Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

NASA selects first three companies for commercial moon landing technologies

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Three companies awarded total of $250 million to develop lunar technology

NASA has selected three commercial Moon landing service providers that will deliver science and technology payloads under Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) as part of the Artemis program.

Each commercial lander will carry NASA-provided payloads that will conduct science investigations and demonstrate advanced technologies on the lunar surface, paving the way for NASA astronauts to land on the lunar surface by 2024.

Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, says: “Our selection of these US commercial landing service providers represents America’s return to the Moon’s surface for the first time in decades, and it’s a huge step forward for our Artemis lunar exploration plans. [Read more…] about NASA selects first three companies for commercial moon landing technologies

Nvidia unveils new reinforcement learning research at ICRA 2019

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Nvidia researchers from the newly opened robotics research lab in Seattle, Washington have presented a new proof of concept reinforcement learning approach that aims to enhance how robots trained in simulation will perform in the real world. (See video below.)

The work was presented at the recent International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Montreal, Canada.

The research is part of a growing trend in the deep learning and robotics community that relies on simulation for training. [Read more…] about Nvidia unveils new reinforcement learning research at ICRA 2019

Omron provides new robotics laboratory to Houston university

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Omron Foundation, the charitable arm of the US-based operations of industrial automation solutions provider Omron, donated a new laboratory complete with workstations and state-of-the-art equipment to give University of Houston students the opportunity to prepare for real-world engineering challenges.

The University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering recently unveiled a cutting-edge laboratory donated by the Omron Foundation, the charitable arm of automation solutions provider Omron in the United States.

Designed for electrical and computer engineering students, the lab includes advanced technologies and equipment donated by Omron. [Read more…] about Omron provides new robotics laboratory to Houston university

Proton Motor to install new robot to accelerate fuel cell production

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Proton Motor says it is planning to install a new robot to accelerate the manufacturing of fuel cell units intended for use in road vehicles and other technologies. 

The new “stack manufacturing robot” – referring to a fuel cell stack – will increase production capacity to 5,000 fuel cells a year, says Proton.

Germany-based Proton Motor Fuel Cell is a designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems with a “zero carbon footprint”. Its technology is used in the e.Go, an autonomous electric vehicle (main picture). [Read more…] about Proton Motor to install new robot to accelerate fuel cell production

Techman Robot signs up Accu Tech USA as new distributor

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Accu Tech USA, a provider of automation and motion solutions in the US, has signed a distribution agreement with Techman Robot, a provider of collaborative robots and vision technologies.

Under the agreement, Accu Tech USA will provide the complete range of collaborative robots offered by TM Robot to its US customers. Products have been available to order from Accu Tech USA as of last month.

Ed Lee, president of Accu Tech USA, says: “Accu Tech USA has a longstanding history of delivering affordable, cutting edge automation and motion technology to the US market. [Read more…] about Techman Robot signs up Accu Tech USA as new distributor

Swiss high-precision micro-technologies event EPHJ prepares to welcome more visitors

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EPHJ, the annual high-precision micro-technologies trade show, is preparing to welcome a greater number of international visitors this year. 

Organisers say the 2019 show “looks promising” as they prepare to host equipment manufacturers from the world of watchmaking, jewellery manufacturing, and medical technology.

The next edition of the exhibition – its full title being EPHJ-EPMT-SMT – will take place in Geneva, Switzerland between 18 and 21 June this year. [Read more…] about Swiss high-precision micro-technologies event EPHJ prepares to welcome more visitors

US Postal Service testing driverless trucks from TuSimple

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The US Postal Service is testing driverless trucks from TuSimple in a two-week pilot program.

TuSimple, a self-driving truck company, says the USPS has awarded it a contract to perform five round trips during the trial, hauling USPS trailers more than 1,000 miles between the Postal Service’s Phoenix, Arizona and Dallas, Texas distribution centers.

The truck will have a safety engineer and driver on board for the duration of the pilot to monitor vehicle performance and to ensure public safety. [Read more…] about US Postal Service testing driverless trucks from TuSimple

Honda Aircraft Company to invest $16 million into expanding US production facility

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Honda Aircraft Company says it plans to expand its global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina by investing an additional $15.5 million in a new 82,000-square-foot facility on its 133+ acre campus in Greensboro.

This will bring the company’s total capital investment in its North Carolina facilities to more than $245 million.

Scheduled to break ground in July 2019, the building will house a new wing assembly process for the HondaJet Elite. [Read more…] about Honda Aircraft Company to invest $16 million into expanding US production facility

HPE to acquire supercomputer manufacturer Cray for $1.3 billion

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise has reached an agreement to acquire Cray, the manufacturer of supercomputing systems.

HPE says the acquisition will cost $35 per share, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, net of cash.

Antonio Neri, president and CEO, HPE, says: “Answers to some of society’s most pressing challenges are buried in massive amounts of data. [Read more…] about HPE to acquire supercomputer manufacturer Cray for $1.3 billion

Marvell to acquire Avera Semi for $740 million

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Marvell, a computer networking technology supplier, has reached an agreement to purchase Avera Semi, the chip design business of Global Foundries.

Marvell will initially pay $650 million in cash and an additional $90 million over the next year or so, depending on the performance of the business.

Marvell says the acquisition brings together Avera Semi’s “leading custom design capabilities with Marvell’s advanced technology platform and scale”, creating a “leading application specific integrated circuit supplier for wired and wireless infrastructure”. [Read more…] about Marvell to acquire Avera Semi for $740 million