Robotics & Automation News

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Industry leaders aim to make Pittsburgh the ‘robotics capital of the world’ 

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The Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a group dedicated to the growth of the region’s robotics and artificial intelligence companies, says it has attracted over 100 members – making Pittsburgh home to “one of the world’s most dynamic robotics ecosystems”. 

The network’s success has led its members and partners to commit to making Pittsburgh the “robotics capital of the world”.

The alliance brings together leaders from top robotics companies, research institutions and universities in the Pittsburgh area, including Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Argo AI, Aurora, the University of Pittsburgh, Kaarta, RE2 Robotics, Neya Systems, Carnegie Robotics, HEBI Robotics, Near Earth Autonomy, BirdBrain Technologies, Omnicell and Advanced Construction Robotics.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation commemorated this membership milestone with a grant of $125,000 to support the continued growth of the PRN. [Read more…] about Industry leaders aim to make Pittsburgh the ‘robotics capital of the world’ 

What is Steel Fabrication: Uses, Purpose, and Benefits

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Steel fabrication is a process that helps turn the raw metal into an item or product that can be used in assembly lines, homes, construction, and other places. This process requires skilled technicians who can ensure minimum to no errors to eliminate or reduce wastage.

Steel fabrication involves various techniques. Some basic ones are machining, welding, cutting, drilling, coating, and bending to turn the material into predefined customer shapes and sizes.

In machining, technicians use drills, lathes, and mills to remove unwanted materials and model the metal into the required shape and size. In trimming, processes like flame, water jet, or plasma cutting are used to slice steel into dimensions that are easy to work with. [Read more…] about What is Steel Fabrication: Uses, Purpose, and Benefits

Researchers look to visual psychophysics and machine learning in attempt to read ancient text

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In an attempt to facilitate the reading of ancient handwriting, Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are working on an AI grounded in human perception.

It is the hope that the endeavor will help to preserve millions of manuscripts, some of which have never even been read. While some of these texts are already available to the public through digital captures, this is a minority.

The project is set to make handwritten manuscripts readily available with automated transcription. [Read more…] about Researchers look to visual psychophysics and machine learning in attempt to read ancient text

Teknic ClearPath servos power Guinness World Record domino robot

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Teknic’s ClearPath servos were used to power a much-talked-about robot called “the Dominator”, a Guinness World Record setting robot, made by Mark Rober (main picture). 

In just over 24 hours, the Dominator placed more than over 100,000 dominos to create a Super Mario Brothers mural. (See video below.)

Teknic’s all-in-one servos were used to power the omnidirectional wheels to place 300 dominos at a time, with an accuracy of a couple millimeters. [Read more…] about Teknic ClearPath servos power Guinness World Record domino robot

Getting dressed with help from robots

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MIT has demonstrated a “human-aware motion planning algorithm” that addresses the safety gap in collaboration between robots and humans – and could be used to make robots help people get dressed. (See video below.)

Basic safety needs in the paleolithic era have largely evolved with the onset of the industrial and cognitive revolutions. We interact a little less with raw materials, and interface a little more with machines.

Robots don’t have the same hardwired behavioral awareness and control, so secure collaboration with humans requires methodical planning and coordination. You can likely assume your friend can fill up your morning coffee cup without spilling on you, but for a robot, this seemingly simple task requires careful observation and comprehension of human behavior.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have recently created a new algorithm to help a robot find efficient motion plans to ensure physical safety of its human counterpart. In this case, the bot helped put a jacket on a human, which could potentially prove to be a powerful tool in expanding assistance for those with disabilities or limited mobility. [Read more…] about Getting dressed with help from robots

Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?

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When robots make mistakes – and they do from time to time – re-establishing trust with human co-workers depends on how the machines own up to the errors and how human-like they appear, according to University of Michigan research.

In a study that examined multiple trust repair strategies – apologies, denials, explanations or promises – the researchers found that certain approaches directed at human co-workers are better than others and often are impacted by how the robots look.

Lionel Robert (main picture), associate professor at the U-M School of Information, says: “Robots are definitely a technology but their interactions with humans are social and we must account for these social interactions if we hope to have humans comfortably trust and rely on their robot co-workers. [Read more…] about Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?

Webinar: Artificial intelligence and 3D vision for robotics

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Webinar by IDS Imaging Development Systems
Register now at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pjbz3JcBS363fsSPKEQLVg

Date and time: September 21, 2021 at 11am European time

In this webinar, we will explore how AI and 3D can work together to expand the number of applications that can be solved with robotics and look at what is required by the components to ensure easy integration. [Read more…] about Webinar: Artificial intelligence and 3D vision for robotics

7 Ways to promote equality & inclusion in the workplace

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The core ideas behind inclusion and equality in the workplace are to make sure that everyone in a team has equal rights, opportunities, and fair treatment regardless of their differences.

If employers actively promote these concepts in their organizations, this can bring a whole range of benefits both for individuals and the company in general.

To name a few, the benefits include:

  • Friendlier atmosphere;
  • More trusted relationships;
  • Better self-esteem of employees;
  • Higher productivity;
  • Simpler and more productive teamwork.

[Read more…] about 7 Ways to promote equality & inclusion in the workplace

How to get started with home automation

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In 2021, nearly 65 percent of American homes include some form of a smart home device, according to a ValuePenguin survey of 1,000 individuals. Though the realm of home automation is growing in popularity, it can be a baffling arena.

Just the term sounds like a case of humans versus machines in some epic cyber battle, but home automation is really about simplifying human life through automating electronics in the house, such as appliances, HVAC systems, and security features, allowing them to complete tasks without requiring much interaction with the homeowner.

When implemented correctly, home automation can not only make life more convenient but can actually reduce monthly utility bills. If you’re ready to harness this futuristic power and take the leap into automating your home, here are the key steps to take to research, purchase, and install what’s needed to make your home smarter. [Read more…] about How to get started with home automation

4 Innovative construction solutions in building engineering

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Construction plays an important role in modern life. All man-made structures are the result of construction work. A vast majority of buildings, homes, towers, roads, and bridges are made of concrete and steel, plus some other materials added to bind them together.

But despite the intrinsic strength of both concrete and steel, the construction industry is still beset by numerous problems such as concrete cracking and high overall costs. To solve those issues, researchers have sought to develop construction innovations.

Among the most revolutionary innovations in building construction are energy efficient fabric structures. These are tensile materials used to wrap structural frameworks in lieu of concrete and wood. [Read more…] about 4 Innovative construction solutions in building engineering

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