Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

4 key questions to ask before getting started with collaborative robots

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By Darrell Adams, head, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Universal Robots

Small and mid-sized manufacturers can be especially hard hit by sudden changes such as economic volatility, intense competitive pressure, seasonal demands or even an unexpected global crisis, like the current Covid-19 pandemic.

When labour requirements increase or decrease drastically, having the ability to ramp up production when demand is high and remain sustainable during downtime is crucial.

For these companies, having a workforce supported by collaborative robots or cobots, would be a dream come true. [Read more…] about 4 key questions to ask before getting started with collaborative robots

Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

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Omron is making available its Sysmac Studio 3D simulation software available to industrial companies. (See video below.)

The company says it will be the first in the industry to provide such a system, which “can integrate and verify the movements of robots and peripheral devices that make up facilities”.

Omron says its “extensive knowledge and technology of control equipment”, including robots, helped in its development of the software. [Read more…] about Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

HGZN and Hyundai Robotics to build smart factory to manufacture robots in China

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HGZN has partnered with Hyundai Robotics to embark on a project to build smart factory to manufacture robots in Haining, China.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the “HGZN’s Intelligent Robot Industrialization Project” was held recently at the Economic Development Zone in Haining.

With a strong industrial city as its goal, HGZN – an acronym for Jiangsu Hagong Intelligent Robot Company – is focusing on the smart robot industrialization project. [Read more…] about HGZN and Hyundai Robotics to build smart factory to manufacture robots in China

Hitachi Automotive Systems acquires German automotive device software developer seneos

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Hitachi Automotive Systems has completed the acquisition of all shares in seneos.

Through this transaction, seneos, a German automotive device software developer, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Automotive Systems.

Hitachi Automotive Systems supplies products and systems in growth areas such as electrification and is expanding its customer base of European automakers, growing sales of new products and solutions. [Read more…] about Hitachi Automotive Systems acquires German automotive device software developer seneos

Xpeng Motor build new autonomous e-car on Nvidia computing platform

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Xpeng Motors, a Chinese electric vehicle and technology company, says its P7 smart electric sports sedan officially rolls out in China on April 27.

The Xpeng P7 features the Nvidia Drive AGX Xavier platform for its XPilot3.0.

Signaling the EV maker’s confidence in Nvidia’s AI compute platform, Xpeng also announced it will leverage the Drive platform for its next production model. [Read more…] about Xpeng Motor build new autonomous e-car on Nvidia computing platform

Robots used in various situations to fight global coronavirus pandemic

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The use of robotics in the reduction of dull, dirty, and unsafe tasks is commonplace.

Some of the scenarios in which robots are sent in include the detonation of bombs and investigation of uncharted and potentially dangerous environments.

And as the world looks on, China is accelerating the use of robotics to assist with the public health crisis that is Covid-19, or as it’s more commonly known, the coronavirus.

With almost 2 million cases and more than 125,000 deaths from the disease worldwide – and rising daily – reducing the risk of person-to-person transmission is of the highest priority for government and health officials. [Read more…] about Robots used in various situations to fight global coronavirus pandemic

Omron launches new software for its mobile robots

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Industrial automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas has released a new software package designed to simplify integration, maximize reliability and support flexibility in mobile robot applications.

Omron says its Fleet Operations Workspace Core – shortened to “Flow Core” – is aimed at increasing the robots’ performance and ease of use while laying the foundation for future service-focused capabilities.

Among the primary advantages that Flow Core provides are a user-focused design that simplifies integration, charge management functionality that maximizes uptime, and intelligent fleet management capabilities that increase flexibility and efficiency. [Read more…] about Omron launches new software for its mobile robots

Covid-19 pandemic impact: Mobile robotics market to grow to $23 billion by next year

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The Coronavirus outbreak has highlighted use cases for mobile robotics to successfully disinfect, monitor, survey, and handle and deliver materials.

These proven use cases will propel the overall mobile robotics market to $23 billion by 2021, according to a report by technology market advisory firm, ABI Research.

Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research, says: “Crises shift perceptions on what is possible regarding investment and transformative action on the part of both private and government actors. [Read more…] about Covid-19 pandemic impact: Mobile robotics market to grow to $23 billion by next year

Robots and AI playing their part in coronavirus cleanup

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As China finally ends the lockdown it imposed on Wuhan about two-and-a-half months ago, we look at some of the cleanup operations involving robots and artificial intelligence in the country.

UBTech Robotics has been at the forefront of robotic and AI implementations fighting Covid-19 away from of hospitals. Below are some examples.

Back to school

At the school gates of two major middle schools – Kunming Number 3 Middle School and Kunming Dianchi Middle School – in Yunnan province, southwest of China, students returning from prolonged absence for Covid-19 fear are now greeted by a robot instead of a human. [Read more…] about Robots and AI playing their part in coronavirus cleanup

China crisis: Coronavirus devastates economy, but early drastic action may have limited long-term damage

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If anyone thought they could make coronavirus go away by simply ignoring it – we include ourselves in this – has been proven wrong. Wherever you are in the world, it has been virtually impossible to ignore what is now called Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation, which has declared the virus a pandemic.

A pandemic is a virus or disease that appears on every continent, as coronavirus indeed does.

Some may have argued that Covid-19 is simply a variation of the flu. Even if that’s true, it is far more dangerous than the common or seasonal flu. Coronavirus kills, and has done so on an unprecedented scale. [Read more…] about China crisis: Coronavirus devastates economy, but early drastic action may have limited long-term damage