Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Naver Labs to showcase robotics and artificial intelligence technologies at CES

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Naver Labs is planning the global debut and demonstrations of the artificial intelligence, robotics, computer-aided vision, mapping and other core technologies of its “breakthrough xDM platform” at CES and the Pepcom Digital Experience.

Naver Labs, which is part of Naver Corporation, is inviting CES attendees to see the future of location-based services and information at the Pepcom Digital Experience today at the Mirage Hotel, and at its CES Tech East Booth: LVCC, Central Plaza – CP-14, between January 8th and 11th.  [Read more…] about Naver Labs to showcase robotics and artificial intelligence technologies at CES

Toyota invests in Elementary Robotics for its ‘intelligent robot assistants’

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Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Toyota AI Ventures has made an investment in Elementary Robotics, a robotics platform startup which makes “intelligent robot assistants”, founded in 2017.

The funding marks Toyota AI Ventures’ first investment as part of the “call for innovation” it launched this summer in partnership with the Toyota Research Institute.

The call for innovation program is designed to spur innovation by using a “call-and-response” approach to attract and invest in early-stage startups that are tackling specific problems in areas like artificial intelligence, automated driving, and robotics.  [Read more…] about Toyota invests in Elementary Robotics for its ‘intelligent robot assistants’

China’s largest retailer to showcase autonomous delivery solutions at CES

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China’s largest retailer, JD, is preparing to showcase its autonomous delivery solutions at the annual CES event, which starts tomorrow in Las Vegas, USA. (See video below.)

This will be JD’s debut at the world’s largest consumer electronics show.

JD has launched two smart delivery stations in the cities of Changsha and Hohhot, in China, strengthening the e-commerce giant’s autonomous logistics capabilities.  [Read more…] about China’s largest retailer to showcase autonomous delivery solutions at CES

Kivnon expands its market in Europe with two new offices in Slovakia

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Kivnon, which supplies the top automakers with automated guided vehicles for intralogistics operations, has expanded its market in Europe with two new offices in Slovakia. 

Following the opening of Frankfurt’s delegation, Kivnon, which is a Spanish company, says it has ratified its internationalization by opening two more offices in Europe.

Kivnon has announced the opening of two news offices in Slovakia, one of them in Nitra and the other one in Žilina, forming the society Kivnon Slovakia.  [Read more…] about Kivnon expands its market in Europe with two new offices in Slovakia

Global automotive study ‘outlines importance of car in changing world of mobility’

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Arthur D. Little has released its worldwide automotive market report. Key findings are that the desire for car ownership remains strong, especially amongst the young, and that drivers are considering a dramatic switch to electric and hybrid vehicles.

This will impact manufacturer and supplier engine strategies and push for faster development of EV ecosystems, such as charging solutions, says ADL.

Drivers are now much more willing to embrace alternative drivetrains. 58 percent would accept paying more for hybrids, and 50 percent for EVs.  [Read more…] about Global automotive study ‘outlines importance of car in changing world of mobility’

Autonomous vehicles: A future without humans

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Automotive companies are showcasing driverless vehicles in a wide range of environments all around the world.

From busy, urban roads in overpopulated cities to remote, desolate landscapes where no human has ever set foot, autonomous vehicles are almost everywhere now.

Almost 400 companies are working towards making autonomous vehicles part of modern society, but the vast majority of their innovations are still in the testing phase, awaiting technical and regulatory approval.  [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicles: A future without humans

Scania and Rio Tinto trialling autonomous truck in Western Australian mine

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Truckmaker Scania and mining giant Rio Tinto are trialling an autonomous truck in a Western Australian mine. (See video below.)

The first phase of the trial started in August 2018 and involves a Scania XT 8×4 autonomous tipper truck working separately from Dampier’s active operations.

During this initial stage, a safety driver rides in the vehicle to observe the truck’s performance and, if necessary, intervenes. In subsequent phases, additional autonomous Scania trucks will be added to develop vehicle-to-vehicle awareness and intelligent fleet supervisory controls. [Read more…] about Scania and Rio Tinto trialling autonomous truck in Western Australian mine

An ‘App Store’ for robots? It’s coming and it’s a game-changer

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By Kyle Fazzari, software engineer and roboticist at Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu open-source operating system

We are all familiar with Apple’s app store. It is an easily navigable place to download the latest features available, at the touch of our fingertips. Now imagine this same concept, but for robotics.

A growing industry, robotics isn’t just a buzzword – it’s becoming a transformative technology.

Whether robotics track down deadly species of starfish responsible for coral reefs destruction, or provide agricultural support for sustainable crops, access to an app store could open up an array of alternative revenue streams for robotics startups – functionality exchanged for a fee.  [Read more…] about An ‘App Store’ for robots? It’s coming and it’s a game-changer

New Ansible Motion simulator ‘helps car makers understand how human drivers will interact with autonomous cars’

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Ansible Motion has launched a new simulator to help car makers “better understand how drivers will cope with and respond to the rising number of driver assistance and autonomous automotive technologies”.

The latest iteration of Ansible Motion’s multi-million-pound Delta Driver-in-the-Loop simulator provides a safe and repeatable laboratory environment to test and validate the myriad advanced driver assistance systems that are increasingly being fitted, or proposed, to new cars.

With the driver assistance systems market set to grow to $70 billion by 2024, fuelled by vehicle manufacturers pushing toward increasing levels of autonomy to address emerging legislation, the issue of how real people might react to a car receiving more notifications – or even taking control – is one that car makers are investigating seriously.  [Read more…] about New Ansible Motion simulator ‘helps car makers understand how human drivers will interact with autonomous cars’

Sick Sensors partners with Canadian university to develop advanced manufacturing knowledge

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Humber College and Sick Sensors are entering into a three-year partnership agreement designed to build awareness of new industry automation sensor solutions and Industry 4.0 ready sensor technologies.

Sick will provide sensor technologies and services worth $765,000, new training opportunities for Humber students and dedicated support through new scholarships called the “Sick Canada Leadership & Vision Awards”.

Sick is now a founding member of Humber’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Consortium, a group comprised of industry partners working with the college to train students and employees of Canadian companies within the new Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation. [Read more…] about Sick Sensors partners with Canadian university to develop advanced manufacturing knowledge