Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Computing

AI driving actionable sales intelligence in manufacturing

by

By Barrett Thompson, Zilliant Business Solutions

The manufacturing plant floor has been automated and optimized for years; yet revenue and profit growth remain stagnant.

Seemingly everything has been process-improved with lean manufacturing principles; however, the cost of doing business remains high and the C-Suite continues its demands for an increase in revenue per transaction and gross margins.

Two functions at manufacturing organizations are prime for process improvement:

  • selling; and
  • pricing.

A closer look at the selling function reveals that despite reducing labor costs via transformational automation solutions, sales teams still manage large, antiquated portfolios. They are expected to increase their book of business while retaining current customers. [Read more…] about AI driving actionable sales intelligence in manufacturing

Digital Visual Management: Integration of Human-Centricity and Automation

by

By Nicola Olivetti, Lean and Industry 4.0 Program Director, iObeya

Recently, a leading industrial journalist asked for an explanation about the pragmatic integration of human-centricity and automation. Below are my responses.

Question: How can you preserve a human-centric approach to collegial work in a highly automated environment?

Answer: Companies with an authentic Lean culture leverage automation to expand the scope of teams by granting real-time access to valuable information. This allows for important activity and relevant people (experts, partners, suppliers, customers) to co-operate in a horizontal and agile manner. [Read more…] about Digital Visual Management: Integration of Human-Centricity and Automation

Nvidia unveils new reinforcement learning research at ICRA 2019

by

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

Software AG rings opening bell at German Stock Exchange

by

Executives from Software AG were invited to ring the opening bell at the German Stock Exchange to start the day’s trading.

The company says the honour is the culmination of decades of work which has affected the “lives of millions”. In an interview with Robotics and Automation News, one of Software AG’s key executives provides insights into the company. (See video below.)

Software AG was founded on May 30, 1969, as a start-up. Today, it claims to be the largest independent integration software provider in the world. [Read more…] about Software AG rings opening bell at German Stock Exchange

CP Technologies claims to be ‘first’ rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration

by

CP Technologies, a provider of ruggedized computers, is claiming to have become the “first” rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration. 

The company’s president and CEO, Mike McCormack, gave Robotics and Automation News an interview some time before the latest development in which he explained that the company’s background in the military is useful for the industrial and commercial markets. (See video below.)

For over 20 years, CP Technologies – formerly Chassis Plans – has been designing and manufacturing computers, servers, LCD displays, storage arrays, and human interface devices to defense and industrial customers. [Read more…] about CP Technologies claims to be ‘first’ rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration

Atos delivers ‘world’s highest-performing’ quantum computer simulator to Total

by

Atos has delivered its Atos Quantum Learning Machine (QLM), which it claims is the world’s highest-performing commercially available quantum simulator, to French multinational energy company Total.

Combining a high-powered, compact machine with a universal programming language, the Atos QLM enables researchers and engineers to develop and experiment with quantum software.

It simulates the laws of physics, which are at the very heart of quantum computing, to compute the exact execution of a quantum program with double-digit precision.

[Read more…] about Atos delivers ‘world’s highest-performing’ quantum computer simulator to Total

HPE to acquire supercomputer manufacturer Cray for $1.3 billion

by

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

by

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

Mitsubishi Electric to acquire US software company Iconics

by

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is to acquire the remaining shares of Iconics, Inc., a U.S. software company focused on SCADA, IoT, mobile, analytics and cloud software products for the manufacturing, industrial and building-automation markets.

The acquisition makes the company a 100% subsidiary within the Mitsubishi Electric Group.

Mitsubishi Electric aims to enhance its software product lineup to realise e-F@ctory, including edge-computing, by combining Iconics’ software-developing capabilities and Mitsubishi Electric’s factory-automation technology.

e-F@ctory is an integrated solution based on factory automation (FA) and information technologies to reduce the total cost of developing, producing and maintaining products.

[Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to acquire US software company Iconics

LG unveils its own AI chip

by

LG has unveiled its own microprocessor specifically designed for artificial intelligence.

The company says the new chip is part of its strategy to accelerate the development of AI devices for the home.

LG’s own AI chip contains the proprietary LG Neural Engine to “better mimic the neural network of the human brain” in order to greatly improve the processing of deep learning algorithms. [Read more…] about LG unveils its own AI chip