Robotics & Automation News

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Hillcrest Labs launches ‘industrial grade sensor for consumer products’

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FSM300 Module vs Quarter_NEW_ExtraLarge crop

Hillcrest Labs has a new sensor system which the company says is “four times better” than competitor solutions.

Hillcrest says its new FSM300 delivers industrial-grade sensor fusion accuracy at prices suitable for consumer products with “four times greater accuracy versus competitor solutions in some tests”.

The FSM300 is what’s called a attitude and heading reference system, which is a sensor system, and an inertial measurement unit, which like a gyroscope.  [Read more…] about Hillcrest Labs launches ‘industrial grade sensor for consumer products’

Kuka shows off its robots working in microelectronics

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Electronics is a fast-growing market for industrial robots, and Kuka has been showing off some of its success in the sector. 

In one example the company highlighted recently, a total of 25 Kuka robots are in operation at Possehl Electronics in Niefern, Germany.

There, they manufacture complex timing cases for electric power steering systems for cars.

At the core of the system, three KR Agilus robots precisely place components into the injection molding machine.

Industrial robots work on three lines with an accuracy to a tenth of a millimeter, says Kuka.  [Read more…] about Kuka shows off its robots working in microelectronics

Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots

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Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is utilising collaborative industrial robots from Rethink Robotics to “improve accuracy, and output” 

Yanfeng has put two of Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robots to work in its Monroe, Michigan-based facility.

By introducing Sawyer, Yanfeng Frenchtown says it is improving two production processes, while freeing up employees to be used at positions where they can add more value.

Both Sawyer robots are being utilized to perform packaging tasks. One robot is removing trapped labor by packing parts from a conveyor onto a rack, handling 180 parts every 54 minutes. The second robot is counting parts from a conveyor as it places them into a tote, precisely packaging each tote with 80 parts.  [Read more…] about Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots

Bosch launches ‘smallest, high performance’ barometric pressure sensor

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Bosch BMP380 sensor
The Bosch BMP380 sensor measures 2 by 2 by 0.75 mm

Bosch Sensortec has launched what it says is the company’s smallest and best performing barometric pressure sensor, with a compact size of 2.0 x 2.0 x 0.75 mm.

The BMP380 sensor is aimed at the growing markets of gaming, sports and health management, as well as indoor and outdoor navigation.

By measuring barometric pressure, the sensor enables drones, smartphones, tablets, wearables and other mobile devices to accurately determine altitude changes, in both indoor and outdoor environments.  [Read more…] about Bosch launches ‘smallest, high performance’ barometric pressure sensor

Connecting revolutions: Exclusive interview with Stäubli Robotics automotive boss

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A range of Stäubli robots
A range of Stäubli robots

Stäubli is one of the first industrial automation companies, having been established all the way back in the late-1800s and quickly developing what was then advanced technology for the weaving industry before the century was out. The company even owns Jacquard machines, Jacquard being the pioneering manufacturer of looms that defined the original Industrial Revolution – and the inventor of punched cards to control machines, from which flowed computer programming principles. 

Then in the early 1980s, Stäubli bought the Unimation business from Westinghouse, Unimation being the company which developed the first industrial robot arm, the Unimate.

Today, Stäubli is still one of world’s largest industrial robotics and automation companies, and its product manager in the US is Paul Deady.  [Read more…] about Connecting revolutions: Exclusive interview with Stäubli Robotics automotive boss

Schunk extends industrial toolholder range for micromachining

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Schunk Tribos-Mini and Tribos-RM precision toolholder
Schunk Tribos-Mini and Tribos-RM precision toolholder

Schunk, a provider of clamping and gripping technology for robots among other industrial products, has extended its toolholder program for micromachining.

The company says the expansion of its Tribos toolholder series in such a way as to make them “available quicker and at a lower price.

For the medical technology, optics, micro-mold making and watch and jewelry industries to achieve accuracy in the sub-micron range, toolholders must have extreme balancing grades.

Schunk says it has simplified and standardised what was “previously only possible with great effort”.  [Read more…] about Schunk extends industrial toolholder range for micromachining

Sensors: ASI says advances bringing greater opportunities in autonomous vehicles

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Raw point cloud data generated by ASI's Forcast lidar and analyzed by Vantage perception software
Raw point cloud data generated by ASI’s Forcast lidar and analyzed by Vantage perception software

Autonomous Solutions Inc (ASI) says advances in sensor technology is creating more opportunities in the autonomous vehicles sector, adding that the sensors are getting cheaper.

Each autonomous vehicle system employs a set of sensors that provide environmental feedback for safety, navigation, and other essential vehicle functions.

Up until this point, sensors with high levels of accuracy have been too expensive for most users to afford, but that is rapidly changing. [Read more…] about Sensors: ASI says advances bringing greater opportunities in autonomous vehicles