Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Cambridge Medical Robotics raises $100 million in new funding

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Cambridge Medical Robotics, which is building what it describes as a “next-generation surgical robot”, says it has closed a Series B funding round raising $100 million from new investor, Zhejiang Silk Road Fund and existing investors Escala Capital Investments, LGT, Cambridge Innovation Capital and Watrium. 

CMR Surgical says it will use the proceeds to prepare its Versius system for planned commercialisation.

Activities will include the completion of validation studies for regulatory approval processes in both Europe and the USA, international expansion, and commercial scale-up in response to considerable industry interest in adoption of this new product.  [Read more…] about Cambridge Medical Robotics raises $100 million in new funding

IMF warns of ‘death spiral’ caused by global domination by robots

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Some people believe that robots will one day take over the world and kill us all, but these people have so far been dismissed as being overly concerned or more simply as “crackpots”. 

But now, the International Monetary Fund is warning of a “death spiral” caused by what it calls the “robot revolution”.

In a working paper, Should We Fear the Robot Revolution? The Correct Answer is ‘Yes’, produced by Andrew Berg, Edward Buffie and Luis-Felipe Zanna, the IMF analyses the effects of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence on economies around the world.  [Read more…] about IMF warns of ‘death spiral’ caused by global domination by robots

New Airbus chief wants more automation and digitalisation to increase productivity

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The new president of Airbus says he will accelerate the adoption of the latest automation technologies in an effort to increase productivity at the company.

In an interview with news agency Reuters, Guillaume Faury, says he believes new technologies would “transform aircraft factories” in the coming years.

These new technologies include robotics, automation and digitalisation, all of which will bring about the higher productivity that would be required to meet “strong” demand for its jet aircraft.  [Read more…] about New Airbus chief wants more automation and digitalisation to increase productivity

SoftBank to invest more than $2 billion into General Motors’ self-driving cars unit Cruise Automation

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SoftBank is planning to invest more than $2 billion into General Motors’ self-driving vehicle technology unit, Cruise Automation. 

Cruise Automation is a startup company acquired by General Motors two years ago.

In some ways, this is a surprise move by SoftBank. The Japanese telecommunications giant has previously invested in other sectors of the robotics market.  [Read more…] about SoftBank to invest more than $2 billion into General Motors’ self-driving cars unit Cruise Automation

Boeing and Lufthansa complete order for four 777 planes

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Boeing and the Lufthansa Group have completed an order for four more 777 airplanes, valued at $1.4 billion at list prices.

The purchase is part of the aviation company’s plans to modernize its fleet with newer widebody airplanes.

In a statement, Lufthansa Group said: “The order for the new long-haul aircraft highlights the strategy of Lufthansa Group to predominantly allocate the growth within its multi-hub system where cost and quality offer the best conditions for profitable investments.”  [Read more…] about Boeing and Lufthansa complete order for four 777 planes

New farming robot offers different method of pollination

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When you picture the black and yellow creatures that pollinate plants, you probably don’t think of a Husky, the unmanned guided vehicle by Clearpath Robotics.

But that’s exactly what the team from West Virginia University is using for their current project – a Husky UGV, that is. (See video below.)

After winning NASA’s Sample Robot Return Challenge in 2016, the researchers have continued to put the system to use, repurposing it for another use-case (one of the advantages of having an easily customized robot that runs on ROS). [Read more…] about New farming robot offers different method of pollination

Honeywell control room technology ‘transforms efficiency’ of Finnish recycling plant

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Control room technology provided by Honeywell Process Solutions has helped a waste-to-energy plant become more efficient, according to the company.

Honeywell says the “Experion Orion Console” has helped boost safety, productivity and environmental compliance at flagship incineration site in Finland.

Honeywell says Riikinvoima, a leading Finnish provider of sustainable energy, has “transformed the operational efficiency” of its flagship waste incineration plant in Leppävirta, Finland, with Honeywell Experion Orion control room technology.  [Read more…] about Honeywell control room technology ‘transforms efficiency’ of Finnish recycling plant

Rockwell Automation claims its new ‘Micro’ computer can reduce complexity of large machines

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Rockwell Automation claims its new “Micro” computer can reduce the complexity of large, standalone machines.

The new Allen-Bradley Micro870 PLC, the new flagship of the company’s Micro800 family, can be used in place of multiple micro PLCs, adds Rockwell.

The company says machine designers can use the new micro programmable logic controller to help optimize the control architecture in large standalone machines or systems.  [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation claims its new ‘Micro’ computer can reduce complexity of large machines

Copan to showcase robotic solution for clinical microbiology

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Copan Diagnostics is showcasing a robotic solution for clinical microbiology.

The company says the solution is now launched in North America.

The solution seems to integrate an ABB YuMi collaborative robot and what Copan says is its “latest technology for full laboratory automation”.  [Read more…] about Copan to showcase robotic solution for clinical microbiology

KEB America awarded new ISO certification for Minnesota facility

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KEB America has been awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification for their production facility located in Shakopee, Minnesota.

The certification, which came into effect January 2018, was issued after the facility met the criteria set by the International Organization for Standards and passed an audit, displaying zero non-conformities to the standard.

KEB America had previously been certified under 9001:2008. The standard ISO 9001:2015 applies to a facility’s quality management and quality assurance systems.  [Read more…] about KEB America awarded new ISO certification for Minnesota facility