Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Kuka CEO Till Reuter leaves role after 10 years

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Dr Till Reuter has ended his time as the CEO of Kuka after a decade at one of the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers.

Kuka is a German industrial automation company which was established 120 years ago and last year generated revenue of almost $4 billion.

In 2016, Chinese home appliances manufacturing giant Midea increased its stake in the company and completed its takeover in 2017.

Reuter’s decision to leave the company in December is said to be in agreement with the supervisory board. Peter Mohnen is appointed to take over and the company says this ensures continuity.  [Read more…] about Kuka CEO Till Reuter leaves role after 10 years

Occupational safety: Where workers fear to tread

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Even now, after decades of government-directed safety regulations, factories and industrial environments can still be extremely dangerous places for humans to work in.

Despite the current trend towards collaborative robots and the largely conceptual framework of all-pervasive cyber-physical systems, where previously dangerous machines – such as industrial robotic arms and autonomous mobile vehicles – are increasingly designed to be inherently safe for humans to work directly with, thousands of deaths and injuries still occur in workshops and on the shop floor.

Statistics released by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration show that more than 5,000 workers were killed on the job over the course of 2016 in the US alone, although this figure includes data from many different sectors, not just manufacturing, logistics and industry.  [Read more…] about Occupational safety: Where workers fear to tread

Flexible collaborative robots boost capacity at Swedish machine shop

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FT-Produktion turned to flexible collaborative robots – cobots – to boost productivity without adding personnel. The new technology also elevated job satisfaction by bringing variation to daily routines – a key advantage in an industry battling to attract and retain qualified labour.

No machine shop in its right mind would turn down global leaders like Volvo, Renault and Scania when they come calling with orders – even if it means pushing capacity and productivity to the limit. But in a labour market where recruiting qualified employees is easier said than done, it takes innovation to increase output capacity.

To meet growing market demand, the Swedish machine shop FT-Produktion turned to specialised robot technology designed to meet the automation needs of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses.  [Read more…] about Flexible collaborative robots boost capacity at Swedish machine shop

ISO unveils standards for unmanned aircraft systems

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The International Organization for Standardization has released its long-awaited guidance on unmanned aircraft systems.

The standardization relates to the field of unmanned aircraft systems including, but not limited to, classification, design, manufacture, operation – including maintenance – and safety management of UAS operations.

The standards for drones were developed in collaboration with a number of organisations including the American National Standards Institute.

Rover Speed launches AI-powered autonomous driving suitcase

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A startup company called Rover Speed has introduced what it claims is “the world’s first AI-powered autonomous driving suitcase” through its newly launched Kickstarter campaign.

But unlike other “smart travel” travel suitcase brands that have come and gone, Rover Speed says what sets its “travel robot” apart is its “effortless autonomous control, obstacle avoidance with smartphone tracking and notifications”.

The luggage – which has already surpassed its Kickstarter goal of $30,000 in just a week – is set to be released to early backers in January 2019. The suitcase will be available for pre-order for the next 20 days.  [Read more…] about Rover Speed launches AI-powered autonomous driving suitcase

Autonomous vehicles and software developer Ridecell raises $60 million in second funding round

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Ridecell, a developer of autonomous a ride-hailing platform, which includes software and driverless vehicles, has expanded its Series B equity investment round.

The new investments have more than doubled the capital raised in the initial Series B round – $28 million announced in May – to more than $60 million.

The complete Series B round is now being led by Activate Capital, and Raj Atluru, managing director and co-founder of the firm, will join the company’s board as the first outside director.  [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicles and software developer Ridecell raises $60 million in second funding round

Smart products and factories transforming engineering services industry

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The rapid growth of smart products and smart factories is transforming the engineering services industry as never before, and providers are responding by digitalizing virtually every facet of their services portfolio, according to a new study from Information Services Group, a global technology research and advisory firm.

The latest ISG Provider Lens Quadrant report, the first ever by ISG to evaluate engineering services providers serving the US market, notes providers are moving to address the digital elements of core engineering functions – from concept and physical product development, to optimization of industrial design and operations, to software product and applications software development.

Esteban Herrera, partner and global head of ISG Research, says: “Transforming from a traditional to an agile business environment is key.  [Read more…] about Smart products and factories transforming engineering services industry

IAM Robotics raises $20 million to expand market for its mobile picking robot

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IAM Robotics has raised $20 million from an investor called KCK to expand the market for its “Swift” system.

IAM claims Swift is “the world’s most advanced autonomous mobile picking robot”.

IAM says it is responding to the growing need for flexible automation systems in logistics environments.  [Read more…] about IAM Robotics raises $20 million to expand market for its mobile picking robot

Komatsu claims its autonomous mining trucks have hauled more material than all other companies’ vehicles put together

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Komatsu, a global heavy equipment manufacturer, claims its FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System – a colossally gigantic driverless truck used in mining – has achieved the “unprecedented milestone” of more than two billion tons of surface material moved autonomously.

Komatsu further claims that this means the FrontRunner system “has now hauled more than all other commercial mining autonomous haulage systems combined”.

Since its first commercial deployment in 2008 at Codelco’s Gabriela Mistral copper mine in Chile, the FrontRunner AHS has experienced exponential growth in cumulative production, breaking the 1 billion tons mark in 2016 and the 1.5 billion tons mark in late 2017.  [Read more…] about Komatsu claims its autonomous mining trucks have hauled more material than all other companies’ vehicles put together

Yamaha Motor invests an additional $8 million in agritech startup Robotics Plus

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Yamaha Motor has made a second investment of $8 million into an agricultural automation and robotics innovator, bringing its total investment to $10 million.

Robotics Plus, a New Zealand agricultural robotics and automation company, says it will use the investment support its “ambitious growth plans”.

Yamaha’s initial partnership agreement and investment of $2 million was announced in March 2018.  [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor invests an additional $8 million in agritech startup Robotics Plus