Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Bright Machines launches ‘first software-defined microfactory’

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Bright Machines has launched what it says the “first software-defined microfactory”.

The term “software-defined” is often used in computer networking and implies that a system is less dependent on specific – perhaps expensive – hardware and more defined by the software.

Bright Machines says it is delivering its vision of integrating software and artificial intelligence into every phase of the manufacturing cycle with the introduction of Bright “Microfactories”. [Read more…] about Bright Machines launches ‘first software-defined microfactory’

John Deere in exclusive partnership with Wentworth Club to supply golf course maintenance equipment

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Wentworth Club and John Deere have agreed a new, exclusive partnership for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment to the world famous West, East and Edinburgh Championship Courses at Virginia Water in Surrey, from spring 2019.

The deal includes automated and autonomous vehicles and equipment.

Wentworth Club has been the host venue since 1984 for the PGA Championship tournament, which is regarded as the flagship event on the European Tour. [Read more…] about John Deere in exclusive partnership with Wentworth Club to supply golf course maintenance equipment

New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

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New Scale Robotics has launched its newest gripper for the Universal Robots e-Series collaborative robot.

The company says its new technology “harnesses UR’s new high-speed communications interface to increase measurement precision and control multiple grippers on one robot”.

New Scale Robotics describes the new peripheral as “a precision electric parallel gripper for Universal Robots e Series cobots”. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

Sensor giant SICK partners with MassRobotics

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SICK, a leading manufacturer of sensor solutions for industrial applications, is partnering with MassRobotics.

With this partnership, local and global robotics startups and corporations will have better access to innovative sensor and safety solutions from SICK.

MassRobotics is a nonprofit organization located in Boston, Mass. After seeing the massive growth in the robotics and automation industry, MassRobotics was created to provide an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community. [Read more…] about Sensor giant SICK partners with MassRobotics

Markforged 3D printers featured in BattleBots World Championship

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Markforged, a provider of metal and carbon fiber 3D printers, says that four of its 3D printers were featured on BattleBots, a television series which premiered on June 7th on the Discovery Channel and June 12th on the Science Channel.

As the only 3D printer company hosted by BattleBots during filming, Markforged produced more than 160 parts for 29 teams onsite – all within the two weeks of filming.

The printers allowed the teams to rapidly repair damaged robots, improve their performance during battles, and optimize their design against competitors in real time. [Read more…] about Markforged 3D printers featured in BattleBots World Championship

Hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power acquires EnergyOr

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Plug Power, a provider of hydrogen engines and fueling solutions enabling e-mobility, has acquired EnergyOr. 

The transaction involves technology, assets, and personnel, but the financial terms have not been disclosed.

EnergyOr is based in Montreal, Canada, and is the leader in advanced lightweight and compact PEM (proton-exchange membrane) hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) systems for robotics, small scale material handling and aerospace applications. [Read more…] about Hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power acquires EnergyOr

Kassow Robots prepares to enter North American market

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Kassow Robots, a startup company from Denmark which makes collaborative robots, is preparing to enter the North American market.

Kassow’s robots will be showcased for the first time in North America at the booth that the company’s new partner, Gibson Engineering, will set up at the expo ATX East in New York.

Kassow Robots has been expanding its partner network throughout Europe since it entered the market in June 2018 – the company has already found partners in countries that extend from Portugal to Bulgaria and from Denmark to Spain as well as in central Europe. [Read more…] about Kassow Robots prepares to enter North American market

Kuka wins five prestigious design awards

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Kuka has won some notable awards at iF, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards events. 

The company also won at the German Design Awards.

Kuka celebrated the success by announcing its line-up of products is “convincing from start to finish”.

The Kuka LBR iisy, which is a small industrial collaborative robotic arm, and the Kuka KMP 1500, an autonomous mobile robot, both received the renowned iF Design Award 2019. [Read more…] about Kuka wins five prestigious design awards

B&R brings safety to delta robot kinematics

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B&R now offers SafeRobotics functions for tripods to safely monitor all types of delta kinematic systems – or delta robots.

The company says serial axes can also be included in the calculations, for example when tripods are mounted on moving platforms.

Safe robot monitoring is implemented using the safety functions Safely Limited Position, Safely Limited Orientation, Safely Limited Joint Position and Safely Limited Speed. [Read more…] about B&R brings safety to delta robot kinematics

Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots

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Robotics and Automation News is hosting a webinar about collaborative robot safety presented by SICK, on June 24th, at 11 am EST.

SICK is one of the leading providers of sensors for robots. The company’s sensors are in the majority of the new generation of robots in the market today.

In this webinar, Mark Nehrkorn, SICK’s director of safety, will present an update in the safety standards in the field of collaborative and autonomous mobile robots. [Read more…] about Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots