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GE Appliances and Google partner to build ‘next-generation smart home appliances’

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GE Appliances, a Haier company, and Google Cloud have agreed a multi-year partnership to build innovative technologies to elevate the consumer experience in the kitchen and in homes.

As the company continues to reinvent itself and the appliance business, GEA turned to Google Cloud for its world-class expertise in data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to accelerate this evolution – and will integrate these capabilities into its entire appliance development process, from ideation to the production line.

The two companies will work together to develop the next generation of smart appliances with Google Cloud Vision AI. [Read more…] about GE Appliances and Google partner to build ‘next-generation smart home appliances’

IEEE adopts MIPI A-PHY, first industry-standard, long-reach data communications for automotive applications

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The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, has adopted the MIPI A-PHY v1.0 specification as an IEEE standard.

Published as IEEE 2977-2021, IEEE Standard for Adoption of MIPI Alliance Specification for A-PHY Interface (A-PHY) Version 1.0, A-PHY is the first asymmetric, industry-standard, long-reach, serializer-deserializer (SerDes) physical layer interface for automotive applications.

Joel Huloux, chairman of MIPI Alliance, says: “This is the first time MIPI has sought adoption by another standards body for one of our specifications. [Read more…] about IEEE adopts MIPI A-PHY, first industry-standard, long-reach data communications for automotive applications

Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

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Fetch.ai, a Cambridge-based artificial intelligence lab building an open-access decentralized machine learning network for smart infrastructure, says the team of the “Economy of Things” (EoT) strategic advance engineering project at Bosch Research will be initiating machine learning trials on the Fetch.ai Collective Learning network.

The system will attempt to predict potential failures in Bosch’s machinery while maintaining data privacy.

The main focus of Bosch Research is the research and implementation of innovative new technologies. Bosch Research originally entered into a collaboration with Fetch.ai in 2019 and deployed a node on a Fetch test network in early 2021. [Read more…] about Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

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Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacturing and service of aircraft and helicopter engines and auxiliary power units, has chosen Webcon BPS as its enterprise-grade, low-code process management and automation platform to digitalize business processes and accelerate its digital transformation to align with the new remote work reality.

Jocelyn Brulé, Pratt & Whitney digital technology manager, says: “As an industry leader, we must not only ensure operational efficiency, but also focus on innovation. Therefore, for many years we have been using low-code platforms to digitize business processes.

“Webcon BPS, used in our Polish division, was one of them. Due to the efficiency, transparency and speed by which we’ve been able to use it to deliver business applications, and how easily the platform enables change management, we decided to roll it out globally. [Read more…] about Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

Getting dressed with help from robots

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MIT has demonstrated a “human-aware motion planning algorithm” that addresses the safety gap in collaboration between robots and humans – and could be used to make robots help people get dressed. (See video below.)

Basic safety needs in the paleolithic era have largely evolved with the onset of the industrial and cognitive revolutions. We interact a little less with raw materials, and interface a little more with machines.

Robots don’t have the same hardwired behavioral awareness and control, so secure collaboration with humans requires methodical planning and coordination. You can likely assume your friend can fill up your morning coffee cup without spilling on you, but for a robot, this seemingly simple task requires careful observation and comprehension of human behavior.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have recently created a new algorithm to help a robot find efficient motion plans to ensure physical safety of its human counterpart. In this case, the bot helped put a jacket on a human, which could potentially prove to be a powerful tool in expanding assistance for those with disabilities or limited mobility. [Read more…] about Getting dressed with help from robots

Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?

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When robots make mistakes – and they do from time to time – re-establishing trust with human co-workers depends on how the machines own up to the errors and how human-like they appear, according to University of Michigan research.

In a study that examined multiple trust repair strategies – apologies, denials, explanations or promises – the researchers found that certain approaches directed at human co-workers are better than others and often are impacted by how the robots look.

Lionel Robert (main picture), associate professor at the U-M School of Information, says: “Robots are definitely a technology but their interactions with humans are social and we must account for these social interactions if we hope to have humans comfortably trust and rely on their robot co-workers. [Read more…] about Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?

DroneDeploy acquires Rocos to ‘accelerate job site automation’

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DroneDeploy, a mapping and drone data specialist, has acquired Rocos, a New Zealand-based robotics software company.

The acquisition will enable DroneDeploy customers in construction, energy, agriculture, and more to deploy and orchestrate both aerial and ground robots on their job sites.

This acquisition will make physical workflow automation possible, creating more efficient and safer workplaces. [Read more…] about DroneDeploy acquires Rocos to ‘accelerate job site automation’

Startup business Q-CTRL forms group to research ‘quantum sensors’ among other new technologies

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Q-CTRL, a startup that applies the principles of control engineering to make quantum technology useful, has formated a technical advisory board drawing top talent from a diverse range of disciplines to accelerate the industry’s development.

The technical advisory board will provide strategic advice to steer Q-CTRL’s efforts in developing next-generation quantum control technologies in support of both quantum computing and quantum sensing applications. [Read more…] about Startup business Q-CTRL forms group to research ‘quantum sensors’ among other new technologies

DXC Luxoft and AWS partner to accelerate autonomous driving industry with Robotic Drive Cloud

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DXC Luxoft has entered into a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to accelerate the autonomous driving industry with DXC Luxoft’s Robotic Drive Cloud offering on AWS.

The Robotic Drive tooling and services provide reduced development and test times with unmatched total cost of ownership (TCO) to customers building autonomous driving systems.

The new relationship offers a tangible competitive advantage to customers by accelerating the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. [Read more…] about DXC Luxoft and AWS partner to accelerate autonomous driving industry with Robotic Drive Cloud

Kanglim invests in Ridecell and forms partnership to create IoT platform for industrial vehicles

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Kanglim, a South Korean builder of specialty industrial vehicles, has formed a strategic alliance with Ridecell, a provider of a platform for fleet-driven businesses.

Ridecell will collaborate with Kanglim to develop an IoT automation and mobility platform for specialty industrial vehicle fleets.

Kanglim’s vehicles include industrial cranes, fire trucks, electrical work vehicles, aerial platforms, military and police equipment, and pump vehicles. [Read more…] about Kanglim invests in Ridecell and forms partnership to create IoT platform for industrial vehicles