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New algorithms for heavy industrial robot-human collaboration

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Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have developed an innovative technology enabling people and large industrial robots to work together in an intuitive way that feels a lot like human teamwork.

Currently, heavy-duty robots operate alongside their human coworkers without safety fencing, but direct interaction is a no-go. Safety precautions dictate that the robot freezes as soon as a human sets foot in a sizeable surrounding safety zone.

Using the benefit of this technology, robots can recognise gestures, faces and postures to make this collaboration that much safer and more efficient.

[Read more…] about New algorithms for heavy industrial robot-human collaboration

Comau Robotics partners with AZ Mecatronica in Portugal

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Comau has a new robotics and automation products partnership with distributor AZ Mecatronica in Portugal, which focuses its business on the development of automation and mechatronics solutions for all industries.

With a team with more than 15 years of experience, AZ Mecatronica services cover mechanics, software, electronic and automation solutions.

The company has now expanded its robotics offering with the Comau robot family, including robots with payloads ranging from 3 to 650 kg, laser sources, autonomous mobile vehicles and welding guns.

[Read more…] about Comau Robotics partners with AZ Mecatronica in Portugal

ThyssenKrupp equips United Tower in Bahrain with lifts and escalators

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The builders of the United Tower in Bahrain have completed the installation of 16 lifts and two escalators in the country’s sixth tallest building.

With its unique twisted shape, the United Tower is conceived as a building with multiple uses – a vertical spiral city where people live, work, and relax. The particular characteristic of the United Tower is a 360-degree unobstructed view of Manama.

The United Tower is located in Bahrain Bay on the north-eastern shore of Bahrain’s capital city Manama in a mixed neighbourhood of residential, commercial and retail spaces.

[Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp equips United Tower in Bahrain with lifts and escalators

Columbia University engineers create ‘a robot that can imagine itself’

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Columbia University engineers say they have created “a robot that can imagine itself”, taking the industry one step closer to self-aware machines. (See video below.)

Robots that are self-aware have been science fiction fodder for decades, and now we may finally be getting closer.

Humans are unique in being able to imagine themselves – to picture themselves in future scenarios, such as walking along the beach on a warm sunny day.  [Read more…] about Columbia University engineers create ‘a robot that can imagine itself’

OnRobot’s Nasa technology-based ‘Gecko’ gripper named finalist in the 2019 Edison Awards

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OnRobot, a global leader in end-of-arm tooling for collaborative robots, announced today its Gecko Gripper has been named a finalist in the Applied Technology’s Robotics category in the 2019 Edison Awards.

The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes and honors the world’s best in innovators and innovations. The Awards will announce gold, silver and bronze award winners at the Edison Awards Gala held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in New York City.

OnRobot provides hardware and software that is used with collaborative robots – or cobots – from a variety of robot manufacturers, such as Universal Robots, Kuka, Fanuc and Yaskawa. Recently, OnRobot announced general availability of its Gecko Gripper.  [Read more…] about OnRobot’s Nasa technology-based ‘Gecko’ gripper named finalist in the 2019 Edison Awards

Industrial Internet Consortium and OpenFog Consortium merge

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The Industrial Internet Consortium and OpenFog Consortium have united their organizations.

The IIC, now incorporating OpenFog, is the single-largest organization focused on industrial internet of things, artificial intelligence, fog and edge computing.

The IIC and OpenFog are said to be the two largest and most influential international consortia in Industrial IoT, fog and edge computing.  [Read more…] about Industrial Internet Consortium and OpenFog Consortium merge

Nidec to acquire 70 percent stake in Desch Group

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Nidec Corporation has agreed to acquire a 70 percent ownership of a privately owned German company, Desch Antriebstechnik and its group companies in Germany and China, from its owners.

The transaction will be made through Nidec-Shimpo, a Germany-based affiliate of Nidec’s subsidiary, Nidec-Shimpo Corporation.

Desch was founded in 1906 and manufactures and sells large precision gearboxes. It has approximately 400 employees and last year had revenues of around $100 million.  [Read more…] about Nidec to acquire 70 percent stake in Desch Group

Mitsubishi Electric to build net zero energy building test facility

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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to build a new test facility for its broad and integrated portfolio of technologies for net Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) at its Information Technology R&D Center in Kamakura, Japan.

The facility will accelerate the company’s development, evaluation and demonstration of ZEB technologies to meet the growing demand for buildings that combine comfort and superior energy savings.

Mitsubishi Electric’s ZEB technologies are part of the company’s wide-ranging effort to help achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The new facility, which will cost approximately 3.6 billion yen, is scheduled to start operating in June 2020.

[Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to build net zero energy building test facility

NXP and Kalray partner on autonomous driving computer platform

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NXP Semiconductors N.V. has announced a new strategic partnership with Kalray, a pioneer in processors for new intelligent systems.

The partnership will combine NXP’s portfolio of functional safety products for ADAS and Central Compute with Kalray’s high-performance intelligent MPPA (Massively Parallel Processor Array) processors.

The new platform is significant because it addresses the performance, safety and near-term commercial needs of levels 2 and 3 driving with an eye to longer-term release in level 4 and 5 autonomous vehicles.

[Read more…] about NXP and Kalray partner on autonomous driving computer platform

Mitsubishi develops injection-moulded-resin slotted waveguide array antenna

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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed a slotted waveguide array antenna made of injection-molded resin which have been demonstrated to outperform conventional patch array antenna in side-lobe characteristics, cross-polarisation characteristics and electric power efficiency, as well as offer reduced weight and cost.

The new antenna will enable radar systems to achieve enhanced observation range and accuracy and wireless communication systems to achieve greater communication capacity and speed.

The company will now begin deploying the antenna for various applications, including as weather, airport radar remote-sensing radar and satellite communications.

[Read more…] about Mitsubishi develops injection-moulded-resin slotted waveguide array antenna

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