Where Innovation Meets Imagination
It’s been a record-breaking year for the industrial robotics sector, according to figures released by the Association for Advancing Automation, or A3.
In the first nine months of 2017, at least 27,294 orders of robots valued at approximately $1.473 billion were sold in North America, says A3.
This is the “highest level ever recorded in any other year during the same time period”, says the organisation. [Read more…] about Industrial robots break records in 2017
Daimler Mercedes-Benz has been testing its autonomous driving technologies on the roads in South Africa
Road traffic in South Africa poses some very special challenges: different road surfaces, wild animals on the road and many pedestrians in both urban traffic and on national roads, which often cross the road completely unexpectedly.
Automated and autonomous vehicles must take these special features into account and respond reliably.
On the fourth leg of the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent World Drive, the test vehicle, which is based on the S-Class series sedan, presents its South African peculiarities in automated test drives in the Western Cape Province and in Cape Town. [Read more…] about On the way to autonomous driving: Mercedes-Benz on an automated test drive in South Africa
Comau has launched the latest version of a new app through which its industrial robots can be monitored and managed.
The app runs on smartphones and tablets using the Android operating system, and is called PickApp (screenshot below).
Comau suggests smartphones and tablets could be a viable alternative to the traditional human-machine interfaces used in the industrial sector. [Read more…] about Comau releases Android app for managing its robots
Glass production company says it has reduced injuries and improved production using collaborative robot
Saint-Gobain’s plant in Sully-sur-Loire, France, focuses on glass production for the armoured and aeronautical industries, and the civil market.
In their shift towards Industry 4.0, Saint-Gobain’s management has installed collaborative robot cells to free employees from tedious and repetitive tasks.
The company says Robotiq’s FT 300 Force Torque Sensor has proven “essential” to automate the grueling glass polishing process. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Saint-Gobain plant reduces injuries with Robotiq force-torque sensor
The trucks used in the mining industry are so large that they’re only suitable for 20-foot-tall giant aliens.
Which is okay for the many archaeologists who claim to have found giant alien bones suggesting a race of beings of said height roamed Earth many thousands of years ago.
These giants of old were said to be super-intelligent beings – due to their presumably super-large brains – and probably built the pyramids and other megalithic structures around the world. [Read more…] about Rio Tinto preparing autonomous mining trucks suitable for gigantic alien astronauts
The South Korean robotics industry is showing signs of steady growth, according to a report on ETNews.com.
The website quotes statistics published by the Korea Association of Robot Industry.
The Association says the output of South Korean robots was $4.11 billion in 2016. [Read more…] about South Korea robotics industry continues steady growth
BlueBotics says it is finding new customers for its autonomous vehicle guidance systems from various parts of the world.
Most of the vehicles are used in logistics, and include small mobile platforms as well as driverless forklifts. (See video below.)
In total, says the company, more than 500 autonomous vehicles now use the BlueBotics guidance system, which is called “Ant”. [Read more…] about BlueBotics says its autonomous vehicle guidance system is finding new customers
A former Google Brain scientist has started a company which is developing artificial intelligence systems for the industrial internet of things networks, such as those in the manufacturing sector.
Andrew Ng, who has previously worked for Google Brain and Baidu’s AI group, and also founded Coursera, is said to be working with Foxconn to develop and test his company’s ideas.
Foxconn is the contract manufacturer used by Apple to make its iPhones and iPads. [Read more…] about Google Brain scientist launches company to bring AI to IIoT
By Joseph Zulick, MRO Electric
Properly maintaining automation machine tools and machine parts – such as Control Techniques Unidrives (main picture) – is the only way to avoid issues from a performance and durability perspective.
Whether it’s an attachment, cleaning or routine check-up, keeping machinery tools up-to-date is imperative.
Monstrous losses could very well occur from a business and production standpoint if maintenance is not prioritized.
This is something no one wants to run into. [Read more…] about How to maintain automation machine tools
Omron will exhibit at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show for the first time.
Omron specialises in developing technologies in the categories of sensing, control, robotics and artificial intelligence, many examples of which will be on display at CES.
Much of Omron’s innovation will be present in the form of Forpheus, which the company claims is the world’s first AI-equipped robot table tennis tutor. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Omron to showcase Forpheus in company’s first appearance at CES
