Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng agree joint venture to develop electric vehicles in China

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The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Dongfeng Motor Group have formed a new joint venture to co-develop and sell electric vehicles in China.

The new joint venture, eGT New Energy Automotive Company, or eGT for short, will focus on the core competencies of each partner and will “harness the full potential of the Renault-Nissan Alliance electric vehicle leadership”, according to the companies.

It will also combine the resources of DFG in the new energy industry, to meet the expectations of the Chinese market.  [Read more…] about Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng agree joint venture to develop electric vehicles in China

Visteon and ZongMu Technology sign co-operation agreement on autonomous driving solutions

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Visteon, a supplier of automotive cockpit electronics, and ZongMu Technology, a China-based supplier of advanced driving assistance systems, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop Level 3-plus autonomous driving solutions.

Under the agreement, Visteon and ZongMu will combine their strengths to jointly develop a self-parking solution integrating Visteon’s DriveCore autonomous driving platform and ZongMu’s autonomous parking system.

Markus Schupfner, chief technology officer for Visteon, says the cooperative agreement with ZongMu supports Visteon’s commitment to collaborate with “highly respected technology partners” to advance autonomous driving in the fast-growing China market.  [Read more…] about Visteon and ZongMu Technology sign co-operation agreement on autonomous driving solutions

Leading humanoid roboticist unveils new android

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One of the world’s leading humanoid roboticist has unveiled a new android which is modeled on a 10-year-old boy, although no-one specific. (See video below.) 

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, Wakayama University, Japan, has previously made a robot called Geminoid that looked exactly like himself and another modeled on a young woman, which he called Erica.

The new robot, called Ibuki, and the IEEE has given us all permission to panic over it.

While some would say it’s a technical achievement, others would say it’s downright creepy.

Ibuki gets around on wheels but “can fake walking”, meaning it looks like it’s walking if you view the top half.

humanoid robot ishiguro
Professor Ishiguro (right) with his Geminoid robot (left)

What its application might be is uncertain, but this is more of a research robot rather than a commercial one.

But according to a story on TechWorld.com, Professor Ishiguro “wants a humanoid future” when humans and androids live together.

“The more human we make robots, the more we will accept them in our daily lives,” he said.

 

Pizza Hut introduces robot waiter from Woowa Brothers in Korea

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Pizza Hut has introduced robot waiters from Woowa Brothers in its South Korean restaurants, according to the Korea Times. 

The robot, which is called Dilly Plate, is similar to machines produced by Savioke and others, and makes short-distance deliveries, within the restaurant.

We don’t have pictures of it ourselves, but one can be seen on the Korea Times website.

As quoted by Korea Times, Cho Yoon-sang, Pizza Hut Korea’s Chief Marketing Officer, says: “We will actively adopt new technologies to satisfy both our employees and customers and make various attempts in line with food tech development.”

As well as the Dilly Plate, Woowa Brothers also offers a food delivery app and has invested in other robotics development.

And as quoted by Korea Joong Ang Daily, Kim Bong-jin, CEO and founder of Woowa Brothers, says: “The robotics we are interested in encompass delivery, connectivity and artificial intelligence.

“When a robot delivers, delivery charges that normally range between 3,000 won and 4,000 won will go down to as much as several hundred won.

“The price of food that consumers think is appropriate in proportion to the amount of delivery charge is 18,000 won to 20,000 won. Not many are willing to pay a 4,000 won delivery fee for a 7,000 won dish. ”

One US dollar is approximately equivalent to 1,000 South Korean won.

US-China trade war affecting Fanuc’s industrial robot sales

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The trade war between China and the US is negatively affecting the sales of Fanuc’s industrial robots, according to the Nikkei newspaper. 

In recent months, the US and China have been introducing new taxes on imports from each other’s countries, and this has set up Fanuc for a tough year ahead, reports Nikkei.

Fanuc is headquartered in Japan but has global operations. It is believed to be the largest supplier of robotics and automation technologies to the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about US-China trade war affecting Fanuc’s industrial robot sales

Techman Robot to double production capacity

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The Techman Robot company is planning to double production capacity, according to a report on DigiTimes.com. 

The company shipped approximately 2,000 units in 2017 and expects that figure to “expand exponentially” to 4,000 this year, reports DigiTimes.

Techman, which is part of the Quanta Group, says it is expanding to meet anticipated demand for its robotic arm.  [Read more…] about Techman Robot to double production capacity

Huawei surpasses Apple in smartphone sales

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Huawei has surpassed Apple in smartphone sales in the second quarter of this year, according to figures collated by the International Data Corporation.

The preliminary data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, smartphone vendors shipped a total of 342.0 million units during the second quarter of 2018 (2Q18), resulting in a 1.8 percent decline when compared to the 348.2 million units shipped in the second quarter of 2017.

The drop marks the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines for the global smartphone market and only the fourth quarter of decline in history.  [Read more…] about Huawei surpasses Apple in smartphone sales

Merkel blocks Chinese bid to buy German industrial company

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The German government has blocked a Chinese bid to buy another of the country’s industrial companies, according to a report on IndustryWeek.com. 

A deal had been discussed for China’s Yantai Taihai Group to take over Leifeld Metal Spinning, an industrial machine builder established in 1891.

Industry Week reports that Yantai had already withdrawn the bid before the German government issued its veto, but the current business environment appears to be different from what it was a couple of years ago.  [Read more…] about Merkel blocks Chinese bid to buy German industrial company

Sony starts taking orders for its new AI-powered Aibo robot dog

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Sony has started taking orders for the new version of its artificial intelligence-equipped Aibo robot dog, according to The Japan Times. 

A limited number have gone on sale and some customers can now pre-order on Sony’s website, although only in Japan at the moment.

Japan Times says decisions as to which customers get to buy the robot dog may be made on a first-come-first-served basis or by lottery.  [Read more…] about Sony starts taking orders for its new AI-powered Aibo robot dog

Doosan applies its collaborative robot to its engine production process

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South Korean industrial giant Doosan has applied its newly built collaborative robot, the M1013, to its engine production process. 

The company says the application of Doosan Robotics collaborative robot to its “G2” engine production will lead to the “improvement in the working environment” and increase productivity.

Doosan adds that the G2 engine injector press-fitting process using collaborative robots is consistent with safety certifications and international standards.  [Read more…] about Doosan applies its collaborative robot to its engine production process