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Toyota Research Institute demonstrates new Guardian and Chauffeur autonomous driving systems

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Toyota Research Institute has released a video showing the first demonstration of its Guardian and Chauffeur autonomous vehicle platform.

“Today, you’re going to see four different demonstrations,” says Dr Gill Pratt, CEO of TRI, at the opening of the video. “The first two are going to be in Chauffeur mode. The other two demonstrations are going to be in Guardian mode.”

The video shows the advances TRI has made with Platform 2.1, the next iteration of TRI’s innovative advanced safety research vehicle for autonomous driving, conducting several test maneuvers on a closed course.  [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute demonstrates new Guardian and Chauffeur autonomous driving systems

TDK launches new sensor range as it hosts industry event

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The sixth annual TDK Sensors Developers Conference is currently under way in Santa Clara, in the US. 

Keynote speaker at the event is Jenelea Howell, director of IoT and connectivity at IHS Market. 

Sensors often presented as the backbone of the Internet of Things (IoT), measuring and collecting data that enables any IoT application.  [Read more…] about TDK launches new sensor range as it hosts industry event

Safe positioning monitoring: Concepts for machine safety

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By Martina Schili, Leuze electronic

As one of the technology leaders in the area of optoelectronic safety sensors for industrial automation, Leuze electronic offers effective personnel protection devices in accordance with international safety standards.

Machine safety is growing in importance and is, thus, becoming an integral part of machine design.

In addition to the moral obligation to protect and preserve the health of their employees, the topic of machine safety is also a matter of economic efficiency for employers and operating companies.  [Read more…] about Safe positioning monitoring: Concepts for machine safety

Scania opts for Dassault Systèmes platform to develop new generation of vehicles

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Scania, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has partnered with Dassault Systèmes to develop a new generation of trucks and buses. 

Scania, which is part of the Volkswagen group, employs approximately 46,000 people in 100 countries. It claims to have delivered more than 81,000 commercial vehicles to customers in 2016.

This year, among the new developments for Scania is the expansion of its alternative energy bus range, including hybrid vehicles, a record number of which – 140 – the company has been contracted to supply to public transport authorities in Norway.  [Read more…] about Scania opts for Dassault Systèmes platform to develop new generation of vehicles

AkaSol shows next generation high-performance battery systems for e-buses

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AkaSol is currently showcasing its AkaSystem original equipment manufacturer battery system as a complete roof installation including the chiller and other additional components at BusWorld Europe, which is on now. 

The new battery system has allowed AkaSol to be “very successful” in the market for electric and hybrid buses, says the company.

From 2018, two well-known European bus manufacturers will be using the technology in Germany, with plans to equip around 10,000 e-buses over the next few years.  [Read more…] about AkaSol shows next generation high-performance battery systems for e-buses

Gerber’s YuniquePLM claims to be the fashion industry’s ‘number-one’ product lifecycle management platform

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For fashion companies across the globe, managing data is one of the most time-consuming tasks.

Those companies which have implemented a product lifecycle management system are more able to decrease time to market and optimize a single source of data across their supply chain easily.

Bill Brewster, vice president and general manager, enterprise software solutions at Gerber, says: “Digitalization is imperative to thrive today and our customers are embracing it.

“They are realizing the benefit of centralized / single version of the truth that’s achieved by implementing a PLM system and that is evident by the growth in numbers this year.”  [Read more…] about Gerber’s YuniquePLM claims to be the fashion industry’s ‘number-one’ product lifecycle management platform

Integro Technologies now a Sick authorized vision integration partner

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Integro Technologies, a premier machine vision integrator, has become a Sick authorized vision integration partner serving the US. 

Sick is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automation products and systems for logistics, factory, and process automation.

Among its solutions is a large portfolio of 2D and 3D machine vision products, including vision sensors and vision systems.  [Read more…] about Integro Technologies now a Sick authorized vision integration partner

Boeing partners with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on cost-reduction initiative for 787 production

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Boeing and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have reached an agreement to strengthen collaboration in ways that will enhance both companies’ competitiveness.

The agreement includes efforts to reduce costs in MHI production of wings for the 787 Dreamliner and joint studies of advanced aerostructure technologies for future-generation commercial aircraft.

MHI manufactures 787 composite wings at its factory in Nagoya, in Japan. The agreement aims to enable sales by pursuing increased efficiency in MHI’s production system and its supply chain through lean production methods, automation and other activities.  [Read more…] about Boeing partners with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on cost-reduction initiative for 787 production

Civil Infrastructure Platform releases Linux system for management of critical systems

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The Civil Infrastructure Platform project has released CIP Core, a reference minimal file system that offers a customizable environment that developers can use to test the CIP kernel and core packages.

CIP aims to provide a base layer of industrial grade open source software components, tools and methods to enable long-term management of critical systems.

The new CIP Core platform will be on display at Embedded Linux Conference Europe with planned workshops, demos and Q&A sessions.  [Read more…] about Civil Infrastructure Platform releases Linux system for management of critical systems

Power brokers: An update on the electric vehicle market

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Less than a decade ago, electric cars were generally seen – at best – as average vehicles which neither had the power nor the range to be considered seriously as a viable, mass-market alternative to petrol-driven cars. 

But now, with ongoing and accelerating technological advances in battery power, combined with big investments in the pipeline to construct charging networks, attitudes are changing. 

Public perceptions have also been influenced by the battery-powered supercars that have been on the roads for many years now, alongside the ordinary-looking electric vehicles.  [Read more…] about Power brokers: An update on the electric vehicle market