Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

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One of China’s largest home appliance manufacturers is planning to increase its use of robotics and automation technologies in an effort to become more productive. 

Gree, which must be a competitor of home appliances giant Midea, another Chinese company, is said to be “setting up unmanned factories”, some of which are already established.

This is according to China.org, which seems to be a government-connected news website.  [Read more…] about Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

Startup Built Robotics raises $15 million to develop technology to enable autonomous construction

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A startup company called Built Robotics has raised at least $15 million to develop technology that would enable construction equipment such as bulldozers, earth diggers and excavators to operate themselves. 

Self-operating construction equipment would obviously save a significant amount of the costs associated with construction as humans would not need to be driving those vehicles any more.

It might also make the industry safer.

Speaking to USA Today, founder Noah Ready-Campbell, says: “The idea behind Built Robotics is to use automation technology make construction safer, faster and cheaper.”  [Read more…] about Startup Built Robotics raises $15 million to develop technology to enable autonomous construction

Toyota’s basketball robot is why humans should give up and go home

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If you find being confronted by a 7-foot human basketball player somewhat intimidating, wait ’til you see the new Toyota basketball-playing robot. 

Luckily, the 6-foot-3-inch monstrosity doesn’t move around at all and only throws the ball into the hoop – but it does so with 100 per cent accuracy. (See video below.)

According to Asahi Shimbun via CNBC, ZDNet and others, the robot – named “Cue” for some reason – threw 200,000 hoops with almost perfect accuracy.  [Read more…] about Toyota’s basketball robot is why humans should give up and go home

FedEx stepping up robotics operations to see off Amazon

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Logistics company FedEx is reportedly increasing its robotics operations to see off the challenge from Amazon, according to the New York Times. 

The company has been testing a number of robotic vehicles in its warehouses since last year and is said to be ready to take the next step.

FedEx is said to be partnering with Vecna, a supplier of logistics robots, to automate its warehouses and take the load off human employees.

FedEx also seems to be employing Savioke robots (unit in main picture) for work in the repair and maintenance department.

[Read more…] about FedEx stepping up robotics operations to see off Amazon

‘Concentrated robotics power’ at Hannover Messe 2018

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Organisers of the Hannover Messe say there will be “concentrated robotics power” at this year’s industrial technology show. 

ABB, Epson, Kawasaki, Kuka, Mitsubishi, Schunk, Stäubli, Universal Robots, Franka Emika and Yaskawa – the exhibitor list for Hannover Messe 2018 reads like a Who’s Who of the robotics industry.

These robotics companies, systems integrators and providers of gripper systems and more will be showcasing their Smart Factory solutions under the banner of the show’s lead theme of “Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate”.  [Read more…] about ‘Concentrated robotics power’ at Hannover Messe 2018

The Discovery: Postcards from the afterlife

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Being from a pre-internet age, I find it surprising when an online company makes or at least funds a good movie, and The Discovery is a very good movie. 

And it’s not just because Robert Redford stars in it that makes it look like a good movie, although that is definitely an advantage because he gives the film a sort of timeless quality and provides a link between an older generation who lived without many of the astounding technologies we know about and perhaps use today.

He’s also an appropriate casting selection for a Netflix movie because he’s a champion of independent films and founded the Sundance Film Festival. Not to mention the fact that he’s also been in some of the most memorable movies of all time, and some that are less well known but of a very high quality nonetheless.  [Read more…] about The Discovery: Postcards from the afterlife

BreadBot bakes bread from flour and water ‘before your very eyes’

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A new bakery robot can make bread from dough “before your very eyes”, according to its builders.

“Automation just got fresher with a new farm to table experience,” says the Wilkinson Baking Company, maker of the “BreadBot”.

The bread bot “creates fresh bread right in front of your eyes”, the company says, adding: “You have to smell it to believe it.”  [Read more…] about BreadBot bakes bread from flour and water ‘before your very eyes’

CeMAT 2018: Future technologies in intralogistics

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VDMA forum program for materials handling and intralogistics as well as software and digitalization

The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association and the VDMA Software and Digitalization Association is supporting the forum program at CeMAT 2018. 

Together with important partners such as the German Logistics Association (BVL), the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, the EHI Retail Institute and the Scientific Society for Technical Logistics (WGTL) the VDMA associations will show which trends and technologies make Logistics 4.0 possible.

The future of intralogistics is digital and networked. Various products are already developing strongly towards autonomous intelligent systems.  [Read more…] about CeMAT 2018: Future technologies in intralogistics

Hannover Messe: How digitization is revolutionizing work

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Digitization is facilitating new forms of work and collaboration, while at the same time confronting industry with a new set of challenges.

As the need for a technically qualified workforce goes up, the number of qualified workers continues to go down.

The Hannover Messe supporting program titled “Career 4.0” explores the different requirements and opportunities in this sphere.  [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: How digitization is revolutionizing work

Innovative sensors now also determine correct positioning for the world of Industry 4.0

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The detection of objects in systems is an important part of automation today.

Objects have to be reliably detected and measured, as well as verifying that they are correctly positioned.

The scope of possible applications is almost limitless and is continuously expanding – for example, detecting valve and flap positions, the position of PV panels for optimal exposure to light, the position of a ship’s rudder, automation tasks in the machine-tool industry, and so on.  [Read more…] about Innovative sensors now also determine correct positioning for the world of Industry 4.0