Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

General Motors opens new 3D printing facility

by

General Motors has opened a 15,000-square-foot “Additive Industrialization Center”, a facility exclusively dedicated to productionizing 3D printing technology in the automotive industry.

GM says the AIC is the “capstone” of its expertise and increased investment in 3D printing over the past several years.

Audley Brown, GM director of additive design and materials engineering, says: “The core component of GM’s transformation is becoming a more agile, innovative company, and 3D printing will play a critical role in that mission. [Read more…] about General Motors opens new 3D printing facility

BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

by

The BMW Group is breaking new ground in the field of logistics as it founds warehouse robotics company IDEALworks – a fully-owned subsidiary headquartered in Munich. 

This marks the first time a major automotive brand is building and supplying what are often called autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

The aim is to become a leading supplier of autonomous robotics solutions in the logistics sector. The name “IDEAL” stands for Industry Driven Engineering for Autonomous Logistics. [Read more…] about BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

Volvo Penta launches autonomous boat docking system

by

Volvo Penta has launched what it describes as “the industry’s first fully integrated Assisted Docking system” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Volvo says the Assisted Docking system gives the captain better control when docking a boat by automating his or her intentions, compensating for some dynamic variables, such as wind and current, and helping the vessel stay on its intended course.

The technology will be on display at Volvo Penta’s virtual booth at CES from 11-14 January 2021. [Read more…] about Volvo Penta launches autonomous boat docking system

Kuka introduces robot that can be your personal trainer

by

Kuka has unveiled a robot that can be a personal trainer which could provide highly personalised training for elite athletes. (See video below.)

But the company says the expensive-looking system can also be used by ordinary people, even if they’re not top athletes.

The company calls the system “RoboGym” and describes it as a “revolutionary” training system that is “not just for top athletes”. [Read more…] about Kuka introduces robot that can be your personal trainer

Lilium partners with Lufthansa to train pilots for its tiny plane

by

Lilium, the Munich-based aviation company developing an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) for regional air mobility, has agreed what it describes as “an industry-first partnership” with Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT, part of the Lufthansa Group).

Together, Lilium and LAT will develop a tailor-made Pilot Sourcing and Training programme to qualify pilots to fly the Lilium Jet.

The first phase of this innovative program consists of an additional training certification for qualified commercial pilots. [Read more…] about Lilium partners with Lufthansa to train pilots for its tiny plane

DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

by

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, normally moves goods that stay in the Earth’s atmosphere. Now they have partnered with D-Orbit, a specialized company covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including logistics services, for the first time.

Together with the company’s own innovation team DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation (CSI), the freight forwarding expert set up logistics to help the ION Satellite Carrier in its journey into space. Developed and designed by D-Orbit, the satellite carrier is planned to launch at Cape Canaveral, the world’s most famous space base in Florida in January 2021.

Tim Scharwath, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, says: “We are excited about this partnership for two key reasons. First, D-Orbit shares our vision of reliable, safe and sustainable logistics to connect people and to improve lives. [Read more…] about DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

Boston Dynamics’ dancing robots herald the end of the world as we know it

by

Dumbstruck. Speechless. Those were our reactions when we first saw the new video of the dancing robots created by Boston Dynamics (see for yourself below). 

There’s not much we can say about this diabolical intrusion into our deep-seated and secure understanding of what the world is supposed to be like, but we must at least express our collective horror at the sheer spookiness of these humanoid and canine robots apparently auditioning to be in Mariah Carey’s next video. It’s just not right.

If we’ve ever seen videos of dancing robots before, this one has made us forget all of them. It’s an abomination. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics’ dancing robots herald the end of the world as we know it

Kuka wins ‘major contract’ from Mercedes

by

Kuka says it has won what it describes as a “major contract” for body-in-white production from Mercedes-Benz. Body-in-white is the stage in automobile manufacturing in which a car body’s frame has been joined together – before the engine and anything else has been installed, or the body painted.

Kuka says it was able to convince the German premium car manufacturer of the deal towards the end of last year.

The order from Mercedes-Benz is for the engineering and construction, as well as the assembly and commissioning, of several body-in-white production lines. In the future, various vehicle models will be produced in this way. [Read more…] about Kuka wins ‘major contract’ from Mercedes

ABB establishes new R&D center for electric vehicle technology

by

ABB says it is “underlining its market leading position” in electric vehicle charging infrastructure by establishing a new E-mobility Innovation Lab, where it will house 120 specialists working on next generation solutions. (See video below.)

Designed to spur further innovations in e-mobility, the $10 million, 3,600 sq m facility is based on the Delft University of Technology campus, in the Netherlands and will drive ABB’s future portfolio development, as well as R&D projects for EVs. The University was ranked among the top 15 engineering and technology universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings in 2020.

Along with an investment of $30 million into a global Center of Excellence and production site for EV charging infrastructure, due to open next year in Italy, the facility in Delft underlines ABB’s plans to grow investments in sustaining its technology leadership. [Read more…] about ABB establishes new R&D center for electric vehicle technology

SICK launches new Flexi Compact safety controller

by

Industrial sensor specialist SICK has launched a new safety controller.

The Flexi Compact from SICK is a new modular safety controller distinguished by its improved usability and safety engineering.

It enables users of automated machines to operate more productively with the scalable performance and intelligent diagnostic functions of the safety controller. [Read more…] about SICK launches new Flexi Compact safety controller