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Robotics investment fund grows to $450 million since launch one year ago

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Global X Funds, the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds, today celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ).

The company says Botz has received considerable interest from investors in its first year, having surpassed $450 million in assets under management.

Botz launched on September 12, 2016 and tracks the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index.  [Read more…] about Robotics investment fund grows to $450 million since launch one year ago

SAS Manufacturing opens advanced aerospace manufacturing facility in Colorado

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SAS Manufacturing has unveiled a new advanced machining facility for design, manufacturing and assembly of aerospace components in Arvada, Colorado, in the US.

SAS Manufacturing expects to more than double the facility’s workforce of skilled machining technicians, managers and apprentices over the next 24 months.

The fully renovated 25,000-square-foot building is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing systems, including automated 5-axis milling and 3D printing capabilities, to serve a growing government and commercial client base worldwide.  [Read more…] about SAS Manufacturing opens advanced aerospace manufacturing facility in Colorado

Hitachi combines several business units to create $4 billion digital company

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Industrial giant Hitachi is best known for making electronics gadgets and heavy machinery. Its annual turnover is just under $17 billion and it employs 335,000 people worldwide. 

But the 107-year-old company is apparently taking a leaf out of its industrial rival General Electric’s book and creating a new digital business.

GE Digital is now one of the world’s top 10 software companies, and its industrial internet of things platform, Predix, has become ubiquitious.  [Read more…] about Hitachi combines several business units to create $4 billion digital company

Chowbotics prepares to unleash salad-making robot on the world, while RotiMatic rolls its way to making 6 million rotis

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Chowbotics is gearing up for a major marketing push to find space for its salad-making robot in every home in the world – and maybe quite a few catering businesses too. 

The company – which manufactures a salad-making robot called Sally (main picture) – is expanding its operation and hiring new people. A key recent appointment is Dorothy Cudia as vice president of engineering.

Cudia’s previous experience includes time at food giants such as Nabisco, McDonald’s and Darden Restaurants.  [Read more…] about Chowbotics prepares to unleash salad-making robot on the world, while RotiMatic rolls its way to making 6 million rotis

Spanish farm produce supplier reduces human workers from 500 to 100 using robots

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Spanish farm produce supplier El Dulze has reduced its human workforce from 500 down to just 100 with the use of robots, according to a report on FruitNet.com. 

The company is said to be using Fanuc robots – LR Mate 200iB models – which use vision systems to even out the production line so the vegetables are not bunched up too close together for packing.

The robots also appear to be picking heads of lettuce and placing them in containers, or plastic packaging.  [Read more…] about Spanish farm produce supplier reduces human workers from 500 to 100 using robots

ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

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ABB has partnered with Amazon and Sonos to add new functions to its home automation range of products, collectively called free@home. 

ABB claims to be the leading home automation company in the German market, and the company is apparently looking to expand into new geographies, possibly including the US.

Its free@home range includes a variety of devices and hardware, all based on its digital platform, ABB Ability.  [Read more…] about ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

Columbia University develops soft actuator three times stronger than human muscle to make robots more lifelike

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Columbia University says it has developed a self-contained soft actuator that is three times stronger than natural muscle, without the need of externals.

The researchers say the development means robotic motion will be more lifelike, and that it signals a breakthrough in soft robotics.

The creation of untethered soft robots whose actions and movements can help mimic natural biological systems have been a long-standing issue, and the scientists at Columbia Engineering say they have solved it.  [Read more…] about Columbia University develops soft actuator three times stronger than human muscle to make robots more lifelike

Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

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Yamaha Motor has selected Siemens to provide product lifecycle management software to support its digitalization initiative.

Yamaha will deploy the Siemens’ Teamcenter portfolio across all development divisions of their key business, motorcycle products.

Siemens claims Teamcenter is “the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software”.  [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

Itron buys Silver Spring Networks for close to a billion dollars

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Energy technology company Itron is to acquire industrial internet of things company Silver Spring Networks for more than $800 million.

The two companies have signed a definitive agreement for Itron to acquire all outstanding shares of Silver Spring for $16.25 per share in cash.

The transaction is valued at approximately $830 million, net of $118 million of Silver Spring’s cash.  [Read more…] about Itron buys Silver Spring Networks for close to a billion dollars

Industrial Internet Consortium launches smart factory machine learning platform

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The Industrial Internet Consortium has launched what it calls the Smart Factory Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance Testbed.

The testbed is led by two companies, Plethora IIoT, and Xilinx.

IIC says the testbed explores machine-learning techniques and evaluates algorithmic approaches for time-critical predictive maintenance.  [Read more…] about Industrial Internet Consortium launches smart factory machine learning platform