Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Lilium partners with Lufthansa to train pilots for its tiny plane

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Lilium, the Munich-based aviation company developing an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) for regional air mobility, has agreed what it describes as “an industry-first partnership” with Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT, part of the Lufthansa Group).

Together, Lilium and LAT will develop a tailor-made Pilot Sourcing and Training programme to qualify pilots to fly the Lilium Jet.

The first phase of this innovative program consists of an additional training certification for qualified commercial pilots. [Read more…] about Lilium partners with Lufthansa to train pilots for its tiny plane

DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

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DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, normally moves goods that stay in the Earth’s atmosphere. Now they have partnered with D-Orbit, a specialized company covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including logistics services, for the first time.

Together with the company’s own innovation team DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation (CSI), the freight forwarding expert set up logistics to help the ION Satellite Carrier in its journey into space. Developed and designed by D-Orbit, the satellite carrier is planned to launch at Cape Canaveral, the world’s most famous space base in Florida in January 2021.

Tim Scharwath, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, says: “We are excited about this partnership for two key reasons. First, D-Orbit shares our vision of reliable, safe and sustainable logistics to connect people and to improve lives. [Read more…] about DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

Boston Dynamics’ dancing robots herald the end of the world as we know it

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Dumbstruck. Speechless. Those were our reactions when we first saw the new video of the dancing robots created by Boston Dynamics (see for yourself below). 

There’s not much we can say about this diabolical intrusion into our deep-seated and secure understanding of what the world is supposed to be like, but we must at least express our collective horror at the sheer spookiness of these humanoid and canine robots apparently auditioning to be in Mariah Carey’s next video. It’s just not right.

If we’ve ever seen videos of dancing robots before, this one has made us forget all of them. It’s an abomination. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics’ dancing robots herald the end of the world as we know it

Kuka wins ‘major contract’ from Mercedes

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Kuka says it has won what it describes as a “major contract” for body-in-white production from Mercedes-Benz. Body-in-white is the stage in automobile manufacturing in which a car body’s frame has been joined together – before the engine and anything else has been installed, or the body painted.

Kuka says it was able to convince the German premium car manufacturer of the deal towards the end of last year.

The order from Mercedes-Benz is for the engineering and construction, as well as the assembly and commissioning, of several body-in-white production lines. In the future, various vehicle models will be produced in this way. [Read more…] about Kuka wins ‘major contract’ from Mercedes

ABB establishes new R&D center for electric vehicle technology

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ABB says it is “underlining its market leading position” in electric vehicle charging infrastructure by establishing a new E-mobility Innovation Lab, where it will house 120 specialists working on next generation solutions. (See video below.)

Designed to spur further innovations in e-mobility, the $10 million, 3,600 sq m facility is based on the Delft University of Technology campus, in the Netherlands and will drive ABB’s future portfolio development, as well as R&D projects for EVs. The University was ranked among the top 15 engineering and technology universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings in 2020.

Along with an investment of $30 million into a global Center of Excellence and production site for EV charging infrastructure, due to open next year in Italy, the facility in Delft underlines ABB’s plans to grow investments in sustaining its technology leadership. [Read more…] about ABB establishes new R&D center for electric vehicle technology

SICK launches new Flexi Compact safety controller

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Industrial sensor specialist SICK has launched a new safety controller.

The Flexi Compact from SICK is a new modular safety controller distinguished by its improved usability and safety engineering.

It enables users of automated machines to operate more productively with the scalable performance and intelligent diagnostic functions of the safety controller. [Read more…] about SICK launches new Flexi Compact safety controller

ABB launches Wizard Easy Programming software for industrial robots

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ABB has launched its Wizard Easy Programming software for its IRB 1100 industrial robot.

The company says this allows first time users to introduce robotic automation into their production lines without the need for specialist programming skills or any knowledge of Rapid code. Rapid is a high-level programming language used to control ABB industrial robots.

Based on simple graphical blocks, Wizard Easy Programming makes it easy for non-specialists to automate their applications, says ABB. [Read more…] about ABB launches Wizard Easy Programming software for industrial robots

Comau unveils new ‘lightweight, ruggedized’ version of its exoskeleton

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Comau Robotics has unveiled a new “lightweight, ruggedized” version of its exoskeleton.

The new Mate-XT wearable exoskeleton “fully accommodates the specific needs of workers in demanding industrial, non-industrial and open-air environments”, says Comau.

Featuring a slim, lightweight carbon fiber structure and an intuitive regulation system, the water, dust, UV-light and temperature resistant design can be quickly adjusted to fit virtually any body frame. [Read more…] about Comau unveils new ‘lightweight, ruggedized’ version of its exoskeleton

Universal Robots sells 50,000 collaborative robots

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Collaborative robot manufacturer Universal Robots is celebrating “unprecedented sales” with the delivery of its 50,000th unit to German company VEMA.

Collaborative robots – or cobots – remain the fastest growing segment of industrial automation, projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 30.37 percent during 2020–2025.

Cobot market pioneer Universal Robots solidified its frontrunner position today by selling its 50,000th cobot, which was purchased by a German manufacturer to enable higher productivity and better employee safety. [Read more…] about Universal Robots sells 50,000 collaborative robots

Hyundai to acquire controlling stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank

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Hyundai Motor Group and SoftBank Group have agreed on the main terms of a transaction through which Hyundai Motor Group will acquire a controlling interest in Boston Dynamics in a deal that values the world’s leading creator of creepy robots at $1.1 billion. 

The deal came as Hyundai Motor Group envisions the transformation of human life by combining world-leading robotics technologies with its mobility expertise. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group will hold an approximately 80 percent stake in Boston Dynamics and SoftBank, through one of its affiliates, will retain an approximately 20 percent stake in Boston Dynamics after the closing of the transaction. [Read more…] about Hyundai to acquire controlling stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank