Robotics & Automation News

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Beyond Silicon Valley: The cities and regions around the world emerging as leading hubs for robotics technology and finance

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For much of the past half-century, Silicon Valley has been shorthand for technological innovation. Its influence on computing, semiconductors, software and, more recently, artificial intelligence is undisputed. Robotics, however, has always been a more complicated case.

While Silicon Valley has played an important role in shaping the software, sensing – that is, sensor technologies – and the investment side of robotics, it has never dominated robot manufacturing or deployment in the way that Japan or Germany have.

As robotics matures into an industrial sector rather than a purely experimental one, innovation is becoming increasingly distributed. Today, some of the most important advances are emerging far from Northern California. [Read more…] about Beyond Silicon Valley: The cities and regions around the world emerging as leading hubs for robotics technology and finance

Luxembourg positions itself as European hub for autonomous trucking

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The tiny state of Luxembourg – population, fewer than 700,000 – is positioning itself as a potential European hub for autonomous freight transport, as governments on both sides of the Atlantic move to create clearer regulatory and policy frameworks for self-driving trucks.

The latest signal came during a recent visit by Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and trade, to the global headquarters of PlusAI in Santa Clara, California. Bettel was joined by Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s minister of the economy, SME, energy and tourism, in meetings with PlusAI’s executive team.

The visit reflects growing interest from Luxembourg’s government in autonomous trucking as a strategic enabler for the future of European logistics, rather than a symbolic picture opportunity. Autonomous freight transport is increasingly viewed as a way to address capacity constraints, efficiency pressures and sustainability goals across long-haul and cross-border supply chains. [Read more…] about Luxembourg positions itself as European hub for autonomous trucking

ABB expands dam electrification and automation at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine

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ABB has expanded the electrification and automation infrastructure at Boliden’s Aitik mine, enabling safe and efficient growth of one of Europe’s most important tailings facilities.

The upgrade strengthens water storage, recycling and monitoring capabilities, enabling Sweden’s largest open-pit copper mine to safely scale operations amid increased global demand for copper production.

According to the International Energy Agency, global refined copper demand is projected to grow by around 22 percent by 2035 under the Stated Policies Scenario. [Read more…] about ABB expands dam electrification and automation at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine

Siemens launches PAVE360 Automotive to accelerate software-defined vehicle development

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Siemens, an industrial technology company, unveiled its PAVE360 Automotive technology, a new category of digital twin software that is pre-integrated and designed as an off-the-shelf offering to address the escalating complexity of automotive hardware and software integration.

PAVE360 Automotive empowers automotive manufacturers and suppliers to speed the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with early full-system, virtual integration that mirrors real vehicle hardware and accelerates both application and low-level software development for ADAS, AD and IVI.

This removes the need for customers to build their own digital twins before testing software and significantly reducing time to market for critical applications – from months to days. [Read more…] about Siemens launches PAVE360 Automotive to accelerate software-defined vehicle development

Investors warn ‘AI hype is fueling a bubble in humanoid robotics’

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Many humanoid robotics companies backed by investors face fundamental challenges with cost and reliability that will not be solved any time soon, a report by CB Insights suggests. According to investors, venture capital companies especially now should embrace a revenue-first philosophy.

Recent major venture capital (VC) reports from KPMG and PitchBook confirm that AI remains in the lead, accounting for more than half of all investments this year.

Data from CB Insights shows that investors’ attention inside the AI market is shifting rapidly toward industrial humanoid robotics. As a result, investors argue the flood of AI capital is pushing robotics toward a speculative zone, with too many startups promising breakthroughs without commercial evidence. [Read more…] about Investors warn ‘AI hype is fueling a bubble in humanoid robotics’

Scientists at Penn and Michigan create ‘world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots’

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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan have created what they describe as “the world’s smallest fully programmable, autonomous robots”: microscopic swimming machines that can independently sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months and cost just a penny each.

Barely visible to the naked eye, each robot measures about 200 by 300 by 50 micrometers, smaller than a grain of salt. Operating at the scale of many biological microorganisms, the robots could advance medicine by monitoring the health of individual cells and manufacturing by helping construct microscale devices.

Powered by light, the robots carry microscopic computers and can be programmed to move in complex patterns, sense local temperatures and adjust their paths accordingly. [Read more…] about Scientists at Penn and Michigan create ‘world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots’

Comau unveils new robotic arc welding system that ‘increases productivity and reduces costs with AI’

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Ensuring the efficient and safe handling of welding applications is a significant challenge for steel companies. To address this complexity and at the same time achieve the highest production quality, more and more companies are adopting robotic, advanced and intelligent solutions.

This is driven by the shortage of skilled labor and the risks associated with harsh working conditions, with the aim of optimizing processes, reducing costs, and improving operator safety.

Such is the case with Tubosider, a manufacturer of steel products used for civil works, such as road and noise barriers, pipelines, and linings for tunnels and tanks, which help protect people and the environment. The global company has adopted an automated solution for arc welding developed by system integrator X-Machine based in Alba (Italy), using Comau technologies. [Read more…] about Comau unveils new robotic arc welding system that ‘increases productivity and reduces costs with AI’

MIT and Stanford university researchers demonstrate vine-inspired robotic gripper that ‘gently lifts heavy and fragile objects’

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The new design could be adapted to assist the elderly, sort warehouse products, or unload heavy cargo.

In the horticultural world, some vines are especially grabby. As they grow, the woody tendrils can wrap around obstacles with enough force to pull down entire fences and trees.

Inspired by vines’ twisty tenacity, engineers at MIT and Stanford University have developed a robotic gripper that can snake around and lift a variety of objects, including a glass vase and a watermelon, offering a gentler approach compared to conventional gripper designs. A larger version of the robo-tendrils can also safely lift a human out of bed.

The new bot consists of a pressurized box, positioned near the target object, from which long, vine-like tubes inflate and grow, like socks being turned inside out. As they extend, the vines twist and coil around the object before continuing back toward the box, where they are automatically clamped in place and mechanically wound back up to gently lift the object in a soft, sling-like grasp. [Read more…] about MIT and Stanford university researchers demonstrate vine-inspired robotic gripper that ‘gently lifts heavy and fragile objects’

Jordan’s water industry taps into ABB’s digital and AI technology to address resource scarcity

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ABB has been selected by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Water Authority of Jordan to provide its ABB Genix Industrial IoT and AI Suite for water and energy data management to help address the nation’s water management challenges by improving energy efficiency across the sector.

Jordan is currently ranked as the 15th most water scarce country in the world.

As part of the project, ABB will also deliver comprehensive training and support to its in-country partner, Volt Automation, to ensure effective implementation of Genix. [Read more…] about Jordan’s water industry taps into ABB’s digital and AI technology to address resource scarcity

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’

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