Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

City of Fremont and Pony.ai launch autonomous vehicle commuter pilot program

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The City of Fremont and autonomous technology company Pony.ai have launched a pilot program offering rides for a group of City employees via Pony.ai’s shared, on-demand, autonomous last-mile service.

The participating employees will ride in Pony.ai autonomous vehicles from Fremont’s Amtrak/ACE Station to City Hall and City of Fremont Development Services Center.

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei says: “By partnering with a local autonomous technology firm Pony.ai, the City of Fremont is acting as a test bed for a transportation solution that has the potential to alleviate congestion, reduce carbon emissions, decrease the number of traffic accidents, and optimize vehicle and land usage. [Read more…] about City of Fremont and Pony.ai launch autonomous vehicle commuter pilot program

ABB and Covariant partner to deploy integrated AI robotic solutions

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ABB, one of the world’s leading supplier of industrial robots, and Silicon Valley AI start-up, Covariant, have formed a partnership to bring AI-enabled robotics solutions to market, starting with a fully autonomous warehouse order fulfilment solution.

ABB says the partnership brings together two companies with a shared vision for robotics enabled by AI, where intelligent robots work alongside humans in dynamic environments, “collectively learning and improving with every task completed”.

Given the accelerated global growth experienced in the e-commerce sector, ABB identified a significant opportunity for AI-enabled robotics solutions across a broad range of applications including logistics, warehousing, and parcels and mail sorting. [Read more…] about ABB and Covariant partner to deploy integrated AI robotic solutions

Special report: Robotics and automation in automotive manufacturing and supply chains

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in association with SICK AppSpace

The automotive industry is undergoing the most fundamental transformation in its history and, as this article suggests, a flexible approach to software development will become essential to companies that want to stay competitive.

As well as applications development, industry is experiencing the impact of other key technologies such as:

  • robotics and automation;
  • supply chains, warehousing and logistics;
  • digitalisation;
  • electric engines;
  • autonomous systems; and
  • connectivity, or the internet of things.

Clearly, it would be almost impossible to go into any great depth in a 2,000-word article, but we will at least bring to your attention the new technologies that are already changing the automotive landscape. [Read more…] about Special report: Robotics and automation in automotive manufacturing and supply chains

RoboDK celebrates five years of robot virtualisation software

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Founded by Albert Nubiola and Lauren Ierullo in January 2015, RoboDK is a spin-off company from the CoRo laboratory at ETS University in Montreal, Canada, one of the most prestigious robotics labs in North America.

While working on his PhD at CoRo lab, RoboDK’s CEO Albert Nubiola was the main developer of RoKiSim, a multi-platform educational software tool for 3D simulation of serial six-axis robots.

RoboDK software is the extended commercial version of RoKiSim and is designed to bring powerful robotics simulation and programming capabilities to companies large and small and to coders and non-coders alike. [Read more…] about RoboDK celebrates five years of robot virtualisation software

OnRobot unveils compact Gecko gripper for smaller jobs

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OnRobot, a global leader in robotic end-of-arm tooling, has launched a compact, single-pad version of its innovative Gecko no-mark adhesive gripper.

The new Gecko Single Pad (SP) gripper brings the previous model’s revolutionary adaptability to more varied applications with smaller payloads.

It is available in three sizes, SP1, SP3 and SP5, indicating the different grippers’ lifting capacities in kilos. [Read more…] about OnRobot unveils compact Gecko gripper for smaller jobs

New Scale Robotics earns UR+ certification for its components

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New Scale Robotics says its NSR-PG-10-20-URe Gripper/Caliper and NSR-MTM-3-URe Multi-Tool Mount have received UR+ Certification from Universal Robots.

With this certification, UR confirms that it has tested and approved the products to work with UR e-Series collaborative robots to provide fast deployment, simple programming and reliable operation.

The NSR-PG-10-20-URe Gripper/Caliper is the smallest parallel gripper and the first robotic digital caliper for collaborative robots. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics earns UR+ certification for its components

Global robotics market predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025

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The global robotics market is predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025, according to analysis of International Federation of Robotics data by DC Advisory.

The investment bank calculates that the market was worth approximately $98 billion in 2018.

DC Advisory says changing consumer market has driven manufacturers and logistics companies to adopt new methods of production and distribution – chiefly the new generations of robotics and automation technology. [Read more…] about Global robotics market predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025

Nvidia Jetson Developer Days offers comprehensive insights into robotics and more

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This year’s Nvidia Jetson Developer Days aims to provide deep and comprehensive insights into one of the most important computing systems for robotics and artificial intelligence currently on the market.

Nvidia is one of the world’s largest microprocessor manufacturers and high on the Robotics and Automation News list of top 25 AI chip companies.

Its computers are used as the platform for autonomous car development and advanced driver assistance systems by most of the largest automotive companies in the world – companies such as Bosch, BMW, Mercedes and many others. [Read more…] about Nvidia Jetson Developer Days offers comprehensive insights into robotics and more

Renault Trucks signs ‘historic agreement’ with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 electric trucks

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Renault Trucks says it is taking “a critical step in the transformation of urban transport” by signing of a contract with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 D Wide ZE vehicles.

These 100 per cent electric 26-tonne trucks, which will be delivered in 2020, will be operated by the Feldschlösschen brewery, the Carlsberg Group’s Swiss subsidiary.

Renault Trucks says urban transport “needs to move towards electric mobility quickly” in order to improve quality of life in city centres and tackle global CO2 emissions. [Read more…] about Renault Trucks signs ‘historic agreement’ with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 electric trucks

Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

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In February 2020, Alstom received an order for 11 battery powered regional trains for the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen in Germany.

These are the first battery trains to be ordered from Alstom.

Offering both hydrogen and battery is an important milestone for the Alstom, as it expands its role in the emission-free mobility market. [Read more…] about Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains