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America’s Summit named world’s fastest supercomputer

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The US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is once again officially home to the fastest supercomputer in the world, according to the Top500 List, a semiannual ranking of the world’s fastest computing systems.

The recently launched Summit supercomputer was announced as number one at the ISC High Performance conference in Frankfurt, Germany. The designation recognizes the IBM-built system as the science community’s most powerful computational tool for solving problems in energy, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and other domains.

Summit is the third ORNL system to be ranked number one by Top500, following in the footsteps of the Jaguar and Titan supercomputers. Jaguar ranked as the world’s fastest system in November 2009 and June 2010, while Titan held the title in November 2012.  [Read more…] about America’s Summit named world’s fastest supercomputer

Record sales of industrial robots in China reported

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Chinese companies bought a record number of robots in 2017, according to the country’s main robotics association, as reported on the Sputnik website. 

Sputnik, which is a media outlet of the formerly communist country of Russia, says China purchased 141,000 industrial robots in 2017, which is an increase of 58 per cent compared with 2016.

Foreign industrial robot makers accounted for nearly three-quarters of the sales figure, but an increasing number of Chinese robot makers are emerging.  [Read more…] about Record sales of industrial robots in China reported

MIT demonstrates four-legged robot that can jump like a cheetah

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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has demonstrated a four-legged robot that can jump around like a cheetah. Indeed the robot itself is called Cheetah and is being developed as a first responder to help in emergencies.

This is the third version of the Cheetah robot and it looks like other four-legged robots being developed by companies such as AnyBotics and Boston Dynamics.

They look like hugely complex machines and the manoeuvres that they can perform – from simple walking to jumping around – are highly sophisticated and represent great technical achievement.  [Read more…] about MIT demonstrates four-legged robot that can jump like a cheetah

California manufacturing group expands capabilities to include robotics and automation

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CMTC and its California’s Manufacturing Network has expanded its capabilities to include advanced robotics and automation consulting for manufacturers in California.

CMTC is one of 51 centers across the US in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is part of the US Government’s effort to develop technology, management and technical expertise for small and medium enterprises focused on improving their productivity and global competitiveness.

As part of the new initiative, Raminder Sandhu has joined CMTC in the position of advanced robotics and automation practice lead.  [Read more…] about California manufacturing group expands capabilities to include robotics and automation

4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

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With technology becoming an integral part of business operations, several organizations are investing in robotics and automation to streamline their processes, create a safe work environment, and boost profitability.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are increasingly relying on automation to gain a significant increment in their process-and-workforce efficiency.

However, most SMEs are reluctant to invest in robotics as conventional industrial robots are complex, expensive, and require large shop floor space for deployment. Moreover, the payback period for these robots is extremely long, making them expensive for SMEs.  [Read more…] about 4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

Disruptive technology: The industries at risk and the companies positioned to benefit

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Financialnewsmedia.com news commentary

“Neither RedBox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition,” Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes told the Motley Fool in 2008. His video-rental chain filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Today Netflix is worth $61.93 billion. 

Sometimes the next big thing isn’t easy to spot. Sometimes disruption is staring you right in the face and you can’t help but look the other way. That’s doubly true when you’re the head of a legacy business desperate to stay relevant.

Business disruption has become the new normal that companies face on a regular basis whereas a decade ago it was the rare exception.

The major cause of disruption is the rapid advancement of technology and globalization, which allows new business models to be introduced at an ever-increasing rate and with rapidly declining costs.  [Read more…] about Disruptive technology: The industries at risk and the companies positioned to benefit

Bosch lays foundation stone for billion-dollar ‘factory of the future’

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German industrial giant has started construction on a billion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing facility – or, in Bosch’s words, a “factory of the future” in Dresden, Germany.

The company said that the foundation stone laid recently in Dresden is “a key milestone” in the construction of the Bosch Group’s “state-of-the-art” wafer fabrication facility.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2019, when installation of the production machinery will start.  [Read more…] about Bosch lays foundation stone for billion-dollar ‘factory of the future’

Stäubli launches TS2 robot range

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Staubli‘s new TS2 SCARA series, which made its world debut at Automatica, Stäubli is a four-axis machine with  JCS drive technology, said to give ultra-short cycle times and it’s ‘hygiene design’ opens up new possibilities for use in sensitive environments.

Stäubli Robotics director Gerald Vogt said: “We have given our SCARAs a complete makeover. They are now modular in design and, for the first time, incorporate our very own JCS drive technology which has been setting new standards in our six-axis machines.

“This technology is the key to the enormous performance gains of the four-axis TS2. Hollow shaft technology has made possible a unique cleanroom design which makes external cabling a thing of the past.”

[Read more…] about Stäubli launches TS2 robot range

IMTS: World’s largest industrial technology show to highlight automation trends

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The world‘s largest industrial technology show will highlight key automation trends with a view to helping visitors understand how they will affect manufacturing and other sectors.

Organisers of the International Manufacturing Technology Show – scheduled to take place in Chicago, in the US, from September 10th to 15th – say the event will bring people and automation closer together – literally – with exhibits highlighting the benefits of collaborative robots, or “cobots”.

Mike Cicco, president and CEO, Fanuc America and a board member of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS, says: “Automation suppliers have made tremendous leaps with software, control and sensor technology that enable quantifying what the robot ‘feels’.  [Read more…] about IMTS: World’s largest industrial technology show to highlight automation trends

Grocery giant Kroger and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro to pilot autonomous delivery vehicle and system

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Kroger, one of the largest grocery store chains in the US, has teamed up with autonomous vehicle startup Nuro to develop shopping delivery services for customers.

Kroger and Nuro say the new partnership will “redefine the grocery customer experience for Americans” by piloting an on-road, fully autonomous delivery experience.

Kroger, which claims to be “America’s largest supermarket retailer”, and Nuro, maker of what it claims is “the world’s first fully unmanned road vehicle”, are working to make the convenience of grocery delivery accessible and affordable for customers everywhere.  [Read more…] about Grocery giant Kroger and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro to pilot autonomous delivery vehicle and system