Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Engineering

New technology uses lasers to bend glass ‘with speed and precision’

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The glass industry is entering a new era of digital precision as a result of an EU-funded DiMAT project, which is helping companies like Hegla-Hanic transform complex production processes into more sustainable operations efficiently driven by data.

As demand grows for spectacular glass façades and free-formed 3D designs in modern architecture, like the Vaghuset Business Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, for example, manufacturers face increasing pressure to deliver ever more complex, high-performance glass products.

Hegla-Hanic, part of the Hegla Group based in Beverungen, Germany, is a leader in ERP and MES software for glass manufacturing, and is collaborating with Fraunhofer IMW in the DiMAT project to bring cutting-edge digital tools into the glass forming process. [Read more…] about New technology uses lasers to bend glass ‘with speed and precision’

Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

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The thermal insulation landscape is crowded with options: fiberglass, ceramic wool, aerogel, foam composites, and mineral-based materials. Yet when engineers need reliable insulation in demanding environments like aerospace applications, industrial furnaces, and high-temperature equipment, mica emerges as the best choice. The reason isn’t marketing. It’s performance in the real world.

Understanding why mica outperforms alternatives requires comparing not just thermal conductivity numbers, but overall performance across temperature range, durability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. When you understand the full picture, mica sheets and mica components become the logical choice, not the expensive alternative. [Read more…] about Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

Drako Tech launches ‘world’s first single-ECU automotive platform’

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Drako Tech has announced DriveOS with HyperSafety, which the company describes as “the automotive industry’s first single-ECU hard real-time automotive operating system”.

The Drako DriveOS platform was launched in 2015 and has been battle-tested in Drako GTE and Drako Dragon high performance vehicles. It consolidates all vehicle subsystem, including control systems, ADAS, digital cockpit, and entertainment, into a single standard PC – reducing cost, enabling faster development, and delivering cyber-secure OTA updates. DriveOS supports all propulsion systems – ICE, EV, and hybrid. [Read more…] about Drako Tech launches ‘world’s first single-ECU automotive platform’

BlackBerry QNX embedded technology ‘now powering more than 275 million vehicles on the road’

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QNX, a division of BlackBerry has announced that Counterpoint Research, a technology analysis and market research firm, has confirmed that QNX software is now embedded in more than 275 million vehicles worldwide; an increase of 100 million since 2020.

As automakers continue to navigate a period of profound transformation, the shift to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is accelerating – placing software at the center of innovation, safety, and the in-vehicle experience.

This evolution is redefining how vehicles are designed, built, and maintained, making robust, scalable software platforms like QNX mission-critical for OEMs worldwide. [Read more…] about BlackBerry QNX embedded technology ‘now powering more than 275 million vehicles on the road’

Preparing Your SUV for Off-Roading: Essential Modifications Guide

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Lots of modern SUVs have impressive capabilities like – AWD systems, hill descent control, terrain modes, all the electronic wizardry you could want, but after taking one off the road, you soon realize that most of those features are only impressive on paper. In reality, you want your crossover or SUV to be prepared for beating, and that’s a whole different story.

Take that stock vehicle onto a real trail with rocks, mud, or steep inclines and you’ll quickly discover its limitations. Factory all-season tires spin uselessly in mud, stock ground clearance leaves much to be desired, and that plastic skid plate protecting your oil pan is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. One good trail ride can cost you thousands in repairs or leave you waiting hours for someone to tow you out.

Luckily the aftermarket industry has lots of vehicle-specific options to prepare your rig for off-roading. Whether you need rock sliders for a 3rd gen 4Runner, Outback lift kit or a steel Chevy Trailblazer off road bumper, there are dozens of options to choose from. Although it doesn’t mean you need to invest thousands in your build, if you just want to get out there and explore local trails. [Read more…] about Preparing Your SUV for Off-Roading: Essential Modifications Guide

Square Robot raises new Series B funding and agrees collaboration with Marathon Petroleum

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Square Robot, a specialist provider of submersible robotic tank inspection systems, has announced the completion of a new funding round and collaboration with Marathon Petroleum Corp., an integrated downstream and midstream energy company operating the largest refining system in the United States.

Marathon will participate in the Series B funding round alongside several other investors. As part of this funding, Marathon will collaborate to help shape the design and development of Square Robot’s next-generation robotic platform, while continuing to deploy Square Robot’s existing fleet to conduct critical tank inspections across its nationwide network of terminals and refineries. [Read more…] about Square Robot raises new Series B funding and agrees collaboration with Marathon Petroleum

From Pilot to Production: Autonomous Trucking Explained

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Autonomous trucking is starting to look less like a science project and more like an operating model. The hard part is no longer only the driving system itself.

The real work is building everything around it: how freight is booked, how vehicles are supported in the field, how safety cases are proven, how regulations are implemented, and how uptime is protected when the unexpected happens.

In a recent industry interview, a major truck manufacturer’s autonomy division described its position as already operating commercially and focused on scaling through partnerships, production integration, and an ecosystem approach rather than treating autonomy as a side experiment. [Read more…] about From Pilot to Production: Autonomous Trucking Explained

Torque Testing in Automation Labs: Key Criteria for Choosing the Right Torque Tester

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Imagine inspecting a freshly made product or assembly for quality issues and finding that a few fasteners feel suspiciously loose. The sinking realisation that an entire project could be compromised due to inadequate torque measurements can easily stop anyone in their tracks.

That’s why the right torque tester can be an invaluable tool for your project. However, buying the correct tester the first time requires some preparation, including thorough research. Below are some of the more important things to think about as you begin looking for the best torque tester for your needs. [Read more…] about Torque Testing in Automation Labs: Key Criteria for Choosing the Right Torque Tester

Pusan National University researchers use AI to create optimized engine components that ‘outperform human designs’

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In the new breakthrough, the machine learning technology helps create “32 percent more efficient hydraulic pumps”, say the researchers

The gerotor tooth profile is crucial for determining hydraulic system performance in automotive engineering. In a new development, researchers from Pusan National University, South Korea have leveraged conditional generative adversarial networks for machine learning-driven gerotor profile synthesis and optimization.

The novel approach has remarkably produced designs that outperform human efforts and lead to 32 percent more efficient hydraulic pumps, potentially revolutionizing the automotive industry.

Gerotor pumps for oil circulation and lubrication are crucial components in automotive and hydraulic systems. They possess a compact design, excellent flow rate per rotation, and high suction capability. [Read more…] about Pusan National University researchers use AI to create optimized engine components that ‘outperform human designs’

Ishida acquires of Robot Grader to advance protein packing automation

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Ishida, a specialist in end-to-end weighing, packing and quality control solutions, has acquired Swedish robotics automation expert Robot Grader.

This exciting development marks a strategic expansion of Ishida’s automation capabilities, enabling protein processors to benefit from smarter, automated fixed weight tray-packing systems, supported by enhanced service and project expertise.

This acquisition strengthens Ishida’s expertise and reinforces its position as a market leader in protein packing automation, whilst paving the way for further innovation. [Read more…] about Ishida acquires of Robot Grader to advance protein packing automation