Where Innovation Meets Imagination
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
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 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 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
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 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 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
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
Telit, a provider of internet of things technologies, is supplying appliance maker Husqvarna with a wireless sensor device for its city robotic mower pilot program.
The sensor was co-developed by Telit and Wireless System Integration, a Sweden-based design house developing wireless products and systems.
The sensor will be used by Husqvarna mowers to collect data about the environment, the quality of air, water, and levels of light and sound, while maintaining the cities’ green spaces. [Read more…] about Telit and Husqvarna collaborate on robots for urban park sustainability program
Germany-based home appliances manufacturer Vorwerk recently acquired Neato Robotics, a Silicon Valley maker of domestic robots.
Vorwerk is known for its premium products in the household appliances market and Neato Robotics is known for its innovation and technological know-how, mainly in robotic vacuum cleaners.
Vorwerk first invested in Neato Robotics in 2010. Both companies are eager to maximize the exponential growth of the robotic appliance market, individually and collectively, with ‘cross-over’ benefits. [Read more…] about Vorwerk’s acquisition of Neato Robotics adds spark to exponentially growing robotic appliance market, says IHS Markit
