Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Radical loony lefty unions could recruit robots as members

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Radical loony lefty unions could recruit robots as members and give them voting rights to increase their negotiating power against the bosses. 

They could also use robots as a way to return to the good old days of the block vote, when the union leader voted on behalf of all the members.

So, for example, if you had 1,000 militant robots who each had one vote, their union boss could have 1,001 votes – including the one vote for him or herself – and it would be a nightmare for the bosses.  [Read more…] about Radical loony lefty unions could recruit robots as members

ESI looks to capitalise on collaborative robot market growth with its new CanArm model

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Engineering Services Inc is looking to capitalise on growing global demand for collaborative robots with its newly developed cobot. 

ESI says its CanArm C-15 cobot is the result of “several years of research … relying on our rich experience”.

ESI is looking to establish itself in a fast-growing market which has seen tens of thousands of robots sold in the past few years, as well as new companies entering the competition.  [Read more…] about ESI looks to capitalise on collaborative robot market growth with its new CanArm model

Siemens extends its Simatic industrial automation controller range

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Siemens is extending its Simatic automation controller series for PC-based applications.

The distributed automation controllers now include the new, more powerful Simatic ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC 2 – for standard and fail-safe applications up to Performance Level e.

The new Open Controller, which Siemens says is “particularly suitable for series machine building”, combines the functions of a PC-based software controller with visualization, Windows applications and central I/Os (inputs/outputs) in a single compact device.  [Read more…] about Siemens extends its Simatic industrial automation controller range

Siemens to acquire Sarokal to strengthen product lifecycle management business

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Siemens has agreed to acquire Sarokal Test Systems, a provider of test solutions for electronics components, such as integrated circuits. 

Sarokal’s test solutions cover fronthaul networks that are comprised of links between the centralized radio controllers and the radio heads, or masts, at the “edge” of a cellular network.

Sarokal products are used by chipset vendors, fronthaul equipment manufacturers, and telecom operators to develop, test and verify their 4G and 5G network devices from the early design stages through implementation and field-testing.

Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens PLM Software, says: “The planned acquisition of Sarokal reinforces our ongoing commitment to EDA [electronic design automation] and the IC [integration circuit] industry.  [Read more…] about Siemens to acquire Sarokal to strengthen product lifecycle management business

Rethink Robotics releases new industrial robot software development kit

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Rethink Robotics has launched the Sawyer Software Development Kit, a software upgrade designed for researchers and students to build and test programs on the Sawyer robot.

With a wide range of uses for university research teams and corporate research and development laboratories around the world, Sawyer SDK offers further compatibility with ROS and Open Source robotics tools, as well as an affordable solution to increase access to advanced robotics in the classroom.

Sawyer SDK includes several advanced features that allow users to visualize and control how the robot interacts with its environment.  [Read more…] about Rethink Robotics releases new industrial robot software development kit

Rethink Robotics signs up 11 new distributors in Europe and North America

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Rethink Robotics has signed deals with 11 new distributors throughout North America and Europe, building on its existing global network of channel partners.

The new relationships expand Rethink’s presence in North America and Europe to include the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Romania and Turkey.

The new channel partners will all carry Rethink’s Sawyer robot, which is powered by Intera 5.2.  [Read more…] about Rethink Robotics signs up 11 new distributors in Europe and North America

Robots to completely take over the lives of elderly people in Japan

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The government of Japan is planning to have robots take over the lives of the nation’s elderly citizens, according to a report in The Guardian. 

Japan’s elderly people are a growing proportion of the total population of 127 million, and taking care of them is becoming an issue of increasing concern.

Currently, there are around 33 million people in Japan who are over the age of 65, which is about a quarter of the total population.

According to The Guardian, the number of healthcare workers who can take care of the elderly will not be enough to meet growing needs.  [Read more…] about Robots to completely take over the lives of elderly people in Japan

Electrolux to invest $500 million in US product innovation and manufacturing

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Home appliance giant Electrolux Group is planning total investments of approximately $500 million in its US manufacturing operations. 

The company says it is stepping up a strategic initiative to drive profitable growth in North America with new lines of “innovative products”.

The company also said it will consolidate freezer production into its Anderson, South Carolina refrigeration facility. [Read more…] about Electrolux to invest $500 million in US product innovation and manufacturing

Open Mind partners with Heidenhain to provide ‘exclusive first-use’ virtual machining

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Open Mind Technologies, a provider of computer-aided manufacturing software, has partnered with Heidenhain TNC controls to provide exclusive first use of their new numerical control code-based simulation solution, hyperMill virtual machining.

The Connected Machining module allows networked Heidenhain TNC controls to be run from remote locations, a key component for digital production systems.

The new simulation solution is available with the hyperMill 2018.1 release.  [Read more…] about Open Mind partners with Heidenhain to provide ‘exclusive first-use’ virtual machining