Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Markets and politics contributing to the rise of Chinese robotics companies

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Commercial opportunities and government directives are coalescing to create a vibrant robotics and automation industry in China, according to a new report by ABI Research

Historically, the industrial robotics space has traditionally been dominated by Japanese and European vendors, while the commercial robotics has been the stronghold of robot startups from the United States and Europe.

However, recent developments suggest that Chinese vendors are staking a claim in the robotics territory, says ABI Research, a market research and advisory company.

Lian Jye Su, principal analyst at ABI Research, says: “The top four Chinese industrial robotics vendors reported a topline growth of 20 per cent year-on-year in 2016 and a similar figure is expected for next few years.  [Read more…] about Markets and politics contributing to the rise of Chinese robotics companies

Nasa puts Puerto Rico on the road to helping search for aliens

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Nasa has apparently put Puerto Rico on the path to possibly providing assistance to the space agency in its never-ending search for alien life in the universe. 

Puerto Rico’s scientists and residents may be able to help Nasa make contact with aliens, and the space agency’s decision to choose the Caribbean island to host the Technology Infusion Road Tour in 2019 is highly likely to help in that ultimate goal.

Puerto Rican scientists claim Nasa’s only purpose with the decision to hold the conference on the picturesque island is to “contribute to the strengthening of the country’s aeronautical and aerospace industry”.  [Read more…] about Nasa puts Puerto Rico on the road to helping search for aliens

Injection moulding company Romeo RIM awarded by Spartan Motors

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Romeo RIM, a provider of custom reaction injection molding and composite solutions, has been named a Diamond Award winner by Spartan Motors, a company which specialises in chassis and vehicle design, manufacturing and assembly.

The Diamond Award is Spartan Motor’s highest award level, recognizing top-performing suppliers and key supply chain partners instrumental in helping the company continue to improve supplier quality.

Romeo RIM CEO and president Tim Howell accepted the award on behalf of Romeo RIM along with vice president of business development Matt Getty at at the Spartan Motors 15th Annual Supplier Conference held recently.  [Read more…] about Injection moulding company Romeo RIM awarded by Spartan Motors

Vecna Robotics partners with RightHand Robotics to ‘streamline’ intralogistics and material handling

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Vecna Robotics, a maker of mobile robots for logistics, and RightHand Robotics, a developer of robotic picking solutions, have agreed on a collaboration that they say will improve the performance of e-commerce order fulfillment.

Together, the companies say they can offer “best-in-class solutions” to simplify intralogistics and material handling challenges.

John Hayes, vice president of sales and marketing of Vecna Robotics, says: “We’re excited to have this robust and cost-effective solution become available to all Vecna Robotics and RightHand Robotics customers through this collaboration.  [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics partners with RightHand Robotics to ‘streamline’ intralogistics and material handling

Omron Automation to showcase of automotive manufacturing solutions at WCX 2018

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Omron Automation, a global leader in technology solutions with a social focus, will demo its wide-ranging innovations in robotics, sensing, control, safety, vision and more at the SAE World Congress Experience (WCX) this coming April.

The automotive-focused event is the ideal place for Omron to showcase the engineering breakthroughs that have made it a globally trusted partner in mobility and factory automation.

Thanks to its highly flexible robotics, data connectivity and vision portfolio, Omron is the industry leader when it comes to building the automotive factory of the future.  [Read more…] about Omron Automation to showcase of automotive manufacturing solutions at WCX 2018

Honeywell launches new software for connected distribution centers

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Honeywell has launched a new software platform for distribution centers that the company says streamlines and simplifies complex e-commerce fulfillment operations.

The Momentum warehouse execution system from Honeywell Intelligrated brings together automated equipment, workflows, orders and labor in a unified platform to provide distribution center operators real-time visibility and help make operations more efficient.

The system provides e-commerce fulfillment, store replenishment and wholesale distribution center operations with shortened order cycle times, improved order accuracy and faster deliveries.  [Read more…] about Honeywell launches new software for connected distribution centers

The route to fulfilment: Exclusive interview with DHL robotics boss

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Exclusive interview with Denis Niezgoda, robotics accelerator lead at DHL

In this exclusive interview, Robotics and Automation News talks to Denis Niezgoda, robotics accelerator lead at DHL, who gets into details of the company’s automation strategy, highlights some challenges, and provides plenty of insight into numerous interesting initiatives DHL is currently engaged in. 

DHL, as many will know, is the world’s largest logistics company, and Niezgoda says that the German giant is forecasting “solid improvements” in global shipments, especially in its freight forwarding business – ocean freight, road freight, and rail freight – which are among its core business activities.

“One of the biggest growth factors is online shopping or e-commerce, where we see steady, low double-digit growth – not just only in domestic shipments, but what is getting much more interesting in the past one or two years is cross-border shipments,” says Niezgoda.  [Read more…] about The route to fulfilment: Exclusive interview with DHL robotics boss

Fetch Robotics expands autonomous mobile robot fleet

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Fetch Robotics, one of the first and leading makers of warehouse robots, has expanded its VirtualConveyor family of Autonomous Mobile Robots with the addition of CartConnect and RollerTop robots.

The company says it now has “the most flexible and broad range of workflows for material handling and transport”.

Through the FetchCore Cloud Robotics Platform, mixed fleets of “VirtualConveyor” robots uniquely complement any warehouse optimization strategy for mixed inventory and workflow environments associated with the largest third-party logistics companies, retailers, and manufacturers in the world.  [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics expands autonomous mobile robot fleet

Manufacturers ‘slow’ to introduce digital supply chains, says new report

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Manufacturing companies are slow to integrate digital supply chains into their networks, according to a new report by Deloitte and the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation. 

Deloitte, one of the largest management consultancies in the world, says the lag is occurring despite the “significant advantages” digital supply networks, or DSNs, can provide.

The study, Embracing a digital future: How manufacturers can unlock the transformative benefits of digital supply networks, reveals a disconnect between executives’ opinions of their DSN efforts and actual implementation.  [Read more…] about Manufacturers ‘slow’ to introduce digital supply chains, says new report

Robotic arms being employed as camera operators

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If you’re an enthusiast who occasionally makes a YouTube video, you probably use the webcam integrated with your computer. 

But if you’re more serious, you probably buy yourself good-quality video and audio equipment and your productions are of a higher standard.

Take one step further on from that and what’s possible is that you avail yourself of the services of a camera operator, someone who can move the camera to follow you around as you show us how to make that croissant and coffee we all so desperately need first thing in the morning.  [Read more…] about Robotic arms being employed as camera operators