Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

China’s GAC partners with Aisin to construct new $700 million factory to build autonomous cars

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One of China’s largest automakers, GAC, has partnered with smart vehicle developer Aisin to establish a massive new factory.

GAC says the first phase of its “new energy intelligent and ecological factory” has been completed.

Representing a RMB 4.7 billion ($680 million) investment, the factory will start production in May 2019, aiming to achieve an annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles.  [Read more…] about China’s GAC partners with Aisin to construct new $700 million factory to build autonomous cars

Kyocera to participate in self-driving bus test in Japan involving several other companies

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Kyocera will participate in a self-driving bus test project organized by the Mobility Innovation Consortium, an organization to promote autonomous driving led by East Japan Railway Company.

Other corporations participating in the test project will include Advanced Smart Mobility Company, Aichi Steel Corporation, SoftBank, Nippon Signal Company, and NEC Corporation.

Project tests, which will occur between December 2018 and March 2019, are designated to evaluate self-driving technologies for bus transit applications, including automated lane-maintenance control, speed control, parking assist, and alternating passage tests on JR East’s Bus Rapid Transit lines.  [Read more…] about Kyocera to participate in self-driving bus test in Japan involving several other companies

IEEE Standards Association and ECC sign strategic co-operation agreement

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The Edge Computing Consortium and the IEEE Standards Association signed a co-operation agreement in edge computing standardization and related market promotion programs.

The formal signing took place at the 2018 Edge Computing Industry Summit (main picture).

Under the agreement, both parties will jointly advance the edge computing industry by capitalizing on IEEE’s global standards platform and ECC’s continued explorations and achievements in edge computing technologies, architectures, and best practices.  [Read more…] about IEEE Standards Association and ECC sign strategic co-operation agreement

SIAF Guangzhou to feature sensor technologies and machine vision in the same hall for the first time

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With over 500 exhibitors confirmed to participate in the 2019 fair, SIAF has been receiving a positive response from industry peers, with the number of booths sold surpassing the previous edition at the same time of the year.

SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou (SIAF) will return to the China Import and Export Fair Complex Guangzhou on 10-12 March 2019.

Backed by steadfast support of the industry professionals, SIAF will continue to showcase state-of-the-art industrial automation solutions revolving around six themes.  [Read more…] about SIAF Guangzhou to feature sensor technologies and machine vision in the same hall for the first time

JD.com and Intel launch new research lab for smart retail

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JD.com, one of the largest online retailers in China, and chipmaker Intel have launched a joint lab that will explore the use of Internet of Things in smart retail solutions.

The “Digitized Retail Joint Lab” will develop next-generation vending machines, media and advertising solutions, and technologies to be used in the stores of the future, based on Intel architecture.

The new lab marks the extension of the robust existing partnership between Intel and China’s largest retailer.  [Read more…] about JD.com and Intel launch new research lab for smart retail

Former SAP global vice president joins Geek Plus Robotics to ‘accelerate business growth’

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Artificial intelligence and supply chain automation company Geek Plus Robotics has appointed Michael Hao as executive president.

He will report to Yong Zheng, CEO of Geek Plus, which specialises in warehouse robots.

Hao previously served as SAP’s global Vice President & General Manager of China. He led the high growth of the Chinese business throughout his tenure, as well as the localization and innovation of German Industry 4.0 in China.  [Read more…] about Former SAP global vice president joins Geek Plus Robotics to ‘accelerate business growth’

Nidec to showcase latest robotic components and haptic devices

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Leading components supplier gearing up for CES 2019

Autonomous machines are set to play an indispensable role in the future – not only in factories and warehouses, but also in people’s homes.

In addition to improving the efficiency of manufacturing lines, robots also have the potential to make our lives more comfortable by taking care of menial tasks, or augmenting human capabilities through technologies like powered exoskeletons.

Highly sophisticated robots use dozens – sometimes even hundreds – of motors and gearboxes.  [Read more…] about Nidec to showcase latest robotic components and haptic devices

Geek Plus Robotics raises $150 million in ‘world’s largest Series B financing in logistics robotics’

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Supply chain automation solutions company Geek Plus Robotics has completed a Series B financing round in which it raised a staggering $150 million. 

The company says this is “the world’s largest financing in artificial intelligence-enabled logistics robotics”.

As of the closing of this round of financing, Warburg Pincus has committed a total of approximately $100 million in Geek Plus through a series of investments since 2017, which had also been participated by other existing shareholders including Volcanics Venture and Vertex Ventures.

Founded in 2015, Geek+ is a leading AI a robotics company that integrates robotics, AI, big data, cloud computing, and IoT technologies to provide “intelligent robotics solutions and one-stop supply chain services”.  [Read more…] about Geek Plus Robotics raises $150 million in ‘world’s largest Series B financing in logistics robotics’

Doosan Robotics signs up Shinhan Bank to provide loans for customers

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Doosan Robotics has signed a business agreement to develop and provide exclusive loans and other financial products for Shinhan Bank and Doosan Robotics collaborative robot buyers and to promote joint marketing.

This is the first time in Korea to make a loan product for the purchase of cooperative robots in the domestic financial sector.

Purchasing a Doosan Robotics collaborative robot using a loan product provided by Shinhan Bank can reduce the initial investment burden by allowing a repayment of three to five years after the suspension of a year.  [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics signs up Shinhan Bank to provide loans for customers

Computer games-obsessed Japanese local authorities decide to model their home town on SimCity

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The Japanese, of course, are widely known to be fanatical about computer games. But planning a real-world city based on a fictional place inside a computer game might be going a bit too far. 

Kobayashi City, in Miyazaki Prefecture, and computer games giant Electronic Arts have agreed the establishment of “Kobayashi City Department of SimCity BuildIt”.

The partners are calling it “a unique regional planning partnership project”, which may well be true as we don’t know of any other city in the world which is modelling itself on a computer game.  [Read more…] about Computer games-obsessed Japanese local authorities decide to model their home town on SimCity