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Siemens to invest $133 million in Canadian operations

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siemens and seneca college canada
Last year, Seneca College and Siemens Canada opened what they said was Ontario’s first Mechatronics Simulation and Demonstration Centre

Siemens plans to invest $110.6 million in research and development activities at its plant in Dorval, Canada to design and make improvements to aero-derivative gas turbines.

These turbines are used for, among other things, the production of electricity, and serve as a backup source in the event that the existing network is unable to meet the demand.

The engineering company also plans to invest $22 million to launch a platform of expertise related to Industry 4.0 and the implementation of a training system integrated into the workplace.  [Read more…] about Siemens to invest $133 million in Canadian operations

Artificial intelligence driving revenue growth, says Infosys

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US Secretary of State John Kerry in Davos
US Secretary of State John Kerry at a previous World Economic Forum meeting in Davos

In a report specially prepared for the World Economic Forum meeting of world leaders from business and politics at Davos, Switzerland, Infosys says businesses and economies which adopt artificial intelligence are seeing dramatic growth. 

The IT consulting giant says companies and countries which embrace AI can expect to see revenue rise around 40 per cent by 2020.

Infosys adds that 80 per cent of AI adopters who can replace workers with computer systems are actually planning to retain and retrain their staff.  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence driving revenue growth, says Infosys

Artificial intelligence takes centre stage at World Economic Forum

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Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, at Davos 2017
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, at Davos 2017

In a number of talks and statements at this year’s World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, artificial intelligence has been taking centre stage, with many saying that while no one really knows the limit of the technology, it has already had profound effects on business and society.

One of Google’s original founders, Sergey Brin, said he looked at AI a few years back, and didn’t really know AI would develop to the extent it has done.

“I didn’t pay attention to it at all, to be perfectly honest,” he said in a discussion at WEF. “Having been trained as a computer scientist in the 90s, everybody knew that AI didn’t work. People tried it, they tried neural nets and none of it worked.”  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence takes centre stage at World Economic Forum

Tiny chip capable of running deep neural networks could accelerate robotics development

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movidius

One of the challenges in robotics development is the fact that the computer processing required is just massive, often too much for a complex machine to handle onboard without packing very large pieces of hardware. 

One way around it has been to connect the robots up to cloud computing systems which run such things as neural networks and can remotely process data – but this is inefficient and slow.

Even if takes a few seconds to process massive quantities of data, those seconds are just too much time wasted for a machine such, for example, an autonomous car on the move – these things need to be instantaneous.  [Read more…] about Tiny chip capable of running deep neural networks could accelerate robotics development

ADL launches what it claims is ‘industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever’

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ADL Embedded Solutions has launched its ultra-compact ADLEPC-1500 Embedded PC, which the company claims is “the industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever released”.

At 3.4” x 3.2”, the ADLEPC-1500 is a “full-feature embedded PC” targeted at unmanned, industrial controls, robotics, traffic management and surveillance market, says the company.

ADL adds that the device’s wide voltage and temperature range make it “ideal” for a variety of applications and environments.  [Read more…] about ADL launches what it claims is ‘industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever’

Smart trash bin automatically separates and sorts out rubbish

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bin-e intelligent trash can

It probably looks more stylish than your average bin, and it’s definitely a whole lot smarter. 

What’s being described at the world’s first smart trash can is being developed in Poland.

Its makers, at a company called Bin-e, say the “intelligent bin” will not only facilitate work in an ecologically friendly environment but also allow us to save time devoted to garbage segregation at work.  [Read more…] about Smart trash bin automatically separates and sorts out rubbish

Hannover Messe: Smart materials paving the way to 3D printing and to the ‘microfactory’

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3d printed supercar

Get your complimentary ticket to Hannover Messe 2017

There may or may not be slight differences between what’s called “3D printing” and “additive manufacturing”, but essentially both are advanced techniques that could spell the end of assembly lines as we know them. 

It’s a widely known historic fact that giant car companies pioneered what we now known as the assembly line, where a product – such as a car or any other complex item – would move along production line, where different workers and teams of workers would do their jobs and eventually a finished product would be the result.

This process, however, is now being reconsidered in an age where customers are asking for increaing amounts of customisation and new technologies such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing are making this customisation possible.  [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Smart materials paving the way to 3D printing and to the ‘microfactory’

Igus launches ‘extremely compact rotation module’ for tight spaces

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igus compact rotational module

System guides energy, data and media safely, without interruption for rotational movements up to 360 degrees, says company

Motion plastics specialist igus has developed an extremely compact rotation module, which revolves around its own axis, even in confined spaces.

As with all rotary energy chain systems from igus, the module can be used to guide different types of media – power, signals, data, fibre-optic, pneumatic or fluids – in parallel without interruption.

Inside the module, cables and hoses are routed together without interruption, thus eliminating the need for expensive and complex rotary unions.  [Read more…] about Igus launches ‘extremely compact rotation module’ for tight spaces

ABB to invest $90 million in new research centre in Canada

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abb montreal

Engineering giant ABB is to invest another $90 million into a research and development centre in Canada. 

The Swiss company, which also is one of the world’s biggest industrial robot manufacturers, is to establish its new North American research and development facility in Montréal.

As a result of the investment, Canadians will develop next-generation solutions for electric vehicles, says the government in a statement. [Read more…] about ABB to invest $90 million in new research centre in Canada

Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots

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Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is utilising collaborative industrial robots from Rethink Robotics to “improve accuracy, and output” 

Yanfeng has put two of Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robots to work in its Monroe, Michigan-based facility.

By introducing Sawyer, Yanfeng Frenchtown says it is improving two production processes, while freeing up employees to be used at positions where they can add more value.

Both Sawyer robots are being utilized to perform packaging tasks. One robot is removing trapped labor by packing parts from a conveyor onto a rack, handling 180 parts every 54 minutes. The second robot is counting parts from a conveyor as it places them into a tote, precisely packaging each tote with 80 parts.  [Read more…] about Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots