Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

P4Q ‘increases productivity, improves part quality’ with Rethink’s Sawyer industrial robot

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Rethink Robotics’ collaborative robot Sawyer is being utilised by Spanish electronics manufacturer to achieve higher levels of consistency

P4Q, a Spanish manufacturer of electronic products and systems, says it has increased production throughput by 25 percent by deploying smart, adaptable automation on the factory floor.

Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer is testing printed circuit boards and driving improvements in process consistency that are resulting in better part quality and overall production output, says the company.

P4Q has been looking to automate more of its factory for many years to improve efficiency and consistency, but traditional caged robots were unappealing due to high costs and employee safety concerns.  [Read more…] about P4Q ‘increases productivity, improves part quality’ with Rethink’s Sawyer industrial robot

The growing importance of software in the manufacturing sector

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It’s not just manufacturing – it applies to all industries. But manufacturing is the sector that outside observers might expect to be the least affected by the digital world. 

Nothing could be further from the truth of course, especially now.

Some people might think that everything in a factory is entirely mechanical, and maybe just has some electrical components – with a chip or two for the industrial robots.

But increasingly, factories are becoming a hive of hi-tech activity, and the new buzz is almost entirely about the software.  [Read more…] about The growing importance of software in the manufacturing sector

Moxa releases IIoT gateway starter kit with Amazon Web Services support built in

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Industrial automation technology supplier Moxa has launched an industrial internet of things starter kit which it says has built-in support for Amazon Web Services.

The company says the IIoT Gateway Starter Kit is aimed at the needs of system integrators and engineers developing applications for IIoT.

Moxa says the kit is data-acquisition ready, and provides a “reliable ready-to-use platform that simplifies development of IIoT solutions by providing all the essentials needed to get data from edge devices to cloud services, and with little to no programming required”.  [Read more…] about Moxa releases IIoT gateway starter kit with Amazon Web Services support built in

DHL tests PostBot autonomous vehicle for postal deliveries

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has unveiled an autonomous vehicle designed to carry letters and parcels and follow around the postal worker as he or she delivers mail items from door to door.

The robotic parcel carrier – called PostBot – could move along in tandem with the worker, saving time overall and energy on the part of the human.

DHL selected the a town called Bad Hersfeld to test the self-propelled electric robot. Bad Hersfeld is said to be a “smart city”.  [Read more…] about DHL tests PostBot autonomous vehicle for postal deliveries

ABB launches ‘world’s first’ digital automotive robotic painting system

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ABB has launched what it claims is the world’s first digital and robotic automotive painting system which it says can be totally controlled during operation. 

The company says the most fundamental part of its new painting system is the “revolutionary new connected paint atomizer”.

The ABB Ability Connected Atomizer (video below) enables quality and efficiency “like no other”, claims the company.  [Read more…] about ABB launches ‘world’s first’ digital automotive robotic painting system

Siemens selects Blue Software for proofing and artwork annotation in its product lifecycle management software

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Blue Software, a provider of design collaboration software, says its proofing and artwork annotation technology is now available as “advanced proofing” in the Siemens Teamcenter portfolio.

Siemens claims its Teamcenter is the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software.

Anyway, it’s part of Siemens’ product lifecycle management software business. A list of popular PLMs can be found here.  [Read more…] about Siemens selects Blue Software for proofing and artwork annotation in its product lifecycle management software

Lufthansa Technik unveils robot that can scan and fix a plane’s outer layer tiles

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Lufthansa Technik has demonstrated a robot which can scan the outer later of aeroplanes and work at odd angles to help with any necessary maintenance and repair jobs. 

Lufthansa Technik generally fixes planes for its parent company Lufthansa, one of the world’s largest airlines, and undertakes work for a variety of aerospace companies.

The new robot is part of the Caire project – short for Composite Adaptable Inspection and Repair – which includes airline industry companies such as Airbus and Lufthansa Technik. [Read more…] about Lufthansa Technik unveils robot that can scan and fix a plane’s outer layer tiles

Nvidia reveals new computing platform for ‘fully autonomous robotaxis’

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Nvidia has revealed a new computing platform which it says is being used by more than 25 companies to develop “fully autonomous robotaxis”. 

The new Nvidia Drive PX Pegasus is said to be the world’s first artificial intelligence computer designed to drive fully autonomous robotic taxis.

Experts say autonomous robotic taxis are the next step for globally popular ride-sharing apps such as Uber and many others.  [Read more…] about Nvidia reveals new computing platform for ‘fully autonomous robotaxis’

Denso to invest $1 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing in the US

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Denso, one of the world’s largest automotive technology suppliers, is expanding its US footprint with a $1 billion investment in its Maryville, Tennessee location.

Denso says the investment is part of its commitment to advancing automotive innovation in North America, and will significantly increase the role North America plays in the global trend toward vehicle safety and electrification.

Denso will create more than 1,000 jobs in Maryville, Tennessee to make it a primary manufacturing center in North America for electrification and safety systems.  [Read more…] about Denso to invest $1 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing in the US

Sintef develops drones and robotics technologies for unmanned surveillance and operation of salmon farms

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A Norwegian technology research company called Sintef has been developing drones and other robotics technologies to help salmon and aquaculture farmers manage their operations. 

In one example, an underwater remotely operated underwater vehicle – often called an ROV – is being utilised to manage a farm which has 200,000 salmon fish.

Salmon and fish farming in general is a huge industry in Norway, which is said to be one of the largest – if not the largest – salmon suppliers in the world.  [Read more…] about Sintef develops drones and robotics technologies for unmanned surveillance and operation of salmon farms