Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Infrastructure

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

Startup Built Robotics raises $15 million to develop technology to enable autonomous construction

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A startup company called Built Robotics has raised at least $15 million to develop technology that would enable construction equipment such as bulldozers, earth diggers and excavators to operate themselves. 

Self-operating construction equipment would obviously save a significant amount of the costs associated with construction as humans would not need to be driving those vehicles any more.

It might also make the industry safer.

Speaking to USA Today, founder Noah Ready-Campbell, says: “The idea behind Built Robotics is to use automation technology make construction safer, faster and cheaper.”  [Read more…] about Startup Built Robotics raises $15 million to develop technology to enable autonomous construction

Green buildings provide $6 billion in benefits to health and climate, says Harvard study

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Environmentally-firendly buildings provide $6 billion in benefits to health and climate, says a new Harvard study supported by United Technologies.

These previously undocumented benefits are in addition to $7.5 billion in energy savings, for a combined $13 billion in total benefits.

The public health benefits include fewer hospitalizations and reduced climate impacts.  [Read more…] about Green buildings provide $6 billion in benefits to health and climate, says Harvard study

Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

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Andrew Watts, CEO Newtecnic, discusses the construction industry’s move towards robotics and mass-customization that brings designers and makers together for positive disruption within and beyond the industry

Digitalization, robotics and automation, have produced significant quality and productivity benefits in manufacturing over several decades.

In construction, however, while digitalization has very successfully automated design, the disconnect between designing and making is ripe for an industrial revolution.

And while innovative product manufacturers use technology to move from mass-production to mass-customization, the construction industry is only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production of standardized components.

This use of what can be considered an outmoded idea seems to be a retrograde step because the opportunity now exists for construction to deploy the very latest technology and thereby take the lead in manufacturing.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

Hydro-Québec unveils LineRanger robot for checking live electric power lines

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Hydro-Québec has launched what the company describes as “a new milestone in the development of power line inspection robots”. (See video below.)

The company has unveiled a functional prototype of its new robotic platform, the LineRanger, for the checking of overhead power lines.

The robot, developed by Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) in Varennes, is a new technological solution for the inspection of conductor bundles on high-voltage transmission lines.  [Read more…] about Hydro-Québec unveils LineRanger robot for checking live electric power lines

Beckhoff, IAConnects and Arkessa taking IoT to facilities management

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Beckhoff Automation has partnered with IAConnects and Arkessa to integrate internet of things technologies to facilities management. 

Global mass urbanisation seems to be an unstoppable trend which brings with it significant challenges for municipal authorities, insurance companies and facilities management.

Beckhoff says its partnership with Arkessa and IAConnects will help address these challenges.  [Read more…] about Beckhoff, IAConnects and Arkessa taking IoT to facilities management

Landis+Gyr adds cellular option to line sensor products

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Intelligent sensor gives utilities more choices as part of a connected data acquisition platform

Landis+Gyr is expanding its distribution sensor product portfolio by adding a cellular communication option to its S610 Line Sensor.

The S610 is used for detecting and locating faults quickly, monitoring power flows, and improving grid reliability.

The new cellular model provides the same line monitoring functions as the RF Mesh S610 Line Sensor, but uses a cellular radio to communicate directly with utility Scada or other types of grid management systems.  [Read more…] about Landis+Gyr adds cellular option to line sensor products

Rockwell Automation launches infrastructure-as-a-service to simplify setting up industrial networks

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Rockwell Automation has launched an infrastructure-as-a-service which the company says simplifies and accelerates networks.

The new service bundles networking products and remote-monitoring support into one contract.

Rockwell says a secure and robust network infrastructure is essential to improving overall competitiveness in a connected enterprise, but designing, deploying and maintaining this infrastructure can be complex and time consuming for many companies, and is often too costly for their capital budgets.  [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation launches infrastructure-as-a-service to simplify setting up industrial networks

Chinese companies planning to bid for German industrial giant FFT, says Reuters

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Chinese firms including the Jiangsu Hagong Intelligent Robot Company are planning to make a bid to buy German industrial giant FFT, according to a report on Reuters.com. 

Other companies said to be interested include state-owned Shanghai Electric and equity firm AGIC Capital, says Reuters.

FFT, which builds manufacturing facilities for automakers and other industrial companies, is said to be valued at around $712 million.

FFT is owned by an equity investment company called Aton, and any deal is not likely to cause any political controversies, according to people Reuters quotes.  [Read more…] about Chinese companies planning to bid for German industrial giant FFT, says Reuters

Google’s new products intensify competition in home automation market, says IHS Markit

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New Google Home Mini and Max deepen battle with Amazon at both ends of smart speaker market while Apple’s HomePod faces increasingly competitive environment 

Two new smart speakers were announced at Google’s Pixel 2 smartphone launch event, closing the gap with Amazon in terms of market-penetrating low-end affordability of its smart speakers. 

The first speaker, the $49 Google Home Mini, features a small, rounded, design-neutral form factor, and three color choices.

The device incorporates far-field voice recognition, and inherits the same slate of Google Assistant, Chromecast Built-in, and calling capabilities as its larger Google Home stablemate.  [Read more…] about Google’s new products intensify competition in home automation market, says IHS Markit

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