Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Farewell to the old assembly line: Automation is changing manufacturing processes in the automotive industry

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The world’s leading trade fair for intelligent automation and robotics, automatica, will take place in Munich from June 16 to 19.

One main focus of the event will be on making automobile production more flexible.

Numerous exhibitors will present alternatives to conventional assembly line production with stationary conveyor technology, for example driverless transport systems and, of course, cobots for human-robot collaboration applications. [Read more…] about Farewell to the old assembly line: Automation is changing manufacturing processes in the automotive industry

Brain Corp and Dane Technologies partner to build autonomous delivery solutions

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Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence company specialising in robotics, and Dane Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of power assist solutions, have formed a technology partnership to manufacture autonomous material delivery robots for use in public and commercial applications.

Under the partnership, Dane Technologies will license BrainOS, a cloud-connected operating system for commercial autonomous robots, and begin building the delivery robots in Q2 2020. The two companies will pilot the robots with several major retailers this spring.

John Black, SVP of new product development for Brain Corp, says: “Dane Technologies has a successful track record of developing equipment for demanding retail and manufacturing environments, including the pioneering QuicKART shopping cart management system. [Read more…] about Brain Corp and Dane Technologies partner to build autonomous delivery solutions

Universal Robots launches UR+ Application Kits to simplify cobot deployments

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The leader of collaborative robotics is expanding its UR+ platform of certified partner products with application kits that remove barriers to industrial automation for small, medium and large companies alike.

Twenty proven software and hardware kits for the most popular cobot applications are now available on the UR+ platform, the industry’s largest and most comprehensive ecosystem of products certified to integrate seamlessly with cobots from Universal Robots (UR).

By reducing recurring engineering decisions for common applications, the “Plug and Produce” kits decrease project risk and complexity and are ready for fast implementation for tasks such as finishing, inspection, assembly, machine tending, material removal, dispensing, and material handling.

Jim Lawton, VP of product and applications management at Universal Robots, says: “As the world’s leader in collaborative robots, Universal Robots is pleased to extend our award-winning UR+ ecosystem to include certified cobot applications. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches UR+ Application Kits to simplify cobot deployments

Kassow Robots begins production of two new 7-axis collaborative robots

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Danish startup Kassow Robots has started production of two new collaborative robots which the company recently added to its product portfolio.

The two new cobots are the KR 1410 and the KR 1805.

Kassow says the KR 1805 has an 1.80-metre robot arm, which gives it an “unrivalled reach in the cobot market”, and opens up completely new applications for customers in industry.   [Read more…] about Kassow Robots begins production of two new 7-axis collaborative robots

Locomation and Wilson Logistics partner on autonomous truck relay convoy pilot

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Locomation has signed a definitive agreement establishing a multi-year partnership with Wilson Logistics to put Locomation’s autonomous technology on the road across several critical Wilson Logistics shipping routes.

Locomation claims to be the world’s first trucking technology platform to offer “human-guided autonomous convoying”. Wilson Logistics is a family-owned transportation logistics company based out of Springfield, Missouri.

During the three-year pilot, Locomation will employ its Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARC) technology on 11 separate Wilson Logistics ARC segments. [Read more…] about Locomation and Wilson Logistics partner on autonomous truck relay convoy pilot

Universal Robots debuts new cobot-powered fulfillment solutions at Modex 2020

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Universal Robots, the market leader in collaborative robotics, will show attendees at North America’s largest supply chain expo how cobots can automate hard-to-staff palletizing and piece-picking tasks with new applications from partners MDCI Automation, RightHand Robotics, and Cross Automation.

With e-commerce generating the greatest year-over-year growth of all US retail industries, there is now more warehousing space being built in the US than projected warehousing jobs required to fill that space.

When thousands of supply chain professionals were asked in a recent Materials Handling Institute survey what technologies would yield the greatest boost to productivity, “robotics and automation” was their answer. [Read more…] about Universal Robots debuts new cobot-powered fulfillment solutions at Modex 2020

InoBat Auto secures funding from Slovakian government to build €1 billion ‘Gigafactory’

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InoBat Auto, a battery production company providing new energy solutions for electric vehicles, has secured funding to build a research and development centre to support the construction of a 10 GWh Gigafactory in Slovakia – the world’s biggest car producer per capita.

The investment from the Slovakian Government has contributed to the €100 million first-phase fund raising to deliver the Gigafactory, which will deploy state-of-the-art battery technology with the potential to provide an estimated 240,000 electric vehicles with cutting edge batteries by 2024.

InoBat Auto says its planned Gigafactory will catapult Europe to become a leading global force in the electric vehicle battery industry. [Read more…] about InoBat Auto secures funding from Slovakian government to build €1 billion ‘Gigafactory’

Former BMW Munich engine assembly and test facility for sale

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Global advisory and asset management specialist, Gordon Brothers, is conducting the “unprecedented sale” of an ex-BMW Munich Engine Assembly and Test facility.

The sale features state-of-the-art equipment supplied from world renowned German automotive original equipment manufacturers GROB, KUKA, and J W Froehlich, supported by the latest Siemen’s and Thyssen Krupp hardware, software and operating systems.

The sale also encompasses all necessary equipment to assemble and test full dressed engines. To ensure throughput at the desired rate of assembly the facility includes 15 off KUKA and J W Froehlich Test units covering engine Cold test, Leak test and Helium test. [Read more…] about Former BMW Munich engine assembly and test facility for sale

Boston Dynamics partners with Otto Motors to co-ordinate mobile robots in the warehouse

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Boston Dynamics, a developer of mobile manipulation robots, and OTTO Motors, a maker of industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), have unveiled what they describe as “a demo of the future of warehouse automation”.

In a video (see below), Boston Dynamics’s logistics robot, Handle, can be seen picking boxes and building pallets on top of OTTO AMRs in a distribution center testbed.

Last year, Boston Dynamics announced its efforts to add flexible, highly mobile automation technology to the warehouse with its Handle robot and Pick computer vision system. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics partners with Otto Motors to co-ordinate mobile robots in the warehouse

RightHand Robotics continues global expansion with opening of sales office in Europe

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RightHand Robotics (RHR), a provider autonomous robotic picking solutions, is continuing its global expansion with the establishment of a sales and business development office in Frankfurt, Germany.

With multiple customers and partners based in Europe, RHR’s German operation will strengthen the company’s business and enable them to further expand their presence as the market grows and their customer base deepens in the region.

With broad experience in next-generation fulfillment solutions, Jon Schechter has been named to lead RHR’s German office, serving as head of Europe. Schechter spent 10 years designing robotic fulfillment centers for e-commerce and retail distribution as part of Kiva Systems and Amazon Robotics. [Read more…] about RightHand Robotics continues global expansion with opening of sales office in Europe