Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Material handling equipment supplier Nitco opens expanded facility in New Hampshire

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Material handling equipment supplier North Industrial Truck Company has opened a new and expanded facility in Concord, New Hampshire. 

The new site is designed to showcase the company’s forklifts, construction equipment, warehouse solutions, and other products.

Nitco says the new facility provides a “huge showroom” for its “cutting-edge” industrial equipment, as well as an expanded shop for top technicians working on the machinery.  [Read more…] about Material handling equipment supplier Nitco opens expanded facility in New Hampshire

South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion

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The South Korean government has decided to invest significant resources into expanding the country’s production of industrial robotics and automation systems so that it’s worth $6.15 billion by 2022.

This is according to BusinessKorea.com, which says the plan is intended to increase the number of small and mid-size robot makers with sales of more than $46 million to 25.

The report says government-backed organisations, academic and research institutions, as well as private enterprise will take part in the new initiative.  [Read more…] about South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion

Tiny robots hold promise of better healthcare treatments

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Tiny little machines small enough to travel through the human body, with blood cells along veins, for example, have long been one of the goals of technologists in healthcare science. 

In the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, a submarine and its crew are shrunk to microscopic size and inserted into the body of a patient to perform brain surgery.

This may have seemed total fantasy at the time, but technology has advanced so much that it almost seems like a realistic goal now.  [Read more…] about Tiny robots hold promise of better healthcare treatments

Metal products manufacturers in China turning to robots to increase output

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A large number of companies in China which make metal products are concentrated in one particular city, called Yongkang, also known as the “City of Metal”. 

And, according to state news agency Xinhua, many of these companies are turning to robotic assembly lines to increase productivity.

The communist Chinese government outlet quotes one general manager of a company called Haers Vacuum Containers as saying: “A robot assembly line will be launched soon, and we are confident of surpassing the current leading producer this year.”  [Read more…] about Metal products manufacturers in China turning to robots to increase output

South Korea provides skiing competition for robots at Winter Olympics

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Organisers of the Winter Olympics in South Korea provided a showcase for robotic skiing skills. 

The robots that took part may not be quite as good as their human counterparts but were impressive nonetheless.

Billed at the world’s first robot ski tournament, the event was hosted in the ski resort of Hoengseong, on the sidelines of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.  [Read more…] about South Korea provides skiing competition for robots at Winter Olympics

Boston Dynamics terrifies the internet again with robots that can open doors like the dinosaurs did in Jurassic Park

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Boston Dynamics, maker of the most terrifying robots in the world, has again brought the internet to a standstill with a demonstration video of how its robots can open doors for each other. (See video below.)

The company’s new video is reminiscent of scenes in the film Jurassic Park, where agile, fast-moving velociraptor dinosaurs chase a group of humans through a science lab, opening doors as they hunt the humans.

The Boston Dynamics robots were not shown to be going after any humans but the implications are obvious.  [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics terrifies the internet again with robots that can open doors like the dinosaurs did in Jurassic Park

Microtechnologies invests $15 million in manufacturing plant in Costa Rica

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US manufacturing company Microtechnologies, which specializes in critical components for global industries, has opened a new production plant in the Terra Industrial Park, in Coyol of Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The new facility of 15,000 square meters marks the celebration of the company’s 20th anniversary in the country and represents a milestone of innovation within the country’s manufacturing sector.

Its construction and outfitting required an investment of $15 million and will generate 250 new high-tech jobs in the next five years.  [Read more…] about Microtechnologies invests $15 million in manufacturing plant in Costa Rica

Fujinon anti-shock and vibration lenses for robotics and industrial applications now available

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Fujinon has launched what it says are “robust, anti-shock and vibration” lenses for robotics and industrial applications.

The company says it has researched the robustness of lenses and developed a dedicated anti-shock and vibration design.

The HF-12M and HF-5M series are already equipped, available through the global vision specialist Framos.  [Read more…] about Fujinon anti-shock and vibration lenses for robotics and industrial applications now available

Wibu-Systems ‘reinvents’ its embedded software portfolio for Embedded World

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Wibu-Systems says it has “reinvented” its embedded software portfolio for the Embedded World event.

With the launch of CodeMeter Embedded 2.1, Wibu-Systems says it has introduced a new structural and business model that allows intelligent device manufacturers to download an SDK specific to their operating system and architecture within 24 hours of their request and quickly start testing the only secure licensing solution in the world that supports all leading industry platforms.

Embedded World visitors can learn more and request their CodeMeter Embedded SDK of choice at Wibu-Systems’ exhibit, in hall 4, booth 360. [Read more…] about Wibu-Systems ‘reinvents’ its embedded software portfolio for Embedded World

KEB America integrates MQTT into its C6 router

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KEB America has added MQTT protocol to its C6 VPN Industrial Router.

KEB’s VPN Router has previously been used to provide secure remote access with data logging capabilities. Now, the Router can also be used as an IIoT gateway.

MQTT is a pub/sub messaging protocol that works on top of the TCP/IP protocol.  [Read more…] about KEB America integrates MQTT into its C6 router