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Kuka generates $1.8 billion in revenues in first half of 2018

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Kuka has published an interim report of its financial results for the first half of 2018, and sales revenues are just over $1.8 billion.

This is less than the sales revenue Kuka generated in the first half of last year, which was $2 billion, and that seems to be the case for orders received and orders backlog – all slight below figures from last year’s first half.

Kuka’s order backlog has risen to €2.3 billion as at June 30, 2018. The order backlog for the first half of 2017 was €2.2 billion.  [Read more…] about Kuka generates $1.8 billion in revenues in first half of 2018

Human-robot collaboration combines human and robot strengths, says Schunk

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Schunk is one of the leading suppliers of components to industrial robotic arm manufacturers and other industrial machinery makers. The company held an open day recently in which it outlined its vision of human-robot collaboration, or collaborative robotics, which the company says combines human and robot strengths. 

Schunk starts by asking, and then seeking to answer, the following questions:

  • How can human-robot collaboration be used in everyday production?
  • What safety concepts are there?
  • How can a successful start be made?

These and other concerns were the focus of the second Schunk user and technology dialog on the topic of “Successfully introducing human-robot collaboration in the company”.  [Read more…] about Human-robot collaboration combines human and robot strengths, says Schunk

Hitachi’s advanced driver assistance system used in Mitsubishi’s eK Series

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Hitachi Automotive Systems says its advanced driver assistance system’s electronic control unit was selected for use in Mitsubishi Motors’ eK Series vehicles.

The eK series refers to three models: the eK Wagon, eK Custom and eK Space.

The eK Series now comes with “improved preventative safety functions” and is a mini vehicle that went on sale recently.  [Read more…] about Hitachi’s advanced driver assistance system used in Mitsubishi’s eK Series

Continental strengthens AI research partnership with University of California

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Automotive systems supplier Continental is expanding its international network for artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley.

The expansion will involve the “DeepDrive” partnership the company has with the University of California, Berkeley, dubbed “BDD”.

Continental says the partnership is designed to “speed up neural networks for the car of the future and safety of AI systems”.  [Read more…] about Continental strengthens AI research partnership with University of California

Visteon and ZongMu Technology sign co-operation agreement on autonomous driving solutions

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Visteon, a supplier of automotive cockpit electronics, and ZongMu Technology, a China-based supplier of advanced driving assistance systems, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop Level 3-plus autonomous driving solutions.

Under the agreement, Visteon and ZongMu will combine their strengths to jointly develop a self-parking solution integrating Visteon’s DriveCore autonomous driving platform and ZongMu’s autonomous parking system.

Markus Schupfner, chief technology officer for Visteon, says the cooperative agreement with ZongMu supports Visteon’s commitment to collaborate with “highly respected technology partners” to advance autonomous driving in the fast-growing China market.  [Read more…] about Visteon and ZongMu Technology sign co-operation agreement on autonomous driving solutions

Kodiak Robotics raises $40 million to develop self-driving trucks

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Kodiak Robotics has raised $40 million in Series A financing led by global investment firm Battery Ventures.

CRV, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Tusk Ventures also participated in the round.

Kodiak is an autonomous-vehicle startup founded by Don Burnette, previously a co-founder of the self-driving trucking company Otto, and Paz Eshel, a former venture capitalist.  [Read more…] about Kodiak Robotics raises $40 million to develop self-driving trucks

Leading humanoid roboticist unveils new android

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One of the world’s leading humanoid roboticist has unveiled a new android which is modeled on a 10-year-old boy, although no-one specific. (See video below.) 

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, Wakayama University, Japan, has previously made a robot called Geminoid that looked exactly like himself and another modeled on a young woman, which he called Erica.

The new robot, called Ibuki, and the IEEE has given us all permission to panic over it.

While some would say it’s a technical achievement, others would say it’s downright creepy.

Ibuki gets around on wheels but “can fake walking”, meaning it looks like it’s walking if you view the top half.

humanoid robot ishiguro
Professor Ishiguro (right) with his Geminoid robot (left)

What its application might be is uncertain, but this is more of a research robot rather than a commercial one.

But according to a story on TechWorld.com, Professor Ishiguro “wants a humanoid future” when humans and androids live together.

“The more human we make robots, the more we will accept them in our daily lives,” he said.

 

SoftBank considering investing $750 million in Zume

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SoftBank is considering investing around $750 million in Zume, according to the Economic Times. 

Zume has deloped a pizza delivery system in which robots make pizzas inside trucks while on the road. (See video below.)

The trucks are said to be proprietary and Zume is positioning itself as an automation platform for the food industry.  [Read more…] about SoftBank considering investing $750 million in Zume

Automotive robotics market to grow to $14 billion by 2025

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The global automotive robotics market size is expected to grow to $13.6 billion by 2025, according to a report. 

The market is subject to witness a substantial growth due to the rising implementation of automation and robotics in the automotive sector.

Rising adoption of automation and robotics in manufacturing processes has changed overall outlook of the automotive industry since last few decades.  [Read more…] about Automotive robotics market to grow to $14 billion by 2025

Industrial workers would rather have a robot colleague, suggests new report

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Industrial workers are increasingly seeing the benefits of working with robots, rather than humans, to improve productivity and relieve the pressures they are under.

This is one of the findings of the latest research from Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth.

According to the research, which questioned around 2,500 business respondents in 14 countries, staff are aware of the many benefits of working alongside robots.  [Read more…] about Industrial workers would rather have a robot colleague, suggests new report