Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mark Allinson

GE, Nokia and Qualcomm unveil ‘first’ private LTE-based trial network customized for industrial IoT

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GE Digital, Nokia Networks and Qualcomm Technologies say they have successfully demonstrated a private LTE network for the industrial internet of things market.

LTE stands for “long term evolution” and refers to an advanced version of the 4G network.

The new GE-Nokia-Qualcomm network meshes together each party’s platforms and technologies.

The companies plan to further research and conduct live field trials throughout 2017 based on this demonstration, which they says is “designed to advance the digitization of industrial processes”.  [Read more…] about GE, Nokia and Qualcomm unveil ‘first’ private LTE-based trial network customized for industrial IoT

5G Automotive Association and European Automotive Telecom Alliance to develop new connected car standards

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The 5G Automotive Association and the European Automotive Telecom Alliance have entered a cooperation deal in the field of connected and autonomous driving solutions as well as standardisation, spectrum and related use cases. 

5GAA and EATA say they are dedicated to prioritising the use cases identified by the two organisations in order to establish the technical requirements that need to be addressed, both in the short and in the long term.

In order to better support standards for connected and automated driving, standardisation prioritisation for standards bodies such as ETSI, 3GPP and SAE is necessary as well.  [Read more…] about 5G Automotive Association and European Automotive Telecom Alliance to develop new connected car standards

BMW shows off its smart factory technologies at its plants worldwide

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bmw worker with collaborative robot

Collaborative robots, smart glasses, exoskeletons and innovative work gloves are among the tech being integrated at plants across the group’s worldwide operations 

German automaker BMW has been providing a glimpse into the advanced manufacturing technologies at several of its factories – in Germany and the US. 

The company says it has been harnessing the potential of innovative automation and flexible assistance systems in production.

In doing so, BMW says it has modernized the work environment and increased the efficiency of its workforce.  [Read more…] about BMW shows off its smart factory technologies at its plants worldwide

UPS completes testing of drone delivery system developed by Workhorse

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UPS says it has successfully tested a drone that launches from the top of a UPS package car, autonomously delivers a package to a home and then returns to the vehicle while the delivery driver continues along the route to make a separate delivery.

UPS conducted the test on Monday in Tampa, Florida with Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based battery-electric truck and drone developer. Workhorse built the drone and the electric UPS package car used in the test.

Mark Wallace, senior vice-president of global engineering and sustainability at UPS, says: “This test is different than anything we’ve done with drones so far. It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural locations where our package cars often have to travel kilometres to make a single delivery.

“Imagine a triangular delivery route where the stops are kilometres apart by road. Sending a drone from a package car to make just one of those deliveries can reduce costly kilometres driven. This is a big step toward bolstering efficiency in our network and reducing our emissions at the same time.” [Read more…] about UPS completes testing of drone delivery system developed by Workhorse

Awesome infographic: Autonomous car market to reach $77 billion in 2025

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Get Off Road claims cars will see the most amount of technological change in the next few years

Ever wondered, what will be our world like in 2025?

In next seven or eight years, we will be witnessing some dramatic changes around us, mostly in the field of technology, because we live in such times that technical revolutions happen every day.

And the greatest impact of this will be on cars. There will be lot more autonomous cars on the roads in next 10 years then we have ever predicted.

Get Off Road has designed an infographic showing the growth of autonomous car market which we have also republished below.

In this infographic, you will discover some important facts about autonomous cars including:

  • the history of autonomous cars;
  • challenges tackled by engineers while manufacturing;
  • the design of a car; and
  • the predicted figures of the market.

The Growth Of The Autonomous Car Market

Meinhardt partners with International Enterprise Singapore to expand into Africa and Middle East

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Despite headwinds in the global economy, internationalisation will continue to drive the growth of companies in the engineering consultancy sector as infrastructure demand remains strong globally.

Meinhardt Group, a global engineering, planning and management firm, is working closely with International Enterprise Singapore, the government agency partnering Singapore companies in going global, on its expansion strategy to Africa and the Middle East.

This includes the company’s recent acquisition of African engineering consultancy to gain in-roads into East Africa.  [Read more…] about Meinhardt partners with International Enterprise Singapore to expand into Africa and Middle East

Igus augments chainflex servo cable offering for machine tool applications

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igus chainflex servo cables

Igus has added to its chainflex range with the introduction of chainflex servo cable families developed specifically for machine tool applications.

Machine builders are offered the option of selecting the most cost-effective cable, guaranteed to work reliably based on the required profile of the bend radius, travel distance and speed.

Chainflex cables from the CF27.D series feature a minimum bend radius of only 7.5 times the cable diameter; this makes them particularly well suited for use in tight installation spaces and highly dynamic applications, for example in gantries.  [Read more…] about Igus augments chainflex servo cable offering for machine tool applications

SPX Flow claims technical breakthrough which saves 30 per cent energy

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spx flow

SPX Flow claims it has made a technological breakthrough with its new refrigerated air dryer which will enable electricity savings of 30 per cent for robotics and automation applications 

SPX Flow has launched a new refrigerated compressed air dryer which it claims can save up to 30 per cent on energy costs. 

The Flex Series lowers air system power costs and improves productivity by matching power consumption to compressed air demand. In a typical manufacturing facility utilizing automation and robotics, up to 30 per cent of electricity can be consumed for generating and treating compressed air.

To reduce total cost of operation and qualify for utility company incentive programs, proper air treatment equipment selection and application is required, says the company.

SPX says this is a breakthrough in compressed air drying technology.  [Read more…] about SPX Flow claims technical breakthrough which saves 30 per cent energy

ABB and Nova Bus announce collaboration on electric transportation

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ABB links up with Nova Buses for electric charging. Picture: Anna Rehnberg for ABB

ABB and Nova Bus have partnered to meet what they see as the “growing need for electric buses and charging infrastructure in North America”

ABB, an engineering company specializing in automotive energy technologies, and Nova Bus, the North American buses manufacturer and division of Volvo Buses, have entered a business collaboration that consists of the delivery of the first ABB’s electric bus “opportunity charger” in North America.

This is the latest development in ABB’s growing network of electric charging infrastructure.

This collaboration reflects Nova Bus plans to keep investing in climate action by offering charging stations and electrified bus solutions to major cities in the United States and Canada.

Derek Monk, general manager, ABB in Canada, says: “Transportation can be one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Supporting Nova Bus with ABB’s innovative charging solution will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Volvo Buses, it represents a major step in the advancement of electric buses in public transit in North America and it will be the first ABB electric bus opportunity charging station in the Americas.”  [Read more…] about ABB and Nova Bus announce collaboration on electric transportation

Global collaborative robotics market forecast to grow to $95 billion in seven years

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The worldwide collaborative robot market is expected to be worth $95 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research.

Companies in the global collaborative robot market are focused on the acquisition of smaller and local automation companies to expand their operations, says Transparency.

Leading companies such as ABB, Kuka, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Robert Bosch are expected to launch products in the coming years to fulfil the requirement of their clientele in the several end-user industries.  [Read more…] about Global collaborative robotics market forecast to grow to $95 billion in seven years