Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Bosch launches ‘smallest, high performance’ barometric pressure sensor

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Bosch BMP380 sensor
The Bosch BMP380 sensor measures 2 by 2 by 0.75 mm

Bosch Sensortec has launched what it says is the company’s smallest and best performing barometric pressure sensor, with a compact size of 2.0 x 2.0 x 0.75 mm.

The BMP380 sensor is aimed at the growing markets of gaming, sports and health management, as well as indoor and outdoor navigation.

By measuring barometric pressure, the sensor enables drones, smartphones, tablets, wearables and other mobile devices to accurately determine altitude changes, in both indoor and outdoor environments.  [Read more…] about Bosch launches ‘smallest, high performance’ barometric pressure sensor

Artificial intelligence is better than humans, says IBM

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Rashik Parmar, lead IBM cloud advisor, Europe
Rashik Parmar, lead IBM cloud advisor, Europe

IBM prefers artificial intelligence to humans, according to an interview published on em360tech.com, in which one of the company’s most senior executives says humans can’t see what’s right in front their faces while AI sees everything, as well as things that aren’t even there. 

Rashik Parmar, IBM’s lead cloud advisor for Europe and one of the Watson team, says algorithms are smarter than humans will ever be, and that AI can spot patterns in large-scale enterprise architecture that human beings cannot.

AI can “make connections that you wouldn’t be able to make yourself”, claims computer fanatic Parmar.

Full story at em360tech.com

Panasonic to test self-driving car tech in Colorado

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panasonic gebhardt ces
Panasonic’s Gebhardt making the presentation at CES

lockElectronics and industrial components giant Panasonic is planning to test its autonomous car technology in the state of Colorado, in the US. 

The company has been making some significant moves in the automotive space, and this week revealed some of its ideas at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Tom Gebhardt, president of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, made a presentation at CES in which he said the company’s “smart mobility” plan starts with energy.  [Read more…] about Panasonic to test self-driving car tech in Colorado

Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

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DoBot Magician robot
The DoBot Magician robot from Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology

lockA Chinese startup company has demonstrated what it calls the “first industrial robotic arm for small business”, and has raised more than $400,000 on Kickstarter. 

The company describes the “DoBot M1” as a “professional SCARA based robotic arm” suitable for desktop use by small businesses, makers and hobbyists. Dobot was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas.

Manufactured by Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology, the Dobot M1 is a robotic arm with a number of extensions. The robots can also connected together to form a multi-arm system.  [Read more…] about Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

Manufacturing: Trump tempts Toyota with tax break if it builds cars in US instead of Mexico

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toyota mexico
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto with Toyota North America CEO James Lentz last year during the start of building the facility in Guanajuato

lockAfter apparently pressuring Ford to change its plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Mexico, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly putting pressure on Toyota to follow suit. 

Ford had intended to build a plant in Mexico, but is now applying the brakes on those plans, according to the Economist.

A couple of days ago, Ford said it would cancel its $1.6 billion project in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and instead invest $700 million in its plant in Michigan, in the US.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing: Trump tempts Toyota with tax break if it builds cars in US instead of Mexico

Tesla begins production at its Gigafactory – said to be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world

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tesla gigafactory
Tesla’s Gigafactory has almost 5 million square feet of operational space and when it’s completed, it will be the largest building in the world

lockTesla has started making lithium-ion battery cells at its brand new “Gigafactory” in Nevada, US. 

At almost 2 million square feet, the facility is said to be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world – and that’s just for starters.

In a statement, Tesla says: “The current structure has a footprint of 1.9 million square feet, which houses 4.9 million square feet of operational space across several floors. And we are still less than 30 percent done. Once complete, we expect the Gigafactory to be the biggest building in the world.”  [Read more…] about Tesla begins production at its Gigafactory – said to be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world

Rolls-Royce to open new research facility in US

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rolls-royce purdue
Rolls-Royce will house an R&D group for its jet engine component research in a 40,000-square-foot facility in the Purdue Research Park Aerospace District in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Purdue Research Park image)

Rolls-Royce is to open a new research and development centre in the US. The company formally received the keys to the 55,000-square-foot facility in the Purdue Research Park Aerospace District in West Lafayette. 

Purdue Research Foundation and Rolls-Royce are scheduled to celebrate the building’s opening late March.

David Waggoner, head of programs, customer and operations, control systems in North America for Rolls-Royce, says: “This facility is a great opportunity for us to create something unique to North America but also unique to Indiana, and allow us to strengthen our partnership with Purdue.  [Read more…] about Rolls-Royce to open new research facility in US

Nortek Security ships 1 millionth Z-Wave home automation device

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nortek

Milestone covers broad portfolio of lighting, control and security devices, says company

Nortek Security & Control says it has passed the shipment of their 1 millionth Z-Wave smart home device under its GoControl brand.

Nrotek is a provider of smart home technologies with a wide range of products for lighting, control and security.

Nortek says its GoControl products are consistently listed as best sellers on Amazon.com and are also the products of choice by many security dealers. [Read more…] about Nortek Security ships 1 millionth Z-Wave home automation device

US gives Midea green light to buy Kuka

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US approves Midea takeover of Kuka. Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay
US approves Midea takeover of Kuka. Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay

Reuters

China’s Midea said it will complete its takeover of German robotics maker Kuka in the first half of January after the United States authorities gave the deal a green light.

Midea, which launched a €4.5 billion offer for Kuka in May, said Germany’s markets regulator had approved the settlement of the transaction, allowing it to control a 94.55 percent voting stake in Kuka from January onwards.

The bid for Kuka, a high-tech robotics manufacturer, sparked controversy in Germany amid fears that key technologies were falling into foreign hands at a time when China protects its own companies against foreign takeovers.  [Read more…] about US gives Midea green light to buy Kuka

Manufacturing: Apple considers making in India

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lockIndia’s significant presence at Hannover Messe in 2015 signalled the country’s renewed determination to reinvigorate its manufacturing base. And in the last couple of years, it has made significant progress with its ambitions. 

The government has been pouring money into the manufacturing sector, and encouraging foreign direct investment through a range of incentives, not least of which is more attention and action to facilitate the sector’s development through the upgrading of infrastructure and business practices.

One example of the country’s technological ambition is the KEF Industrial Park, which is shown in the video above. As one observer put it: “It is a mind-blowing set-up and only believable if you see it. They make everything at the factory. Even the bathrooms and rooms, and then transport it by road to the site. The interiors and wirings are done at the site.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing: Apple considers making in India