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Japan Coast Guard expands unmanned Wave Glider fleet

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The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has expanded its unmanned ocean observation fleet of Wave Gliders to the 9th Regional District, headquartered in Niigata, Japan, the fifth regional district to use them.

This unmanned ocean observation network provides real-time situational awareness of ocean currents, wave activity, and weather along Japan’s coastlines, and JCG publishes the environmental data free and in real-time to Japan’s commercial fisheries and tourism industries.

Wave Gliders, from Liquid Robotics, are environmentally safe and a more effective way to expand national ocean observation systems when compared to traditional methods such as ships, claims the company.

By utilizing a network of unmanned systems, JCG is able to provide access to continuous, real-time meteorological and oceanographic information from seas where monitoring ships often cannot operate and without putting personnel at risk.

 

Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

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One of China’s largest home appliance manufacturers is planning to increase its use of robotics and automation technologies in an effort to become more productive. 

Gree, which must be a competitor of home appliances giant Midea, another Chinese company, is said to be “setting up unmanned factories”, some of which are already established.

This is according to China.org, which seems to be a government-connected news website.  [Read more…] about Large Chinese home appliance manufacturer to increase use of robotics and automation

‘Concentrated robotics power’ at Hannover Messe 2018

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Organisers of the Hannover Messe say there will be “concentrated robotics power” at this year’s industrial technology show. 

ABB, Epson, Kawasaki, Kuka, Mitsubishi, Schunk, Stäubli, Universal Robots, Franka Emika and Yaskawa – the exhibitor list for Hannover Messe 2018 reads like a Who’s Who of the robotics industry.

These robotics companies, systems integrators and providers of gripper systems and more will be showcasing their Smart Factory solutions under the banner of the show’s lead theme of “Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate”.  [Read more…] about ‘Concentrated robotics power’ at Hannover Messe 2018

The Discovery: Postcards from the afterlife

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Being from a pre-internet age, I find it surprising when an online company makes or at least funds a good movie, and The Discovery is a very good movie. 

And it’s not just because Robert Redford stars in it that makes it look like a good movie, although that is definitely an advantage because he gives the film a sort of timeless quality and provides a link between an older generation who lived without many of the astounding technologies we know about and perhaps use today.

He’s also an appropriate casting selection for a Netflix movie because he’s a champion of independent films and founded the Sundance Film Festival. Not to mention the fact that he’s also been in some of the most memorable movies of all time, and some that are less well known but of a very high quality nonetheless.  [Read more…] about The Discovery: Postcards from the afterlife

Kuka showcases innovative medical project at the 2018 European Robotics Forum

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Kuka is showcasing an innovative research project from the medical sector at the European Robotics Forum (ERF) in Tampere, Finland, this week.

Together with the University of Bremen and Chemnitz University of Technology, FACT Software and CAT Production, Kuka is presenting an application for the simulation of one of the most challenging steps during an operation: implanting an artificial hip.

Performing the operation in the virtual world with haptic feedback via the Kuka LBR iiwa lightweight robot is an important component in the training of future surgeons as well as in the planning stages prior to an operation.

[Read more…] about Kuka showcases innovative medical project at the 2018 European Robotics Forum

5G cloud robotics solution shown at MWC 2018

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Ericsson, TIM and Comau, have displayed their cloud robotics solution, as a first implementation result of ‘5G for Italy’ collaboration agreement, signed last year, to explore the potential of 5G for Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing.

At MWC 2018 in Barcelona at the end of February, Ericsson, TIM and Comau demonstrated the benefits of 5G-based industrial virtualization through a pioneering proof of concept implemented in Italy – which showcases the factory of the future, that will be realized through the digitization of the manufacturing process and plants enabled by 5G networks and all their building blocks.

Through the combination of TIM and Ericsson’s leadership in 5G networks and technologies and Comau’s leadership in automated manufacturing solutions, this collaboration aims to prove the benefits of advanced solutions adoption for industrial automation.

[Read more…] about 5G cloud robotics solution shown at MWC 2018

Automatica 2018: Innovative automation solutions in plastics, foodstuffs and packaging

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Leading automation companies will be at automatica in Munich, Germany, from June 19 to 22, 2018. Visitors from industries such as food and beverages, plastics and packaging will find numerous innovative automation solutions and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts.

Companies from the fields of plastics, foodstuffs and packaging are increasingly employing innovative automation to improve their competitive position. Compared to the pioneering automobile industry, however, these three industry sectors have some catching up to do.

The great economic importance of automation technology can be felt on a global level: According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), more than 1.7 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories all over the world by the year 2020, which will increase global inventory to more than three million units.

[Read more…] about Automatica 2018: Innovative automation solutions in plastics, foodstuffs and packaging

Opinion: Putting artificial intelligence to work in industrial operations

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By Michael Ford, Aegis Software

Industry 4.0 describes both a business model and technology process for factories, to both require and enable them to become super-efficient whilst also being super-flexible.

Traditional approaches to automation in machinery and robotics continue to be successful, but, are mainly focused on specific production operations, leaving critical operational level decision-making on the “to do” list.

Well, if we don’t get to it soon, someone else will do it for us, and it may not be a human.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Putting artificial intelligence to work in industrial operations

GreyOrange launches Butler PickPal for auto-fulfilment in logistics centres

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Robotics and supply chain automation company GreyOrange announced its beta launch of the new-gen Butler PickPal, an autonomous picking solution, at LogiMat 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Butler PickPal is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Vision. It works with the goods-to-person GreyOrange Butler™ robotics system which enables warehouses to manage high-speed operations by automating order picking and fulfilment.

It addresses the challenges arising from the global boom in e-commerce as orders need to be fulfilled faster and accurately with more cost-efficiency as competition intensifies.

[Read more…] about GreyOrange launches Butler PickPal for auto-fulfilment in logistics centres

Digitalisation and the greatest industrial show on Earth

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Hannover Messe is probably the largest and most important industrial technology show on Earth. 

The venue for the event spans an area the size of a small town and it takes several days to visit all of the most important areas you might be interested in.

Covering an event of that magnitude from a journalistic point of view can be difficult if you’re interested in too many things.  [Read more…] about Digitalisation and the greatest industrial show on Earth