Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Mai Tao

Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

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Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce company, has increased its equity stake in Cainiao, a provider of automated logistics systems. The two companies have been partners for some time and last year opened what was reported to be the largest robot-operated warehouse in China. 

The additional investment in Cainiao Smart Logistics Network totals RMB23.3 billion (US$3.3 billion) and increases Alibaba’s equity from approximately 51 per cent to approximately 63 per cent.

The investment method used involved subscribing for newly issued Cainiao ordinary shares in its latest financing round and purchasing certain equity interest from an existing Cainiao shareholder. [Read more…] about Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

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Geek+ says it implemented and completed large-scale scheduling of more than 4,000 robots in its smart warehouses during this year’s 11.11 Singles’ Day shopping festival.

China’s largest smart warehouse network processed a record 8 million orders in 72 hours.

Geek+ says “the successful deployment is a fantastic validation of the strength of the robotics-as-a-service business model” and the flexibility and efficiency of smart warehouses during periods of peak orders, including the ultimate challenge of the world’s largest shopping festival. [Read more…] about Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

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Lenovo and Intel are providing critical components for Harvard University’s first liquid-cooled supercomputer, while Lenovo is creating a ‘Visionary Council’ to drive broad adoption of exascale technology

The new supercomputing infrastructure will enable discoveries in earthquake forecasting, predictions on the spread of disease, and star formation.

Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research Computing’s newest supercomputing cluster performs three to four times faster with the upgrade. [Read more…] about Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

Fanuc unveils new range of collaborative robots for arc welding

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Fanuc has unveiled its new collaborative arc welding robot range, showcasing it at the recent FabTech event, in the US. The CR-15iA and CR-7iA for Arc will be made available to the market next month. 

Fanuc is the world’s largest supplier of industrial robots and a leading supplier CNCs, RoboMachines and industrial internet of things solutions.

Fanuc says its new collaborative arc welding robots offer “the same high level of performance that Fanuc Arc Mate robots are known for, including world-renowned technology and proven reliability”. [Read more…] about Fanuc unveils new range of collaborative robots for arc welding

Mitsubishi Electric introduces range of ‘high-performance’ delta robots

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Mitsubishi Electric has extended its MELFA articulated arm and SCARA robot offering to include a range of delta robots.

Mitsubishi says the new robots combine its “award-winning servo technology” with the latest mechanicals from e-F@ctory Alliance partner Codian Robotics.

With Mitsubishi Electric already one of the world’s largest suppliers of light payload industrial robots and Codian a market leader in delta mechanics it’s a combination that enables the user to achieve reliable performance in higher speed pick and place operations, with the advantage of simple set-up and programming from one the markets main automation brands. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric introduces range of ‘high-performance’ delta robots

Doosan Robotics introduces new collaborative robot to Korea

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Doosan Robotics showed its new Cobot A series for the first time at the 2019 Korea Machinery Fair (KOMAF) held from October 22 to 25 at KINTEX in Ilsan.

2019 Korea Machinery Fair, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI), was held on the largest scale ever.

Doosan Robotics has four models (A0509, A0509s, A0912, and A0912s) in the A series, and they are characterized by the industry’s fastest speed and acceleration. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics introduces new collaborative robot to Korea

AREVO partners with AGC on 3D printing in Japanese markets

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AREVO, the Silicon Valley company specialising in composites manufacturing through digitalization – or 3D printing, has chosen AGC as its strategic business partner in Japan.

The two companies plan to provide “manufacturing-as-a-service” for the on-demand production of ultra-strong, lightweight 3D-printed composite parts for the Japanese market.

This service is based on AREVO’s “Aqua” platform, the world’s first industrial-grade continuous fiber 3D printing system capable of printing parts of up to one meter cubic volume. [Read more…] about AREVO partners with AGC on 3D printing in Japanese markets

Komatsu to supply 37 autonomous trucks to Brazil mine

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Komatsu says it has been contracted to supply 37 autonomous trucks to a mine in Brazil – the Carajás mine owned by Vale, a Brazilian mining company wth annual revenues of around $34 billion. 

The Carajás mine is said to be the largest mine in Vale’s 77-year history. The company says it is on a drive to leverage innovative technology to “reduce impact on the environment and enhance health, safety and operational efficiency”.

The 37 Komatsu vehicles are its 930E ultra-class electrical dump trucks (main picture), and they will form part of an Autonomous Haulage System at the Vale mine. [Read more…] about Komatsu to supply 37 autonomous trucks to Brazil mine

Toyota partners with China’s BYD to develop electric cars

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Japanese automotive giant Toyota is partnering with China’s BYD to develop electric cars.

At the same time as Toyota debuts its electric Lexus in China, BYD and Toyota signed an agreement to establish a joint company to research and development for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The new R&D company, which will work on designing and developing BEVs (including platform) and its related parts, is anticipated to be established in China in 2020, with BYD and Toyota to evenly share 50 percent of the total capital needed. [Read more…] about Toyota partners with China’s BYD to develop electric cars

Microsoft highlights Geek+ robots at Ignite event

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Geek+ robots was in the spotlight at Microsoft Ignite as the software giant demonstrated the future of cloud data applications with the Geek+ AI robotics sorting solution. (See video below.)

Microsoft Ignite is Microsoft’s annual gathering of over 26,000 technology leaders and practitioners from around the world.

This year, Geek+ AI robotics solution was a cornerstone of Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich’s keynote address. [Read more…] about Microsoft highlights Geek+ robots at Ignite event