Robotics & Automation News

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Why You Should Use CNC Machining for Robotic Assembly

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The demand for robotic automation across all industries continues to rise as the cost of robot technology falls; but one cost-effective measure that many companies overlook is CNC Machining.

CNC machining has been used in the past primarily within manufacturing and engineering environments, such as aerospace components, medical parts and automotive parts production.

There are new applications within robotics assembling which can be greatly improved with this technology due to its ability to quickly create complex shapes along with consistent repeatability and accuracy. [Read more…] about Why You Should Use CNC Machining for Robotic Assembly

5 Ways Robotics Can Improve Manufacturing Output

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The introduction of robotics in the manufacturing sector has been advancing quickly over the past few decades, with a resulting increase in production outputs and reducing associated costs.

Automation is proving to be a powerful tool for manufacturers at all levels; it eliminates labor costs and provides large increases in scalability of product output. Companies now have access to new technologies that allow greater levels of customization while also increasing overall efficiency levels. [Read more…] about 5 Ways Robotics Can Improve Manufacturing Output

Nissan to develop its ‘most advanced’ driver assistance system to date

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Nissan is planning to develop its “most advanced” driver assistance system to date in collaboration with Trimble Technology.

Trimble says that Nissan Motor will use Trimble RTX technology as its high-accuracy positioning source, enabling the hands-off and guided freeway driving capabilities of Toyota’s ProPILOT Assist 2.0 driver assistance system, available initially on the 2023 Nissan Ariya.

While positioning with standard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals may drift up to 10 meters (25 feet), Trimble says its RTX system provides higher accuracy and enables consistent lane determination for driving applications. [Read more…] about Nissan to develop its ‘most advanced’ driver assistance system to date

Addverb and Velociti Alliance partner to automate grocery intralogistics

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Automation solutions provider Addverb has agreed a new partnership with leading technology solutions provider Velociti Alliance to “bring innovative futuristic warehouse automation and robotics to the convenience store and grocery supply chain”.

Addverb’s comprehensive portfolio of Mobile Robots, ASRS, Picking Technologies, and Software, integrated with Velociti Alliance’s solutions, will enable wholesale distribution centers and warehouses to increase storage capacity and pick throughput.

As businesses continue to navigate labor and staff shortages, integrated automation solutions with Quadron, Addverb’s Carton Shuttle, and Medius, Addverb’s Multi-Level Shuttle, combined with goods-to-person stations powered by Concinity, Addverb’s WES software, can bring efficiencies up to three times more than conventional mechanized and manually operated warehouses. [Read more…] about Addverb and Velociti Alliance partner to automate grocery intralogistics

United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

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United Natural Foods has entered into a commercial agreement to implement Symbotic’s AI-powered robotics and software automation in five of UNFI’s distribution centers over the next four years.

Under the agreement, UNFI also has an option to implement Symbotic’s warehouse automation systems in additional distribution centers.

Symbotic’s end-to-end automation system, with robotic case pick capabilities, is designed to enable UNFI to transform its distribution centers to enhance capabilities and efficiency, improve order accuracy for its customers, increase storage capacity within its facilities, and facilitate planned future growth. [Read more…] about United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has expanded its collaboration with electronic components manufacturer Siemens Switchgear Shanghai with the second phase of a smart manufacturing automation project.

The expansion introduces more of Geekplus’s goods-to-person picking and materials handling robots to the multi-robot configuration and opens up a further 3,000 sq m of automated warehousing space. The system achieved a delivery accuracy rate of 100 percent, with materials accuracy of over 99.98 percent in the production line.

Siemens Switchgear Shanghai first joined forces with Geekplus in 2019 and successfully built a full-process flexible automated intelligent logistics factory using four types of Geekplus robots: P800R goods-to-person picking robots, MP1000R moving robots, RS2 tote-to-person robots, and X-series four-way shuttles for high-density storage. [Read more…] about Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

RoboDK releases new software for ‘fully automated tool calibration’ for industrial robots

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Canadian robotics software provider RoboDK has released TwinTool, an application that offers “fully automated robot tool calibration for industrial robots”.

RoboDK says TwinTool is a “cost-effective, quick, and easy solution” to improve the tool’s accuracy in a wide variety of manufacturing applications. It adds that it is a “competitive alternative to costly and complex robot calibration services currently available on the market”.

Industrial robots are increasingly used for high-accuracy manufacturing tasks, such as assembly, soldering, and machining. However, new users are sometimes disappointed by the apparent low accuracy of their robots. They invest in expensive robot calibration systems to try to improve the accuracy. [Read more…] about RoboDK releases new software for ‘fully automated tool calibration’ for industrial robots

Nidec develops AC servo motor equipped with Zignear

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Nidec and its subsidiary Nidec Sankyo have jointly developed an AC servo motor (resolution: 17bit) equipped with Zignear, the position detection technology that can be applied to industrial robots and replace encoders.

The motor is intended for application in industrial robots and automated guided vehicles.

An encoder, which is a sensor used to detect the rotation of a brushless DC motor mainly, is essential in adjusting a motor to an intended location, and keeping its rotation consistent. [Read more…] about Nidec develops AC servo motor equipped with Zignear

New large ABB robots ‘increase speed and flexibility’ in electric vehicle battery production

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ABB is adding two new robot product lines to its portfolio of large robots for complex manufacturing applications.

ABB says the new robots deliver “enhanced speed, accuracy, flexibility, and a more robust design”, including integrated process cabling, adding that the ABB IRB 5710 and 5720 robots deliver “increased productivity and enhanced performance with higher uptime for applications” including electric vehicle manufacture, foundry, forging, rubber, plastics, and metal fabrication.

Available in eight variants, the IRB 5710 and IRB 5720 present a choice of options for payloads from 70 kg to 180 kg and reaches from 2.3 m to 3 m. [Read more…] about New large ABB robots ‘increase speed and flexibility’ in electric vehicle battery production

ABB launches robot alignment software to ‘increase electronics manufacturing speed and accuracy’

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ABB Robotics has launched an industry leading, pioneering software solution to transform speed and accuracy in electronics assembly.

Packed with 50 years of software expertise, ABB’s High Speed Alignment software is the first to offer manufacturers the ability to increase the speed of 6-axis robots by 70 percent, and accuracy by 50 percent – significantly reducing time-to-market while increasing accuracy levels.

The PC-based software includes Visual Servoing technology using one or more cameras, combined with a computer vision system, to control the position of the robot relative to the workpiece. [Read more…] about ABB launches robot alignment software to ‘increase electronics manufacturing speed and accuracy’