Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Industry

Webinar: Speed and separation monitoring system from SICK and Universal Robots

by

Webinar: Fast Solution for Speed & Separation Monitoring in a Collaborative Robot Application

SICK and Universal Robots (UR) are announcing a new safety solution for the safeguarding of accessible robotic applications.

When combined, the sBot safety system and URCap from SICK increase productivity with immediate automated restart and profit from an easy configuration of the safety system directly from the UR teach pendant.

With this partnership, SICK and UR have created the fastest way to implement speed and separation monitoring for cooperative robot applications. [Read more…] about Webinar: Speed and separation monitoring system from SICK and Universal Robots

ANYmal robot being put to work inspecting BASF facility

by

Robot maker ANYbotics has unveiled its collaboration with BASF, one of the largest global chemical manufacturers, which involves the use of the ANYmal robot for inspections at Ludwigshafen, Germany. (See video below.) 

The two companies say the collaboration “displays the efficiency, quality, and scalability of robotic inspection and data-collection capabilities in complex industrial environments”.

On production floors, robotics and manufacturing have gone hand-in-hand for decades. But on industrial plants, repetitive inspections, environment mapping, and efficiency analytics have mostly relied on manual work. These physical efforts impact economic sustainability, as well as process reliability and data quality. [Read more…] about ANYmal robot being put to work inspecting BASF facility

Universal Robots develops interface for Siemens engineering portal

by

Universal Robots, the world’s largest collaborative robots manufacturer, has developed an interface for the engineering portal of Siemens, one of the world’s largest industrial technology companies.

The companies say that integrating Universal Robots’ collaborative robots into complex machines and manufacturing environments will soon be a process machine builders and systems integrators can “seamlessly handle” through the Siemens Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portal.

The UR collaborative robots will become part of the Simatic Robot Library within Siemens’ TIA environment through an interpreter interface planned to be completed within the fourth quarter of 2021. [Read more…] about Universal Robots develops interface for Siemens engineering portal

European project Robotics4EU releases surveys aimed at robotics community

by

Robotics4EU, a three-year project funded under the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme, is releasing two surveys to support the project implementation and its goal: to boost a wider adoption of robotics in Europe. 

Developed as a basis for foundational work and to support the Robotics4EU project implementation, which started in January, these two surveys are aimed at the robotics community and policy makers in the area of robotics.

The data gathered from these surveys will also help identify the greatest challenges, bottlenecks and needs in enabling wider adoption of robotics in the project’s areas – healthcare, inspection and maintenance of infrastructure, agri-food, and agile production – and help the uptake of principles of responsible robotics. [Read more…] about European project Robotics4EU releases surveys aimed at robotics community

SICK partners with Universal Robots for speed and separation monitoring system

by

Webinar: Fast Solution for Speed & Separation Monitoring in a Collaborative Robot Application

SICK and Universal Robots (UR) are announcing a new safety solution for the safeguarding of accessible robotic applications.

When combined, the sBot safety system and URCap from SICK increase productivity with immediate automated restart and profit from an easy configuration of the safety system directly from the UR teach pendant.

With this partnership, SICK and UR have created the fastest way to implement speed and separation monitoring for cooperative robot applications. [Read more…] about SICK partners with Universal Robots for speed and separation monitoring system

ABB and ETH extend partnership to advance research into the future of robotics

by

Building on their long-term relationship across several disciplines, ABB and ETH Zurich, a leading research university in Switzerland, have expanded their partnership into robotics research as part of ETH’s RobotX strategic initiative.

Launched in 2019, RobotX aims to position ETH among the top robotics research institutions worldwide.

As part of RobotX’s industry affiliation program, ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business will support ETH’s ambitious initiative with its leading in-house robotics expertise to combine competence into a platform aimed at training new talent and attracting worldwide experts to advance a range of future technologies, including mobile robotics. [Read more…] about ABB and ETH extend partnership to advance research into the future of robotics

FORT Robotics raises $13 million in funding

by

FORT Robotics, a technology company creating safety-and-security solutions for autonomous machines, has closed on $13 million in funding led by Prime Movers Lab, an investor in breakthrough scientific startups.

With the new investment, FORT will more than double the size of its workforce and expand its product offerings in key markets.

Samuel Reeves, founder and CEO, says: “We’re excited to partner with our new investors to help position FORT at the forefront of this rapidly evolving space. [Read more…] about FORT Robotics raises $13 million in funding

Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

by

The Chinese robotics sector generated almost half of total global patents in the most recent year available, according to a new report. 

The figure was published in the Annual Report on the Development of the Robot Industry in China, jointly written by HRG International Institute of Research and Innovation as well as the China Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation.

The two organizations produced what they call the 2021 Blue Book of the Robot Industry, based on their research. [Read more…] about Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

A Quick Guide to Vane Pumps: What They Are and How They Work

by

Vane pumps are one of those essential parts of automobiles or any device that uses high-pressure hydraulic pumps.

They’re essential and yet you may not be aware of their utility at all. They’re those perfectly well-engineered bits that are crucial to keeping things running perfectly.

Whether you need a new one for your car or a smaller device such as carbonators for soft drinks or espresso coffee machines, there are a few things you need to be on the lookout for. [Read more…] about A Quick Guide to Vane Pumps: What They Are and How They Work

Leave me alone! Guide to the ‘Do Not Call’ list

by

It’s been a busy day. Work, shopping for dinner, preparing meals and now your daughter needs your help with her homework. So, you sit down and help her work out a math problem when all of a sudden, the phone rings.

You get up to answer it and glance at the caller ID, which lists a local number. Because it’s local, you answer the call – and much to your displeasure, it’s a robocall – that annoying recorded phone call that offers you a “terrific interest rate on your credit card balances.”

To make matters worse, this is the third such call in two days. [Read more…] about Leave me alone! Guide to the ‘Do Not Call’ list