Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Mass customisation: Cimpress finds ‘the right balance’ of automation and human intervention in manufacturing

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Cimpress was practising “mass customisation” years before the term became fashionable. In 1999, the Netherlands company took its operation to the internet and launched its now-famous Vistaprint brand, among others.

Originally established in 1995, Cimpress now employs 12,000 people worldwide and last year generated revenue of more $2 billion.

In this article, Maarten Wensveen, chief technology officer at Cimpress, provides an insight into the company’s operations and technology. 

Modern manufacturing technology is improving how goods are made and how quickly they can be delivered to customers.

[Read more…] about Mass customisation: Cimpress finds ‘the right balance’ of automation and human intervention in manufacturing

Alien farming technology: A glimpse into the future of automated agriculture

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Farming, as a human activity, is thought to be the basis for civilisations and societies dating back 15,000 years, possibly even further back if you believe the ancient alien astronaut theory.

In fact, ancient alien astronauts from the Anunnaki race are thought to have introduced Earthlings to farming in the first place, and gifted humans the plough. But that’s a whole other story.

Whatever its age, farming is still a globally widespread activity today. Indeed, until around 50 years ago, the vast majority of countries around the world were agrarian, meaning their economies and societies were reliant on the income generated by the agricultural sector – not just the food produced by it.

Even today, the largest economy in the world – the US – is also the world’s largest exporter of food.  [Read more…] about Alien farming technology: A glimpse into the future of automated agriculture

Rockwell Automation to buy $1 billion stake in product lifecycle management software provider PTC

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Rockwell Automation is investing $1 billion into product lifecycle management software provider PTC.

PTC and Rockwell Automation say they have entered into a partnership that is expected to accelerate growth for both companies.

The companies say the deal makes them the “partner of choice” for customers around the world who want to transform their physical operations with digital technology.  [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation to buy $1 billion stake in product lifecycle management software provider PTC

Former Universal Robots CEO launches ambitious plan for end-effectors sector

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Enrico Krog Iversen, former CEO of collaborative robot maker Universal Robots, is partnering with the Danish Growth Fund to address what he sees as “the next challenge in automation” with the merger of three innovative end-of-arm tooling companies to facilitate the ongoing growth of collaborative robotics, an industry expected to reach $8.5 billion by 2025.

The new company – which combines US-based Perception Robotics, Hungary-based OptoForce, and Denmark-based On Robot – will be called OnRobot.

Iversen says the new company will drive innovation and ease-of-use for robotic end-of-arm tooling.  [Read more…] about Former Universal Robots CEO launches ambitious plan for end-effectors sector

Audi uses Stratasys 3D printer to prototype tail light covers

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Audi is planning to use what is claimed to the “world’s only full-color, multi-material 3D printer” to prototype tail light covers.

Additive manufacturing systems supplier Stratasys says Audi Pre-Series Center with its Plastics 3D Printing Center in Ingolstadt, Germany, will leverage “the world’s only full-color, multi-material 3D printer” – the Stratasys J750 – to innovate its design process and accelerate design verification.

For the production of tail light covers, Audi expects to reduce prototyping lead times by up to 50 percent.  [Read more…] about Audi uses Stratasys 3D printer to prototype tail light covers

Harman launches 5G-ready multiband conformal antennas for automotive industry

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Harman International has launched its “all-new” 5G-ready multiband conformal antennas for automotive applications.

Harma, which is subsidiary of Samsung, says the new product combines multiple antennas in one module that can be mounted below a vehicle’s body panels.

A modern, connected car could require as many as 18 antennas to provide all relevant services for consumers.  [Read more…] about Harman launches 5G-ready multiband conformal antennas for automotive industry

Former Universal Robots engineers launch Purple Robotics

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A team of experienced, former Universal Robots engineers have launched a new company called Purple Robotics and have established US distribution for what they claims is “the world’s first dual electrical vacuum gripper”.

The “innovative PR10 collaborative gripper” needs no external air supply and can be installed in less than 30 minutes, says the company, adding that the dual gripper can cut production time up to 50 percent.

Purple Robotics, founded by key developers behind the world’s first collaborative robot, has launched the PR10, an innovative vacuum gripper designed for collaborative applications.  [Read more…] about Former Universal Robots engineers launch Purple Robotics

Computers on wheels: An insight into how computers are making cars in their own image

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When Robotics and Automation News interviewed Professor Ralf Herrtwich, the boss of autonomous driving technology at Daimler Mercedes-Benz, one of the many interesting insights he gave us was about the nature of car making these days. 

Herrtwich said that, while building cars is still mainly a mechanical process, developing them is overwhelmingly about software.

“Both at OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and suppliers,” said Herrtwich, “software engineering and coding constitute a huge and ever-growing portion of the work.”  [Read more…] about Computers on wheels: An insight into how computers are making cars in their own image

EPHJ: Nominees for Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 unveiled

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The Jury of the Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 at EPHJ-EPMT-SMT, the international high-precision trade show, has selected six innovative projects from the numerous applications submitted for consideration.

These six nominated projects will now be put to a vote by the 800 exhibitors of EPHJ-EPMT-SMT who elect the Grand Laureate 2018. The winner will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, the opening day of the show.  [Read more…] about EPHJ: Nominees for Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 unveiled

Kuka launches new robots and showcases its vision of ‘intelligent automation’

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Kuka has launched two new robots – a collaborative industrial robotic arm called LBR iisy (main picture) and an innovative new one called “i-do” that is difficult to describe (see picture below) but is categorised in the company’s new “consumer robotics” business.

Kuka has also been showcasing the company’s vision of “intelligent automation”.

The industrial robot making giant says it is showing how mechatronics and digitization merge in the smart factory.

Kuka demonstrated some of its concepts for the production of tomorrow at the recent Hannover Messe event, under the motto “industrial intelligence 4.0_beyond automation”.  [Read more…] about Kuka launches new robots and showcases its vision of ‘intelligent automation’