Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Industry

What does the term ‘productivity’ actually mean in economics?

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Here at Robotics and Automation News, we’ve often wondered what factors determine the productivity of a nation or industry, market or economy. There is a reason for this that has to with our website’s editorial subject matter and possibly our survival as a business.

In other words, we would like to expand our editorial coverage, and we would like to monetise. Our website has millions of readers, a significant proportion of whom are business people, so we have a marketable audience.

So far, we have mostly carried niche industrial news. Now, we want to add to that broader, global industry-wide and indeed world economy-wide, perspectives that may affect their growth and success. [Read more…] about What does the term ‘productivity’ actually mean in economics?

FLIR Systems launches new sensor for drones and robots

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FLIR Systems has launched something called “FLIR Hadron”, which the company describes as the industry’s first dual sensor module for drone, robotic, and imaging original equipment manufacturers.

Designed to help reduce development costs and improve time-to-market, the lightweight, low power, and compact form factor includes a 12-megapixel visible camera paired with the FLIR Boson 320×240 resolution thermal camera with up to a 60-hertz framerate.

Paul Clayton, general manager, components business at FLIR, says: “With the introduction of Hadron, FLIR Systems is leading the way in offering low-cost, dual sensor integration across a variety of industries from commercial drones to industrial imaging systems. [Read more…] about FLIR Systems launches new sensor for drones and robots

Spacetime Labs and Small Robot Company to develop swarm robotics for agri-business in Latin America

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SpaceTime Labs and Small Robot Company are partnering to co-develop swarms of fourth generation autonomous aerial and terrestrial robots to “transform” Latin American agriculture with “per plant farming solutions”.

The strategic partnership will focus on co-developing an on the ground, end-to-end “per plant” planting, weeds, pests and disease management and nutrition management “farming as a service” value propositions delivered through an integrated delivery “sense-predict-act” value chain for all key commercial crops in Latin America.

The companies will work with leading Brazilian and Argentinian farmers to prototype, test and scale Per Plant Farming – maximising yields whilst reducing the impact on the environment. [Read more…] about Spacetime Labs and Small Robot Company to develop swarm robotics for agri-business in Latin America

SICK’s nanoScan wins innovation award from Robotics Business Review

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SICK Sensor Intelligence has won the Robotics Innovation Award from the Robotics Business Review for the second year in a row.

SICK won the prize for its nanoScan3, which it describes as “the world’s smallest profile safety laser scanner”.

The RBR50 is an annual list that recognizes and celebrates forward thinking companies and the original, impact solutions created by these companies. [Read more…] about SICK’s nanoScan wins innovation award from Robotics Business Review

Industrial Automation Market: Rapid Advances Result in ‘Countless Applications’

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The rapid advances in technology since the turn of the 21st century, have yielded countless applications; especially in the industrial and manufacturing sector.

Industrial automation involves the use of control systems such as computers or automated systems such as robots to simplify different processes in an industrial manufacturing sector.

In earlier days, the purpose of automation was improving the overall productivity, be it manufacturing of labor management. [Read more…] about Industrial Automation Market: Rapid Advances Result in ‘Countless Applications’

Sarcos Robotics chooses MFE Rentals as resale partner for its snake-like robot

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Sarcos Robotics and MFE Rentals have agreed a partnership giving MFE Rentals customers premier access to the snake-like Guardian S robotic crawler system (main picture).

The Guardian S is a compact, multi-purpose remote visual inspection tool designed to traverse challenging terrain while maintaining real-time two-way video, voice and data communication.

Sarcos says the Guardian S robot, created and built in the United States, is designed to navigate unstructured and unpredictable environments that previously no other crawler had the capabilities to access. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics chooses MFE Rentals as resale partner for its snake-like robot

Parrot and Hoverseen offer drone surveillance and inspection solutions

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Drone manufacturer Parrot has agreed a partnership with Hoverseen, an automatic drone solutions provider.

Through this partnership, enterprises can now use Parrot ANAFI drones as an automated, “drone-in-a-box” surveillance solution capable of dispatching and charging itself from a lightweight docking and recharging station.

Parrot’s ANAFI, ANAFI Thermal and new ANAFI USA drones offer an ultra-compact tool to gain new aerial vantage points for security and inspection professionals. [Read more…] about Parrot and Hoverseen offer drone surveillance and inspection solutions

Buyers don’t all know the potential of robots nor who can supply them, says Lux Research

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Potential buyers are not aware of the potential of robots, nor which companies can supply and integrate them into their business, according to a report by Lux Research.

The research company says businesses are “increasingly using robotics” across a wide variety of industries, but many companies still fail to understand what’s currently possible with today’s technology or which vendors can provide the solutions they need.

In its new report, Building Robotics Solutions, Lux Research attempts to create a framework for selecting robotics vendors based on the key capabilities and level of customization required. [Read more…] about Buyers don’t all know the potential of robots nor who can supply them, says Lux Research

Universal Robots takes its virtual trade show to America

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Universal Robots is taking its virtual event to America after its successful debut in Europe.

The company says the event will be America’s largest virtual collaborative robot expo and conference.

Universal Robots says the unique trade show, The Cobot Expo, offers American manufacturers “flexible automation solutions for a fast-changing world”. [Read more…] about Universal Robots takes its virtual trade show to America

NIST awards $3.4 million to support Manufacturing USA’s coronavirus projects

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The US government has awarded $3.4 million to support Manufacturing USA’s solutions to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded $3.4 million in grants to support “high-impact projects” for Covid-19 pandemic response.

The funding is authorized through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Donald Trump in March 2020. [Read more…] about NIST awards $3.4 million to support Manufacturing USA’s coronavirus projects