Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Automotive components giant ZF is providing safety technology for the Zoox autonomous shuttle.
The company says it is providing “advanced occupant protection systems” and “high-quality chassis components” for the vehicle.
ZF says future mobility will encompass ride-hailing solutions and robo-taxis to move people comfortably and safely through the megacities of the globe. [Read more…] about ZF providing safety technology for Zoox autonomous shuttle
Too many small- and medium-sized businesses risk losing out on the next big industry transformation, says Søren Peters, CEO of the world’s first digital robot hub, HowToRobot.com. The hub aims to increase robot adoption globally by breaking down the barriers to automation for smaller businesses.
Robots are spreading with haste among the largest enterprises globally. But the many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are lagging behind when it comes to adopting robots.
This, however, is bound to change. The digital robot hub HowToRobot.com now aims to get a robot into every factory across the world by making automation easier and more accessible for SMEs. [Read more…] about Digital platform wants to put a robot into every factory
Critical Manufacturing has relased what it describes as its “most advanced” Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
Critical Manufacturing MES V8 reveals a revolutionary new IoT Data Platform that merges IoT with MES and, two significant new modules that advance smart manufacturing in areas of materials logistics and factory automation to enable manufacturers to move closer to “Lights-Out” factories.
The release represents a “step change” for manufacturers to accelerate progress towards Industry 4.0, says Critical Manufacturing. [Read more…] about Critical Manufacturing launches its new, ‘most advanced’ manufacturing execution system
Robotic and Automation News Review Saturday 29 August 2020
This is a new, weekly column which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.
Usually, we try to publish the review on Fridays, but because of technical problems last week, it has been delayed until today. Apologies for that.
This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel. (See video embedded below.)
Please support our website by subscribing to our YouTube channel, by sharing the stories we publish on social media, and by purchasing premium subscriptions to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, as well as through corporate sponsorships and advertising.
Robotic and Automation News Review Monday 24 August 2020
This is a new, weekly column which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.
Usually, we try to publish the review on Fridays, but because of technical problems last week, it has been delayed until today. Apologies for that.
This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel. (See video below.)
Please support our website by subscribing to our YouTube channel, by sharing the stories we publish on social media, and by purchasing premium subscriptions to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, as well as through corporate sponsorships and advertising.
Canada is to impose tariffs on American imports in retaliation for the recent decision by the US to levy a 10 percent tax on Canadian aluminum imports.
Canada’s deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland says that the tariffs would match the US taxes “dollar for dollar”, according to a story on Manufacturing.net.
President Donald Trump (main picture) has been expressing his dissatisfaction with the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement since coming to office and at one point wanted to take America out of it. [Read more…] about Canada imposes tariffs on US goods in retaliation
The United States is targeting a range of Chinese-owned tech giants for bans or sales in a bid to put pressure on its economic rival.
The administration of President Donald Trump appears to be conflating “national security” issues with economic measures which it believes are fair while others consider protectionist.
Trump has signed executive orders which may see the sale within 45 days of video-sharing app TikTok to Microsoft. Another app in the administration’s bad books is WeChat, according to the South China Morning Post. [Read more…] about US targets Chinese tech giants for bans and sales
Friday 7 August 2020: This is a new, weekly column – to be published every Friday – which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.
This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel, and is embedded below, at the end of this article.
Doosan Robotics has introduced six new collaborative robots (main picture), diversifying its product offerings. The new lineup includes four models from the A-Series and two from the H-Series.
SICK is continuing the roll-out of its customisable SensorApps for “easy” machine vision, with the launch of its Colour Inspection and Sorting App (picture below), which the company says is a cost-saving and simple solution for common inline quality control tasks in automated production and packaging applications.
A company called Edwards Vacuum has won an award from SEMI and Semiconductor Digest for its autonomous mobile robot, the ESV-X (see video below), which loads equipment without human intervention and autonomously delivers it to work locations within a semiconductor factory to minimize scheduled and unplanned downtime and the need for other transportation equipment while increasing customer safety.
Renesas has launched the RV1S9353A, a delta-sigma modulator chip used in robotic arm controllers, AC servo controllers, and NC servo controllers employed in a range of smart factory equipment.
GreyOrange says its Ranger GTP robot (pictured below) has become the first Automated Mobile Platforms robot of its kind to be UL Certified to UL 3100, Second Edition for use in commercial and industrial environments, UL being a US-based safety certification company.
Epson Robots has launched what it says are “new and improved” LS3-B SCARA and LS20-B SCARA robots. Notable, new and improved features include batteryless encoder, a lower cable duct profile that is ideal for hard to reach work cell layouts, built-in camera cable for easy vision system setup, and new top-of-arm layout for enhanced usability.
Plexus Health Science has launched the UVC-650, or “Sunslinger” (pictured below), a lightweight robot that emits high-powered UV light to envelop a space that kills microorganisms in “just a few minutes and virtually disinfects the space”. The system can be installed in hospitals, restaurants, offices and in other facilities.
Geek+ says its C200M Bin-to-Person robotic warehouse system can save 50 percent on goods storage. The machine has a 1.5m telescopic fork, modular door frame and multiple bin access. (See video below.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSrlBRR_ig
Productive Robotics has released its Productive Analytics platform, which provides real-time status monitoring for all OB7 cobots, enabling access to the operating status of all cobots and their production history so customers can optimize their production, identify production errors, minimize downtime, and remotely monitor their robot activity.
Siemens has launched its Desigo building automation controllers – the PXC4 and PXC5. The company says the controllers can transform buildings into high-performing, energy efficient assets. Both controllers concentrate on specific automation elements – the Desigo PXC4 for HVAC plants and Desigo PXC5 for system functions and integration.
Russia and China are building a “financial alliance” and look set to “ditch” the dollar, according to a report on the Nikkei Asian Review website.
The financial news website reports that the US dollar’s share of trade between Russia and China “fell below 50 percent for the first time on record” in the first quarter of 2020.
The source of the statistic is Russia’s Central Bank and Federal Customs Service, which published figures showing that a relatively low 46 percent of trade transactions between China and Russia were conducted or completed in US dollars. [Read more…] about Russia and China ‘ditch’ dollar and increase use of euro
Social media giant Facebook has unveiled a robot, designed by ULC Robotics, that can move along high wires to install telecom and power lines. (See video below.)
Facebook Connectivity, in collaboration with a number of partners, says it has spent the last few years developing the robot.
The company describes it as an aerial fiber deployment solution that uses a robot designed to install a specialized fiber-optic cable on medium-voltage power lines. [Read more…] about Facebook unveils robot that can walk high wires to install telecom and power lines
