer.

The company says the new PPM-C412 series is designed for demanding environments and applications, and offers a broad spectrum of I/O features and the ability to expand functionality in a densely populated, standalone SBC solution.

The new computer is also PC/104-Plus-compatible, and delivers greater performance and a clear upgrade path for current PPM-LX800 users while providing full ISA-compatible PC/104-Plus expansion, says WinSystems.  [Read more…] about WinSystems launches new single-board computer for industrial applications

Midea embarks on journey to transform itself into a ‘high-tech industry leader’

by

Chinese home appliances giant Midea says it has completed its acquisition of German company Kuka, one of the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers. 

While the deal prompted some consternation among those who said the German government should stop the takeover, as well as with those people who subsequently demanded the European Union make it more difficult for Chinese companies to buy EU companies, the two companies are now part of the same group.

Technically, Kuka was acquired by Midea’s subsidiary company, Mecca International.  [Read more…] about Midea embarks on journey to transform itself into a ‘high-tech industry leader’

Growing support for open standards for programmable logic controllers

by

Support for open standards for programmable logic controllers – which are the computers used in industrial automation systems – has been growing in recent years. 

The organisation partly responsible for the trend, PLCopen, last year released a set of coding guidelines to help standardise PLC programming. These guidelines have been adopted and further developed by a variety of companies.

One of those is software engineering company Itris Automation, which has integrated the guidelines into its automatic static analysis tool PLC Checker.  [Read more…] about Growing support for open standards for programmable logic controllers