Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Otto Motors launches ‘world’s first’ self-driving forklift truck

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Otto Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics, has launched the Otto Omega, which the company says is “the world’s first truly self-driving lift truck”.

Otto says the Omega is “the easiest, safest and most reliable automated lift truck for busy factories and warehouses”.

The company is targeting the vehicle at industrial engineers and operations professionals who need to reduce material handling costs, increase process throughput and improve plant safety.  [Read more…] about Otto Motors launches ‘world’s first’ self-driving forklift truck

You too can pretend to be David Hasselhoff and talk to your car

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It’s taken more than 30 years, but carmakers are finally giving us all a chance to pretend to be David Hasselhoff in the Knight Rider television show from the 1980s. 

Hasselhoff, it could be argued, played supporting actor to star of the show – a car called “Kitt”, short for Knight Industries Two Thousand.

Kitt, which was actually a Trans-Am in real life, could talk and hold conversations with Hasselhoff’s character, as well as drive itself, and thwart a variety of bad guys at the same time every week.  [Read more…] about You too can pretend to be David Hasselhoff and talk to your car

ThyssenKrupp agrees big contract to maintain automated movement at Stockholm’s spectacular metro stations

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Elevators, escalators and moving walkways are so ubiquitous in urban environments – at metro stations, airports and other places – that most people probably hardly notice them and perhaps take them for granted. 

Not everyone, however: some of us still actually feel a sense of enjoyment at having their strolls through transport hubs aided by these automated systems, even if it’s part of a daily commute to work.

It’s probably fair to say, however, that these automation systems are less complex than ones which involve movement in less straightforward, distraction-filled environments – like, say, those involving an autonomous car.  [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp agrees big contract to maintain automated movement at Stockholm’s spectacular metro stations

Honeywell and VSI Labs building autonomous cars on IMUs

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How a tiny powerhouse part – the inertial measurement unit – went from airplanes to self-driving cars.

Aerospace technology has come down to earth. The same navigation technology that guides airplanes, drones and spacecraft is now being applied to self-driving cars.

Minnesota-based VSI Labs has been working to improve the performance of autonomous vehicles since 2014. Recently VSI turned to us for a critical navigation component called the inertial measurement unit, or IMU.

Honeywell says it pioneered the development of IMUs back in the mid-1990s, and it changed the face of aerospace navigation. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Honeywell and VSI Labs building autonomous cars on IMUs

BMW building ‘world’s most advanced’ driving simulation facility in Munich

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German auto giant BMW says it is building “the world’s most advanced” driving simulation centre in Munich.

The company says the facility is “the most advanced of its kind” and provides “unique possibilities for development of autonomous driving systems”.

The construction of the centre begins as part of BMW’s so-called “FIZ Future” masterplan, and completion is scheduled for 2020.  [Read more…] about BMW building ‘world’s most advanced’ driving simulation facility in Munich

Market for AI in manufacturing forecast to grow at 57 percent a year in Asia

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The market for artificial intelligence systems in manufacturing is forecast to grow at 57 percent a year in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a new report.

The study, Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts the global AI in manufacturing market to reach $15,273.7 million by 2025 from $513.6 million in 2017, at a “staggering growth rate” of 55.2 percent from 2018 to 2025.

Increasing use of automation and growing demand for big data integration in industrial processes have played a vital role in driving the adoption of AI in the sector, says Allied.  [Read more…] about Market for AI in manufacturing forecast to grow at 57 percent a year in Asia

Komatsu autonomous trucks ‘increase productivity by 34 percent’ at Rio Tinto

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Global mining giant Rio Tinto is said to have increased productivity by 34 percent through the use of Komatsu autonomous trucks.

Rio Tinto has been testing and implementing autonomous technology for around a decade, and after a decade of using Komatsu’s massive driverless trucks, the company is integrating autonomous trains into its operations.

Komatsu’s vehicles are called autonomous haulage systems, or AHS. The AHS truck fleet is forecast to drive reductions in operating costs at Australia’s iron ore mines by up to $0.62 per ton by 2020, according to research company GlobalData.  [Read more…] about Komatsu autonomous trucks ‘increase productivity by 34 percent’ at Rio Tinto

Autodesk to showcase automation features of its generative design software in India

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Autodesk is preparing to demonstrate the automation features of its design software at an event in India, which includes “generative design” – where the software creates designs by itself.

The company says the fifth edition of its Autodesk University India will “showcase the future of making driven by automation and 3D design technology”.

The event is expected to be attended by 1,200+ professionals from architecture and construction, design and manufacturing, media and entertainment industries.  [Read more…] about Autodesk to showcase automation features of its generative design software in India

GreyOrange raises $140 million in new funding, claiming ‘the biggest fundraising round in industrial automation sector’

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GreyOrange, a provider of warehouse robotics and automation systems, has raised $140 million in Series C funding, claiming it marks “the largest round ever raised by an industrial robotics company”.

Mithril Capital, co-founded by Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel, led this round, which included Binny Bansal and other existing investors including Blume Ventures.

They join Mitsubishi, Flipkart, and Project Verte as investors in the company.  [Read more…] about GreyOrange raises $140 million in new funding, claiming ‘the biggest fundraising round in industrial automation sector’

Robotiq launches software for embedded force torque sensor in Universal Robots’ e-Series

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Robotiq, a company which makes grippers for industrial robots, has launched new software for the embedded force torque sensor in Universal Robots’ new e-Series of collaborative robots.

The company says utilizing the new sensor “makes force control easy” when used with Force Copilot, the related software application.

Robotiq says Force Copilot is an “intuitive” software application which operates Universal Robots e-Series’ embedded force torque sensor.  [Read more…] about Robotiq launches software for embedded force torque sensor in Universal Robots’ e-Series