Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Kuka wins massive order from BMW for 5,000 robots

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Industrial automation specialist Kuka and Munich-based automotive company BMW have signed a framework agreement for the supply of around 5,000 robots for new production lines and factories.

The Kuka industrial robots will be used around the world at the international production sites of the BMW Group for the manufacture of the current and future generations of vehicle models.

The various robot models from Kuka will be used primarily in body-in-white production and other technologies. [Read more…] about Kuka wins massive order from BMW for 5,000 robots

Locus Robotics launches new design service for fast implementation of warehouse robots for rapidly growing e-commerce sector

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Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment centers, has unveiled a new service which is says will speed up the implementation of warehouse robots for the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.

The Locus Rapid Assessment & Design Service, or “RAD” is said to enable prospects and customers to quickly evaluate the productivity benefits and return on investment of installing Locus’ collaborative robotics solution.

The company says this will help ensure that businesses are “ready to meet high demand in the post-pandemic economy”. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics launches new design service for fast implementation of warehouse robots for rapidly growing e-commerce sector

Norfolk Southern introduces autonomous railtrack inspection system

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Norfolk Southern says it has achieved a breakthrough in track inspection technology that will “enhance railroad safety and operating efficiencies”. (See video below.)

The company claims that it is the first North American freight railroad to develop and deploy an autonomous track geometry measurement system that is mounted on a locomotive and combines “ingenuity and innovation”.

In contrast, says Norfolk Southern, autonomous track-inspection systems commercially available today are installed on converted freight or passenger rail cars, which require an external power source to operate and occupy space on a train that could be used to move revenue-producing freight. [Read more…] about Norfolk Southern introduces autonomous railtrack inspection system

Septentrio launches ‘ultra-precise’ positioning system for high-volume applications

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Septentrio, a manufacturer of high-precision GNSS positioning solutions, is starting high-volume production of mosaic-X5, its next-generation multi-constellation and multi-band receiver module.

Featuring the latest GNSS technology, mosaic-X5 brings centimeter-level positioning to technologies such as robotics, automation, smart wearables and telematics among others.

Its small form factor and low-power design makes high-performance positioning accessible to volume applications. [Read more…] about Septentrio launches ‘ultra-precise’ positioning system for high-volume applications

3D printing moving into mainstream manufacturing, says GlobalData

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3D printing technology is slowly cementing its role as a key part of the manufacturing mix, continuing its journey towards industry 4.0.

It has already lowered the barriers to entry for manufacturing, allowing enterprises across many industries to respond to customer demands while offering greater customization of products and speed to market, says GlobalData, a data analytics company.

Venkata Naveen, disruptive tech analyst at GlobalData, says: “3D printing has leaped from the proof-of-concept stage to a viable manufacturing alternative, demonstrating its potential in real-world environments, notably in industries such as aerospace and defense, construction, consumer and automotive.” [Read more…] about 3D printing moving into mainstream manufacturing, says GlobalData

Automated driving developer TTTech Auto expands team

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TTTech Auto says it has grown its developer team for global customer projects.

After the acquisition of software company Silicon Gears in 2019, TTTech Auto expanded further on the Iberian Peninsula. The Madrid office opened in mid-February and will reinforce development capacities for global customer projects.

Spain is the country with the fourth-highest number of computer developers in the European Union, according to the State of European Tech 2019 report. Almost 40 per cent of the 323,000 developers are located in Madrid. [Read more…] about Automated driving developer TTTech Auto expands team

Autonomous trucks: Addressing the industry’s structural challenges

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The automotive industry is experiencing a difficult time due to the coronavirus pandemic, with severe shocks both to the supply and demand. Nonetheless, the industry will need to retain its focus on key transformation trends such as autonomy.

Making a business case out of autonomous however, is not always straightforward, as IDTechEx finds in its research into the sector.

Some original equipment manufacturers and tier-one suppliers are already suggesting that there is no business case for level 3 autonomy – referring to SAE’s levels of autonomy in automotive. [Read more…] about Autonomous trucks: Addressing the industry’s structural challenges

Industrial automation is ‘paying the price for failing to think big and invest bigger’

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The industrial automation sector is “paying the price for failing to think big and invest bigger”, according to a report by GlobalData.

The industrial automation sector was not in a great place before Covid-19 struck, having been slowed by flat capital expenditure and declining industrial production, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The virus has since closed factory after factory worldwide with workers sent home. The reality is that despite much hype over the years, advanced factory automation has not been substituted for human workers at scale. [Read more…] about Industrial automation is ‘paying the price for failing to think big and invest bigger’

HAHN Group acquires DAHL Automation

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The HAHN Group has acquired DAHL Automation, expanding its competence in the field of intralogistics and autonomous mobile robots.

DAHL Automation is an integrator for robotics, collaborative robots, as well as autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles.

The company has 30 employees currently employed at its headquarters in Meinerzhagen, Germany. [Read more…] about HAHN Group acquires DAHL Automation

10 key considerations when developing your robot’s cloud backend

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If you work in robotics, odds are you’re more interested in robots than data pipelines and cloud architecture.

Unfortunately, the latter are just as much a part of modern robotics as sensors and servo motors. If you hope to successfully develop and scale your robotics operations, you’ll first have to run the gauntlet that is building a cloud-based “backend” – the server side of the network.

Given the inherent complexity of this task, there are plenty of opportunities for oversight. So, before all else, it’s imperative that you and your team take the time to carefully consider and develop a plan of action. [Read more…] about 10 key considerations when developing your robot’s cloud backend