Robotics & Automation News

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Design

Volvo Cars and Varjo launch ‘world-first’ mixed-reality application for car development

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Volvo Cars and Varjo, the Finnish maker of high-end augmented-reality headsets, have created what they say is a “world-first” mixed-reality approach to evaluating prototypes, designs and active safety technologies.

The collaboration will be further strengthened by the Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s decision to invest in Varjo. The Tech Fund is Volvo’s venture capital fund, which invests in high-potential technology start-ups.

Volvo Cars and Varjo have made it possible for the first time to drive a real car while wearing a mixed-reality headset, seamlessly adding virtual elements or complete features that seem real to both the driver and the car’s sensors, for development purposes. [Read more…] about Volvo Cars and Varjo launch ‘world-first’ mixed-reality application for car development

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

Boom Supersonic and Dassault Systèmes partner to advance development of new supersonic plane

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Boom Supersonic is implementing Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform to accelerate the design and development of Overture, its Mach-2.2 commercial airliner, with an aim to make supersonic travel mainstream and affordable.

Boom Supersonic is using Dassault Systèmes’ “Reinvent the Sky” industry solution experience based on the 3DExperience platform to support product development from concept through manufacturing and certification.

By using this solution, Dassault Systèmes says Boom Supersonic can cut development time of its first prototype in half and improve product quality by reducing program complexity, inefficiency, costs and resources, lowering the barriers to market entry. [Read more…] about Boom Supersonic and Dassault Systèmes partner to advance development of new supersonic plane

International System of Units agreement being commemorated today

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Intergovernmental organization BIPM outlines historic changes to the International System of Units, or the SI

Today, May 20, is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875.

This treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment.

The theme for World Metrology Day 2019 is “The International System of Units – Fundamentally Better”. [Read more…] about International System of Units agreement being commemorated today

NIST unveils tiny new chip for atomic clocks

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Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and partners have demonstrated an experimental, next-generation atomic clock – ticking at high “optical” frequencies – that is much smaller than usual, made of just three small chips plus supporting electronics and optics.

As can be seen from the main picture, it’s smaller than a coffee bean.

Described in Optica, the chip-scale clock is based on the vibrations, or “ticks”, of rubidium atoms confined in a tiny glass container, called a vapor cell, on a chip.

Two frequency combs on chips act like gears to link the atoms’ high-frequency optical ticks to a lower, widely used microwave frequency that can be used in applications. [Read more…] about NIST unveils tiny new chip for atomic clocks

Mass customization platform KBMax named ‘visual configuration leader’

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KBMax, a company which provides mass customization services to the manufacturing sector, says it has been named “visual configuration leader” by G2 Crowd, a website which collates and presents reviews from users of software.

KBMax mainly offers its services through its website, and primarily categorizes itself as a “CPQ” platform, a well-known term in sales and marketing which stands for configure, price, quote.

Traditionally, CPQ platforms have not included visual configurators, which enable the customization of a product using online 3D computer-aided design software.

[Read more…] about Mass customization platform KBMax named ‘visual configuration leader’

Volkswagen partners with Infineon for electric vehicles

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Infineon Technologies is a new partner in the Volkswagen Group’s strategic supplier network called “Fast”, short for Future Automotive Supply Tracks.

Infineon says the program is aimed at developing close cooperation in key future fields.

As the market leader in semiconductors for electro-mobility, Infineon says it contributes significantly to the move toward electric drivetrains by the world’s largest car maker.

[Read more…] about Volkswagen partners with Infineon for electric vehicles

Automotive and industrial automation sectors forecast to drive micro motor market revenue to $38 billion

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Demand from the automotive and industrial automation sectors is expected to drive micro motor market revenue to $38 billion, according to a new report by Fact.mr.

With soaring vehicle production and sales, the applicability and adoption of electrical equipment are also witnessing a consistent rise globally.

While automatic, quantitative fuel injection systems have already substituted conventional carburetors, micro motors are also rapidly replacing the anti-lock braking systems, which is foreseen to account for remarkable sales of micro motor within the automotive industry.

[Read more…] about Automotive and industrial automation sectors forecast to drive micro motor market revenue to $38 billion

Beam me up, Scotty. Or send me a foldable smartphone

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If you’re among the millions of people who watched the sci-fi TV show Westworld and saw the folding smartphones used by some of the characters, you probably immediately thought, “I want one of those.”

That’s what we thought anyway.

And whereas the old, 1960s Star Trek showed off tablet computers and other technologies many decades before they were beamed into our collective – and possibly holographic – reality, nowadays, things happen slightly faster.

[Read more…] about Beam me up, Scotty. Or send me a foldable smartphone

Dyndrite in line to raise $10 million for its 3D design software

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A startup company called Dyndrite is set to raise more than $10 million to bring its computer-aided design software to market.

The privately held Dyndrite says Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused investment fund and an early Dyndrite investor, will lead the company’s $10 million+ Series A financing round.

Cota Capital joins existing investors, Amplify Ventures, The House Fund, and private investor and former president and CEO of Autodesk, Carl Bass.

[Read more…] about Dyndrite in line to raise $10 million for its 3D design software