Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mark Allinson

New $10,000 collaborative robot can build copies of itself

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FRANKA EMIKA industrial robot
The Franka Emika industrial robot

The makers of a new, collaborative robot called Franka Emika say the machine could build copies of itself. 

In an article published in the IEEE magazine, the robot’s creator, Sami Haddadin, is quoted as saying “there will be Frankas building Frankas”.

The article also suggests that Franka’s price is around $10,000 – and reveals the prices of other collaborative robots:

  • Rethink’s Sawyer ~ $30,000; and
  • Universal Robots’ best-selling UR5 ~ $35,000.

The collaborative robots market is currently dominated by Universal Robots, which has sold so many robots, it’s made it on the list of industrial robot manufacturers with the largest install base, with approximately 10,000 sold worldwide so far.

Full article on IEEE Spectrum

BMW demonstrates new concepts for autonomous and electric cars at CES

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Klaus Frohlich at CES
Klaus Fröhlich, BMW’s head of development, at CES

lockBMW has showcased some of its concepts, ideas and developments for autonomous and electric cars at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. 

The company says the projects incorporate “technically revolutionary innovations in automated driving, intelligent connectivity and interior design”.

BMW has committed itself to launching its iNext self-driving, electric and fully connected car by the year 2021. It already has the i3 electric car and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.  [Read more…] about BMW demonstrates new concepts for autonomous and electric cars at CES

US manufacturing growing at ‘fastest rate in two years’

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robots

The US manufacturing sector is growing at the fastest rate it has in more than two years, according to calculations produced by the Institute for Supply Management and published in Forbes, among other media. 

The Manufacturing ISM Report on Business figures show December was the best month for manufacturers in 2016. More components and parts were ordered this month than previous ones.

The ISM report is a survey sent out to a “manufacturing committee”, and collating the responses revealed that “of the 18 manufacturing industries, 11 are reporting growth in December”, according to ISM.

The ISM adds: “Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, and the overall economy grew for the 91st consecutive month.”

More details at ISM’s website

Faraday Future unveils electric car as Continental boss talks of job losses

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faraday future ff 91
The new electric vehicle from Faraday Future – the FF 91

The much-publicised electric car company, Faraday Future, revealed its new hybrid vehicle at the Consumer Electronics Show this week. 

The presentation was said to have had a slight glitch in that when the autonomous, self-parking technology was called on, it didn’t immediately answer.

The hiccup may have been unplanned for Faraday’s billionaire owner, Jia Yueting, especially as the company has invested a lot of money in developing autonomous technology, but with a total of $600 million backing the vehicle venture, there’s plenty of money to smooth out small problems.  [Read more…] about Faraday Future unveils electric car as Continental boss talks of job losses

Amazon has 45,000 robots working in its warehouses

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Amazon, by far the world’s largest online retailer, bought Kiva Systems a few years back. 

At that time, Kiva was a small robotics company appreciated by logistics customers for its autonomous warehouse vehicles.

Now, repackaged as Amazon Robotics machines, those vehicles or their descendants are working in Amazon warehouses – and in very large numbers.  [Read more…] about Amazon has 45,000 robots working in its warehouses

Siemens says it wants to strengthen its position as a ‘digital company’

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Siemens is expanding its open platform “Siemens Cloud for Industry” to form the basis of new digital business models for industrial companies. The new Connector Box is a Simatic IPC-based cloud gateway that transmits machine and system data easily and securely to the Cloud.

One of the largest engineering companies in the world – famous for making humungous, physical things for the real world – is increasingly enthusiastic about the digital world

Siemens says it aims to achieve double-digit annual growth in digital business every year through to the next decade. 

The company expects its software business, and its digital services and platforms to be the main growth drivers.

Its MindSphere cloud-based, open operating system was recently rolled out companywide, which has transformed many of the processes at Siemens.  [Read more…] about Siemens says it wants to strengthen its position as a ‘digital company’

Finland to give citizens universal basic income because of robot invasion

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finland

Finland is in danger of developing a reputation either as a nation of visionary ideas or one full of utopian communists. 

Not many years ago, the country’s leaders declared superfast access to the internet a human right – which is fair enough.

Now it’s giving away free money to a couple of thousand of its citizens in anticipation of robots taking over their jobs and making them redundant.  [Read more…] about Finland to give citizens universal basic income because of robot invasion

Tata Elxsi showcases advanced Automotive technology solutions at CES 2017

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tata elxsi auto tech

Tata Elxsi will be unveiling its latest automotive technology solutions driven by emerging industry requirements for cyber-security, safety, comfort and user experience at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The company will be at CES 2017, booth number 6223, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Tata Elxsi, a global design and technology services company and a leader for automotive electronics and software engineering services, is showcasing key solutions addressing Autonomous Vehicle, Connected Infotainment, Automation, IoT and Artificial Intelligence at CES 2017.  [Read more…] about Tata Elxsi showcases advanced Automotive technology solutions at CES 2017

MTA 2017 to spotlight new technologies with specialised zones

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mta 2016 opening speech

In a global manufacturing outlook report, 49 per cent of manufacturers surveyed were reported to be investing six per cent of their revenues in research and development and innovation, in a push to transform their businesses.

Asian manufacturing companies surveyed exhibited the highest investment expectations, with a majority of respondents from China, Japan and India indicating they would spend more than six per cent of their revenues on technology and innovation.

Twenty-five per cent of the respondents have already poured investment in avant garde technologies such as 3D printing.  [Read more…] about MTA 2017 to spotlight new technologies with specialised zones

Robots at CES: They’re coming in too fast

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Honda’s Asimo robot
Honda’s Asimo robot, at CES a couple of years ago

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show is all set to be the biggest one yet for robotics. 

With recent advances in artificial intelligence, combined with newly affordable sensors and other materials required to make the machines, robots are no longer going to be a rarity at any tech event.

In the past, if they’ve been seen at events, robots usually appear at specially designed shows for their kind. But now, they’re everywhere and they’re threatening a total takeover.  [Read more…] about Robots at CES: They’re coming in too fast