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ASI autonomous vehicles piloted on California farms

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Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) technology will be used in two pilot programs with large scale commercial growers in California.

A partnership agreement has been announced between ASI, New Holland Agriculture, and E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest family-owned winery in the world, to operate the autonomous vehicles in their vineyard operations.

Similarly, there has also been a partnership announced between ASI, Case IH, and Campbell Soup Company’s Bolthouse Farms, one of North America’s largest vegetable growers.

[Read more…] about ASI autonomous vehicles piloted on California farms

Interview: A new type of networking that is claimed to be faster and more reliable

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In this exclusive interview, Todd Rigby of Rajant talks about a new type of networking technology that he claims is faster and more reliable 

A growing number of factories, warehouses and other industrial facilities are installing computer networks in order to make the most of the opportunities offered by the internet of things.

Typically, sensors are connected to traditional machinery, and then those sensors are connected to what are referred to as “gateway” devices, which are like routers.

This gateway can send the data collected and sent to it by the sensor either to a computer on-site or in the cloud through an internet connection.  [Read more…] about Interview: A new type of networking that is claimed to be faster and more reliable

Robot used to remove burner in gas-fired power plant

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Removing a burner from inside a gas turbine is a tricky task. Siemens decided to use a Kawasaki robot to perform this maintenance operation, which heralds the way for reduced outage times for power plant operators.

This Kawasaki MG10HL robot, installed at the Siemens Lausward power plant in Dusseldorf, has a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kg and a 4-metre reach. The powerful, extra large payload Kawasaki robot was installed to perform the dangerous, routine maintenance task of replacing burners and transitions on huge gas turbines.

Watch the video here

Swisslog and Kuka join forces to strengthen CarryPick

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CarryPick, an automated storage and order fulfillment system, has a new KMP600 automated guided vehicle (AGV), developed in close collaboration between KUKA and Swisslog.

Synergies have allowed for a number of technical enhancements that make the AGV suitable for use in multiple industries. The CarryPick solution will be globally supported as part of the KUKA portfolio.

Better mechatronics make the vehicle much quieter and enable a more ergonomic workspace, while also increasing battery life. [Read more…] about Swisslog and Kuka join forces to strengthen CarryPick

Fujitsu and INESA establish smart manufacturing joint venture in China

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A new joint venture, INESA Intelligent Technology, to provide services and a platform for smart manufacturing solutions in China has been set up by Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu (China) Holdings, and INESA Group, a major state-owned company in China that provides smart city solutions.

Fujitsu and INESA began their collaboration in the smart manufacturing field in 2015, and expanded the scope of that collaboration in 2017, to a broad-based collaboration, including smart cities.

By linking the experience INESA has developed on the front lines of manufacturing for over 80 years with Fujitsu’s ICT technologies such as IoT, big data, and AI, this new venture aims to provide total solutions for the manufacturing industry in China, optimizing customers’ manufacturing processes, improving the efficiency of factories, and reducing costs through detailed manufacturing management.

[Read more…] about Fujitsu and INESA establish smart manufacturing joint venture in China

Large-scale battery to counter power outages launched

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Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has developed a container-type large-scale energy storage system for instantaneous voltage drop countermeasures, and has released the developed system to the market in cooperation with Japan Facility Solutions, Inc., a 100％ subsidiary of Tepco Energy Partner, Inc.

The energy storage block of this system uses the olivine-type iron phosphate lithium-ion battery “Fortelion”, manufactured by Murata subsidiary Tohoku Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and is used in combination with an AC-DC converter made by Meidensha Corporation or Yamabishi Corporation.

Instantaneous voltage drop (a momentary drop in power system voltage) such as due to lightning strikes to power transmission lines may have a large impact, such as stopping production in factories.

[Read more…] about Large-scale battery to counter power outages launched

Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

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One of China’s largest home appliance manufacturers is planning to increase its use of robotics and automation technologies in an effort to become more productive. 

Gree, which must be a competitor of home appliances giant Midea, another Chinese company, is said to be “setting up unmanned factories”, some of which are already established.

This is according to China.org, which seems to be a government-connected news website.  [Read more…] about Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

3D printing gives design flexibility for bathroom manufacturer

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Kitchen and bath product maker Kallista has made a the spout of a tap produced using 3D Systems’ 3D printing materials and technology.

“Designers usually need to consider a manufacturing process and they have to design around that process,” said Bill McKeone, design studio manager, Kallista.

“3D Systems’ breadth of materials and technologies allowed us the freedom to create a unique, functional faucet (tap) which would not have been possible with a traditional manufacturing process.”

[Read more…] about 3D printing gives design flexibility for bathroom manufacturer

Innovative sensors now also determine correct positioning for the world of Industry 4.0

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The detection of objects in systems is an important part of automation today.

Objects have to be reliably detected and measured, as well as verifying that they are correctly positioned.

The scope of possible applications is almost limitless and is continuously expanding – for example, detecting valve and flap positions, the position of PV panels for optimal exposure to light, the position of a ship’s rudder, automation tasks in the machine-tool industry, and so on.  [Read more…] about Innovative sensors now also determine correct positioning for the world of Industry 4.0

Electronics industry increasingly relies on collaborative robots to boost productivity, says Rethink Robotics

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Rethink Robotics says its collaborative robot Sawyer augments human efforts by taking on tedious tasks like circuit board testing, quality control

Rethink Robotics, a provider of collaborative robots for the manufacturing industry, has seen significant collaborative robot adoption by leading electronics manufacturers.

The company says manufacturers are “increasingly choosing Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer to increase productivity and relieve employees from performing repetitive tasks”.

Sawyer is characterized by intelligent force control, which enables the precise and appropriate use of force when handling electronic components, fragile parts and high-quality accessories.  [Read more…] about Electronics industry increasingly relies on collaborative robots to boost productivity, says Rethink Robotics