Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

ABB agrees to buy General Electric’s industrial business unit for $2.6 billion

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ABB has finalised a deal to buy General Electric’s industrial solutions business unit for $2.6 billion.

The deal would result in ABB taking over the part of GE’s business which supplies circuit breakers and other electrical equipment to industry.

GE Industrial Solutions is said to have deep customer relationships in more than 100 countries and an established installed base with strong roots in North America, ABB’s biggest market.  [Read more…] about ABB agrees to buy General Electric’s industrial business unit for $2.6 billion

Analysis: New Nest Labs security products face stiff competition, says IHS Markit

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By Blake Kozak, principal analyst, security technology at IHS Markit

Nest Labs has expanded into the home security market with a range of products which includes the Nest Secure alarm system, Nest Hello video doorbell, Nest Cam IQ outdoor security camera, and corresponding software and services. 

The video doorbell uses Google’s facial recognition technology.

Nest Labs is one of the first big movers in the home automation market, and the company is thought to be one of the leaders.

Nest currently offers a range of products including thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and video doorbells.  [Read more…] about Analysis: New Nest Labs security products face stiff competition, says IHS Markit

Chowbotics prepares to unleash salad-making robot on the world, while RotiMatic rolls its way to making 6 million rotis

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Chowbotics is gearing up for a major marketing push to find space for its salad-making robot in every home in the world – and maybe quite a few catering businesses too. 

The company – which manufactures a salad-making robot called Sally (main picture) – is expanding its operation and hiring new people. A key recent appointment is Dorothy Cudia as vice president of engineering.

Cudia’s previous experience includes time at food giants such as Nabisco, McDonald’s and Darden Restaurants.  [Read more…] about Chowbotics prepares to unleash salad-making robot on the world, while RotiMatic rolls its way to making 6 million rotis

Spanish farm produce supplier reduces human workers from 500 to 100 using robots

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Spanish farm produce supplier El Dulze has reduced its human workforce from 500 down to just 100 with the use of robots, according to a report on FruitNet.com. 

The company is said to be using Fanuc robots – LR Mate 200iB models – which use vision systems to even out the production line so the vegetables are not bunched up too close together for packing.

The robots also appear to be picking heads of lettuce and placing them in containers, or plastic packaging.  [Read more…] about Spanish farm produce supplier reduces human workers from 500 to 100 using robots

ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

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ABB has partnered with Amazon and Sonos to add new functions to its home automation range of products, collectively called free@home. 

ABB claims to be the leading home automation company in the German market, and the company is apparently looking to expand into new geographies, possibly including the US.

Its free@home range includes a variety of devices and hardware, all based on its digital platform, ABB Ability.  [Read more…] about ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

Columbia University develops soft actuator three times stronger than human muscle to make robots more lifelike

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Columbia University says it has developed a self-contained soft actuator that is three times stronger than natural muscle, without the need of externals.

The researchers say the development means robotic motion will be more lifelike, and that it signals a breakthrough in soft robotics.

The creation of untethered soft robots whose actions and movements can help mimic natural biological systems have been a long-standing issue, and the scientists at Columbia Engineering say they have solved it.  [Read more…] about Columbia University develops soft actuator three times stronger than human muscle to make robots more lifelike

Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

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Yamaha Motor has selected Siemens to provide product lifecycle management software to support its digitalization initiative.

Yamaha will deploy the Siemens’ Teamcenter portfolio across all development divisions of their key business, motorcycle products.

Siemens claims Teamcenter is “the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software”.  [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

Itron buys Silver Spring Networks for close to a billion dollars

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Energy technology company Itron is to acquire industrial internet of things company Silver Spring Networks for more than $800 million.

The two companies have signed a definitive agreement for Itron to acquire all outstanding shares of Silver Spring for $16.25 per share in cash.

The transaction is valued at approximately $830 million, net of $118 million of Silver Spring’s cash.  [Read more…] about Itron buys Silver Spring Networks for close to a billion dollars

Industrial Internet Consortium launches smart factory machine learning platform

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The Industrial Internet Consortium has launched what it calls the Smart Factory Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance Testbed.

The testbed is led by two companies, Plethora IIoT, and Xilinx.

IIC says the testbed explores machine-learning techniques and evaluates algorithmic approaches for time-critical predictive maintenance.  [Read more…] about Industrial Internet Consortium launches smart factory machine learning platform

HRG launches industrial robotics tutorial platform

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HIT Robot Group, one of China’s leading manufacturer of robots, has launched an industrial robotics tutorial platform.

HRG says Haidu Academy is designed to help learners of different levels to improve their industrial robot-operating skills on various brands.

China is the largest and fastest-growing robot market in the world.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in the first seven months of 2017, 71,600 industrial robots were produced in China, accounting for more than 30 percent of global output during the period.

Statistics also suggest an increasing demand for skilled workers. The Ministry predicts that China will need 200,000 skilled workers to operate industrial robots as of 2020.

[Read more…] about HRG launches industrial robotics tutorial platform