Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Rockwell Automation invests in artificial intelligence for industrial automation

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Rockwell Automation has invested in The Hive, a Silicon Valley innovation fund and co-creation studio, although the company did not say exactly how much it has invested. 

The company says the investment is design to provide access to an ecosystem of innovators and technology start-ups with a focus on applications of artificial intelligence to industrial automation.

As industrial companies use more software in their operations, there are many new opportunities to introduce AI into the sector.  [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation invests in artificial intelligence for industrial automation

ST Engineering looks to Aethon robots to lead it to bigger markets

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ST Engineering, the Singaporean company which bought Aethon recently, says it is looking to grow its robotics division. 

The company’s chief executive, Vincent Chong, says ST Engineering is hoping Aethon can help it pass through the 100-million-dollar barrier – Singaporean dollars that is, which equates to about $73 million in US currency.

As quoted on Nikkei, Chong says: “We want it [Aethon] to be a material business [with a revenue of] over 100 million Singapore dollars. How fast we get there, we don’t know yet.”  [Read more…] about ST Engineering looks to Aethon robots to lead it to bigger markets

Humanoid robot market to grow to $4 billion in five years

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The market for humanoid robots is forecast to grow to $4 billion in about five years, according to a new report by ReportsnReports. 

The researcher values the current market at approximately $320 million in 2017. So that would mean annual growth of more than 50 per cent.

Humanoids include such robots as Pepper and Nao, which are owned by SoftBank Robotics, as well as Emiew, produced by Hitachi, and Honda’s famous Asimo, although that one is more of an exhibition robot.

The others, like Nao and Pepper, for example, are already finding many buyers. SoftBank says it has sold 10,000 units of Nao, and it releases batches of 1,000 at a time of the Pepper robot, and it sells out online within minutes.  [Read more…] about Humanoid robot market to grow to $4 billion in five years

Yaskawa to increase production capacity by 25 per cent in China

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Overactive Chinese manufacturers of smartphones and computers have driven Yaskawa to the point of increasing production capacity by 25 per cent. 

Yaskawa says it will increase its monthly output from its current 1,200 units per month to 1,500 units per month to meet frenetically increasing demand from Chinese electronics manufacturers, according to a report on Nikkei.

The increase in capacity will be achieved at Yaskawa’s plant in Jiangsu Province, which is set for expansion towards the end of next year.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa to increase production capacity by 25 per cent in China

Rethink Robotics launches new software for Sawyer industrial robot

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Company says Sawyer will now be able to produce real-time robot performance and manufacturing data

Rethink Robotics has released Intera 5.2, an expansion of its “first-of-its-kind” Intera software platform which provides critical data insights about its Sawyer industrial robot to manufacturers in real time. 

Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer gives operators and line managers valuable data at a glance, including metrics such as cycle time, part count, speed and force – data that has never before been available through a single collaborative robot vendor.

The new feature, Intera Insights, displays key performance indicators via a customizable dashboard on the robot’s on-board display, making it accessible directly on the factory floor.  [Read more…] about Rethink Robotics launches new software for Sawyer industrial robot

Tesla buys Perbix industrial automation company

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Electric car maker Tesla has acquired Perbix, a provider of industrial automation solutions, including robots. 

Tesla has been working with engineering company Perbix for some time, and lately has faced increased pressure in its manufacturing process.

The company says it has faced manufacturing “bottlenecks” as it attempts to meet the high demand for its new Model 3 electric car.  [Read more…] about Tesla buys Perbix industrial automation company

Game of Drones: An epic infographic by RS Components

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Drones are set to become a multi-billion dollar industry over the next few years, and with the likes of Amazon, Walmart and Google all developing UAV technology it seems the fight for the ‘drone crown’ is fully under way.

But what industries are already embracing drones and what stand out devices are they developing?

This infographic, produced by RS Components, provides a bird’s eye view of the drones sector.  [Read more…] about Game of Drones: An epic infographic by RS Components

Saw blade manufacturer Alesa develops its own grinding machine with servo motors from Kollmorgen

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By Martin Rupf, of Kollmorgen

Saw blade manufacturer Alesa has developed its own grinding machine with Washdown servo motors from Kollmorgen with single-cable connection technology. 

Among their other applications the finely ground circular saw blades are used in metal processing centers.

Sintered tools have a reputation in metal processing for being particularly hard-wearing and for maintaining their sharpness over a long period.  [Read more…] about Saw blade manufacturer Alesa develops its own grinding machine with servo motors from Kollmorgen

Fanuc limits sales as it struggles to deal with too many orders

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Fanuc is struggling to cope with the number of orders it is receiving so it is placing some limits on sales, according to a report on Nikkei. 

The world’s largest robot maker is benefitting from the rapid growth in demand for robotics in automation systems worldwide, especially in China.

As a group, Fanuc is expecting profits to increase by 37 per cent in the current fiscal year, rising to $1.83 billion.  [Read more…] about Fanuc limits sales as it struggles to deal with too many orders

From primitive tools to global power: Denso celebrates three milestone product anniversaries

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Denso started out as a division of Toyota, which is the world’s largest automotive manufacturer, according to some statistics.

By revenue, Toyota is actually the fifth-largest company in the world, ahead of competitors such as Volkswagen, Daimler, and General Motors.

Interestingly, Toyota also generated more revenue than Apple in 2016.  [Read more…] about From primitive tools to global power: Denso celebrates three milestone product anniversaries