Design

NGen invests $5 million into manufacturing of disinfection robots

July 8, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), the industry-led organization leading Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, is co-investing $5 million in projects leading to the development and production in Canada of automated hands-free disinfection technologies to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Five outstanding projects have been selected for funding under NGen’s Disinfection Robot Challenge. With matching contributions from industry, total value of these projects will exceed $10 million.

In April NGen challenged companies to develop innovative robotic solutions that would reduce the number of healthcare associated infections to protect the safety of both patients and healthcare workers, or that would disinfect private spaces and facilities so that businesses could bring employees back to work in a safe and sanitized environment. [Read more…] about NGen invests $5 million into manufacturing of disinfection robots

SICK shrinks its PowerProx sensor to miniature size

July 7, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

SICK has shrunk its versatile, high-performance PowerProx sensor into a space-saving miniature housing to reach the longest distances ever achieved with such a compact device.

The tiny SICK WTT4SL PowerProx Mini photoelectric sensor measures just 12.2 x 41.8 x 17.3 mm yet delivers outstanding performance to detect objects up to 1.3metres away. It is therefore ideal for high-speed production and logistics applications.

The PowerProx mini can be integrated into tight machine spaces such as the grippers of picking robots or for materials handling duties in AGVs, as well as for empty bay and clearance detection in high-bay warehouses. [Read more…] about SICK shrinks its PowerProx sensor to miniature size

Sprint Robotics launches innovation challenge with €50,000 for winner

July 2, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Sprint Robotics has launched a new industrial innovation challenge and has issued a call for robotic technologies for Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance.

Sprint Robotics announces the CFM Challenge, aiming to find demonstrable robotic technologies that can be used for the cleaning and fabric maintenance of storage tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, and their associated supporting infrastructure.

One winning solution provider will receive a reward of €50,000 and the opportunity to further develop their solution and its application. [Read more…] about Sprint Robotics launches innovation challenge with €50,000 for winner

Robotic camera offers social distancing solution, say its makers

July 2, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The makers of the robotic camera Solo Cinebot say their camera can offer a solution to production companies in this new world of social distancing. (See video below.)

Virtually every government in the world has stipulated social distancing rules, where people have to all stay two metres apart – even at work.

The Solo Cinebot system was the brainchild of Josh Shadid and Aaron Grasso and was created as a “response to filming needs at this unpredictable time”. [Read more…] about Robotic camera offers social distancing solution, say its makers

Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

June 30, 2020 by Mai Tao Leave a Comment

Toyota will make its Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) software freely available from January 2021 as part of its efforts toward a safe mobility society.

THUMS is a virtual human body model software program for computer analysis of human body injuries caused in vehicle collisions. Free access to THUMS, and subsequent use by a wider variety of users, is expected to enhance vehicle safety.

Designed to aid vehicle safety technologies’ research and development, and developed in cooperation with Toyota Central R&D Labs, THUMS was the world’s first virtual human body model software when it launched in 2000. [Read more…] about Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

June 26, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The Australian government’s newly formed Australian Space Agency (ASA) has partnered with Fugro to design, build and operate the Australian Space Automation, Artificial intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Western Australia.

Benefitting from additional funding support from the WA State Government, the new complex will support start-ups, small businesses and researchers in controlling robotics activities in space, including servicing satellites in orbit.

The ASA selected Fugro in Australia on the basis of their track record in cutting-edge remote operations and robotics control in harsh marine environments, which demonstrates their robust robotics control capability via satellite communications. [Read more…] about Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform

June 26, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Chipmaking giant recently unveiled its RB5 robotics platform.

Commercial products based on the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform are expected to be available in 2020, but the company has been partnering with a number of companies in advance.

New partners can now start developing products based on the platform, and are invited to visit the Qualcomm Developer Network webpage and the Qualcomm Technologies’ product webpage to ask for more information. [Read more…] about Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform

SICK AppSpace adds new functions for 2D and 3D machine vision integration

June 25, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

SICK AppSpace has added new functions to enable 2D and 3D machine vision integration.

The sensors specialist says the new functionality will enable system designers to “easily create individual SensorApps on their own without programming skills”.

The company says this will enable them to solve entirely new automation tasks. [Read more…] about SICK AppSpace adds new functions for 2D and 3D machine vision integration

Siemens provides its expertise to Volkswagen to develop digitized electric car production

June 25, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Volkswagen’s first new generation electric car is being built with Siemens automation and digitalization technologies.

The two companies say they are developing a standard for the upcoming Volkswagen electric car generation.

Volkswagen aims to increase the degree of automation in the body shop to 89 percent and to 28 percent in final assembly. [Read more…] about Siemens provides its expertise to Volkswagen to develop digitized electric car production

Mercedes-Benz and Nvidia partner to build ‘smartphones on wheels’

June 23, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Automotive giant Mercedes-Benz and chipmaker Nvidia have agreed a significant, wide-ranging and long-term partnership designed to build what they are describing as “smartphones on wheels”.

Nvidia, which already has a leading position in the automotive market, says it is building the chips and supercomputers that the new Mercs will require.

And Mercedes-Benz says it is busy building the operating system the newly designed cars will run. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz and Nvidia partner to build ‘smartphones on wheels’