Robotics & Automation News

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Nilfisk launches new BrainOS-powered scrubber to meet autonomous demand

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Nilfisk, a leading global provider of professional cleaning products and services, today announced the launch of a new high-performance robotic scrubber, the Liberty SC60, to meet the growing market demand for autonomous cleaning solutions.

The company made the announcement as part of a live, virtual event broadcast to a global audience.

The SC60 is the first Nilfisk machine to be powered by BrainOS, an AI software platform for building and managing commercial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at scale. [Read more…] about Nilfisk launches new BrainOS-powered scrubber to meet autonomous demand

ABB expands small robot range with IRB 1300 for confined spaces

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ABB claims that the IRB 1300 dramatically improves cycle times with class-leading lifting ability, reach and path accuracy, in a smaller footprint to enhance productivity and production-line flexibility.

ABB is extending its family of small six-axis industrial robots with the launch of the IRB 1300, to meet demand for a faster and more compact robot able to rapidly lift heavy objects or loads with complex and irregular shapes.

Building on the success of ABB’s IRB 1600 robot for payloads up to 10kg, the IRB 1300 offers a 27 percent improvement in cycle times and is nearly 60 percent lighter and 83 percent smaller than the IRB 1600. [Read more…] about ABB expands small robot range with IRB 1300 for confined spaces

FLIR and VSI use sensors and AI to improve pedestrian safety systems

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FLIR Systems recently announced results from recent automatic emergency braking (AEB) tests that examined how adding a thermal sensor and fusing the data with a radar, a visible sensor, and a trained neural network can improve pedestrian detection from current AEB systems.

Following positive proof-of-concept test results announced earlier this year, FLIR and VSI Labs returned to the American Center for Mobility and conducted positive detection AEB tests of VSI Labs’ Ford Fusion test vehicle and current AEB systems on the Tesla Model 3, Toyota Corolla, Subaru Forester, and BMW X7.

The tests were designed by VSI and aimed at testing AEB system performance in common real-world driving conditions not currently included in recognized testing protocols. [Read more…] about FLIR and VSI use sensors and AI to improve pedestrian safety systems

Our Cyborg Future: 16-nation study finds support for human augmentation

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Research says most of us would change something about ourselves if we could. But many fear human augmentation could be reserved for the rich – and that our bodies could even be the target for cybercriminals.

New research released today has uncovered widespread enthusiasm for human augmentation – the process of augmenting or improving the human body with technology.

The research – commissioned by security firm Kaspersky – found that 92 percent of us would change a physical aspect of ourselves if we could while nearly two thirds (63 percent) of us would consider augmenting our bodies with technology to improve them – either permanently or temporarily. [Read more…] about Our Cyborg Future: 16-nation study finds support for human augmentation

ANYbotics and maxon enter into a strategic partnership

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ANYbotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robotics for industrial application, is joining forces with the renowned drive specialist maxon.

ANYbotics provides important robotics and drive know-how to maxon who will in the future supply the drive systems for the autonomous ANYmal inspection robot.

A solid partnership: ANYbotics and maxon are entering into a close, long-term collaboration and are thus strengthening Switzerland as a prime location for robotics.

[Read more…] about ANYbotics and maxon enter into a strategic partnership

MWES looks to the next generation in machine tending

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Robotic machine tending systems have been on the market for a number of years and they’ve faithfully helped many firms increase their throughput without burning through valuable operators in the process.

Though some shops are coming to grips with the notion that most of these machine tending systems are great at loading and unloading machines, but that’s all they do.

Sometimes jobs require off-machine work in between machine operations or the need to reposition parts in the same machine to complete the work. [Read more…] about MWES looks to the next generation in machine tending

Omron expands safety offering with visual lockout/tagout and arc flash labeling services

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Industry-leading automation solutions and safety services provider Omron Automation Americas has partnered with Brady Corporation to add dedicated service offerings for lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and arc flash risk mitigation to further help manufacturers maintain compliance and protect their employees.

These new services are part of Omron’s commitment to providing holistic management for safe manufacturing facilities in various industries.

Lockout/tagout problems are consistently among the top five violations for regulatory agencies in the Americas. When a company’s employees need to perform maintenance, repairs or adjustments (including line changeovers), it’s essential to have measures in place to keep them safe from hazardous machine motion by isolating and dissipating the machines’ energy sources. [Read more…] about Omron expands safety offering with visual lockout/tagout and arc flash labeling services

ATI Boeing Accelerator opens call for sustainability startups that support the future of the aerospace industry 

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ATI Boeing Accelerator has opened applications for its second cohort, to invest into sustainability-enabling startups that will benefit the UK aerospace industry across three key areas of focus: Industry 4.0, Lifecycle and Resilience, and Energy.

Launched last year, the accelerator was created in partnership by the Aerospace Technology Institute and Boeing, and is delivered by European accelerator Ignite. GKN Aerospace is a corporate sponsor and more partners will be announced in the upcoming months.

The first cohort has already raised a further £6M in funding, created 30 new jobs, and engaged further organisations outside of the programme partners, including Frazer-Nash, Chevron Technology Ventures and Rolls-Royce. [Read more…] about ATI Boeing Accelerator opens call for sustainability startups that support the future of the aerospace industry 

Geek+ launches S100C for intelligent sortation of large-size packages

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Geek+, a global AMR leader, has launched its new S100C large-size parcel sorting robot, advancing its already extensive line of intelligent sorting robots and expanding the possibilities for automated sorting.

S100C is an efficient, stable, and affordable solution for solving many of the complex logistics scenarios brought on by increased online sales and the need for systems that can flexibly handle a wide variety of goods.

The robot can support unit sortation, parcel sortation, and bins transportation, making it applicable to many industry scenarios, from 3PLs and distribution centers to cross-docking facilities and airports. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches S100C for intelligent sortation of large-size packages

S&P and Snowflake collaborate to deliver financial and alternative data

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Data on the S&P Global Marketplace is now accessible via Snowflake’s cloud data platform, eliminating the need for on-premises databases, allowing for direct integration of S&P Global data into models, visualization tools and more.

S&P Global Market Intelligence, today announced that it has collaborated with Snowflake, the cloud data platform, to seamlessly deliver S&P Global’s industry-leading financial, textual, ESG and alternative data through Snowflake.

Clients now have immediate access to S&P Global’s data via Snowflake ― eliminating the data ingestion process and significantly improving their productivity and efficiency. [Read more…] about S&P and Snowflake collaborate to deliver financial and alternative data