Robotics & Automation News

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Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

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Volkswagen is to construct buildings and infrastructure for the battery cell factory it has agreed to build with Northvolt. The automotive giant has made initial investment of some €450 million.

The joint venture between Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt is gaining further momentum.

It has been decided that Volkswagen itself will erect the buildings and infrastructure for the joint venture’s “Northvolt Zwei” factory that is to produce lithium-ion battery cells, in order to leverage synergies at the Salzgitter site – based on the existing Center of Excellence for Battery Cells. [Read more…] about Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

NXP launches new bluetooth devices for automotive and industrial markets

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NXP Semiconductors has launched new devices within its KW3x range of microcontrollers (MCUs). The new KW39/38/37 MCUs add Bluetooth 5.0 long-range capabilities and expanded Bluetooth advertising channels.

These enhancements are made while offering seamless migration with hardware, software and tools compatibility with the previous generation of devices, KW34/35/36.

The connectivity MCUs allow Bluetooth LE devices to communicate at distances of more than a mile and increase the amount of Bluetooth advertising channels and advertising data within the Bluetooth standard, the predominant IoT protocol. [Read more…] about NXP launches new bluetooth devices for automotive and industrial markets

Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

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Omron is making available its Sysmac Studio 3D simulation software available to industrial companies. (See video below.)

The company says it will be the first in the industry to provide such a system, which “can integrate and verify the movements of robots and peripheral devices that make up facilities”.

Omron says its “extensive knowledge and technology of control equipment”, including robots, helped in its development of the software. [Read more…] about Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

ABB launches IoT Dashboard for mid-sized commercial building automation solutions

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ABB has launched its new “user-friendly IoT Dashboard” to improve usability and reduce maintenance in smart buildings.

The company’s says the launch is in response to its finding that “preventative maintenance is three to nine times cheaper than reactive maintenance”.

ABB says its IoT Dashboard is “easy to commission, simple to install and intuitive to use”, and allows stronger control, monitoring and automation of all building functions, from dimming and switching of lights to controlling blinds, heating and ventilation. [Read more…] about ABB launches IoT Dashboard for mid-sized commercial building automation solutions

Schmalz launches ‘clever automation solutions’ for electronics production

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Vacuum specialist Schmalz has unveiled numerous “clever” solutions for the automated handling of delicate electronic components.

For example, gripping systems that reliably protect delicate components against electrostatic discharge.

Electrostatic charges and the resulting uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD) produce irreversible damage to electronic components such as chips or printed-circuit boards. [Read more…] about Schmalz launches ‘clever automation solutions’ for electronics production

Nachi-Fujikoshi having a big impact with its small robot

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Nachi-Fujikoshi is having a big impact with its small robot since its launch at the start of this year, and is likely to beat its annual sales targets going forward.

Nachi says the new MZ01 Ultracompact Robot is the “world’s smallest vertically articulated robot with a payload of 1 kg”.

The company is likely to beat its sales target of 3,000 units a year. [Read more…] about Nachi-Fujikoshi having a big impact with its small robot

Continental shows off autonomous mobility tech to German chancellor

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Automotive components giant Continental has been showing off its latest autonomous mobility technology to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, at the IAA event.

Continental says Merkel’s visit is an implicit acknowledgment that autonomous vehicles have the potential to change everyone’s lives.

Chancellor was pictured (above) getting off a driverless “Robo-Taxi” – also called the “CUbE” and “EZ10 Shuttle” – which Continental developed in partnership with French company EasyMile, of which Continental has been a shareholder since 2017. [Read more…] about Continental shows off autonomous mobility tech to German chancellor

Seat and Grupo Sesé launch a parts delivery service using drones

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The Seat factory in Martorell is the first Spanish plant to receive components via drone delivery. In collaboration with Grupo Sesé, the Spanish carmaker has a pioneering service connecting Sesé’s logistics centre in Abrera with the Seat factory using drones.

The first parts delivery service between two production plants in Spain by drone will deliver steering wheels and airbags to the Seat assembly lines.

The pilot project is being carried out under the supervision of the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) and will go forward in an experimental phase with several flights per day.

[Read more…] about Seat and Grupo Sesé launch a parts delivery service using drones

New solder paste enables further miniaturisation in automotive electronics

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For the production of miniaturised electrical systems, such as those used in the automotive industry, solder material must meet extremely high requirements.

In response, Heraeus Electronics has developed its new solder paste Microbond SMT650, which it says guarantees consistently high surface resistance.

The combination of the new F650 flux system with the Innolot metal alloy increases reliability and prevents electrochemical migration even under the most extreme environmental conditions.

[Read more…] about New solder paste enables further miniaturisation in automotive electronics

Sick launches new compact image-based code reader

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Sick has launched a new compact image-based code reader, Lector621, for reliable detection of 1D, 2D, stacked codes, and plain text.

The high-performance DPM – direct part marking – decoder can read laser or dot-peened codes perfectly, even in the case of low contrast levels, contamination, or poor code quality.

This fills a gap in Sick’s existing portfolio of code readers, by providing a compact solution with increased reading distance, resolution, field of vision, and scanning frequency. [Read more…] about Sick launches new compact image-based code reader

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