Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

administration

US FDA grants authorization for Distalmotion surgical robot

by

Distalmotion has been granted De Novo approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Dexter Surgical Robot for adult inguinal hernia repair.

This significant milestone marks another step forward in Distalmotion’s mission to empower robotic surgery excellence by expanding access and improving care with robotic assisted surgery in the hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC’s) where over 90 percent of inguinal hernia repairs are currently performed in the United States.

With more than 1,300 patients successfully treated in Europe, Distalmotion’s extensive experience has paved the way for bringing this innovation to the US market. [Read more…] about US FDA grants authorization for Distalmotion surgical robot

Healey-Driscoll Administration grants $1.1 million to Western New England University to support advanced robotic welding technologies

by

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced a $1.1 million investment to fund a three-year project at Western New England University (WNE) that fosters the establishment of a research and training cluster in advanced robotic welding technologies.

The award will support a collaborative project between WNE’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (CAMS) that will work with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and local industry partners to grow the advanced welding cluster and deliver new highly skilled workers to employers in the region.

The cutting-edge welding technologies have several applications in high-growth industries, including offshore wind, electric vehicles, aerospace, and manufacturing for national defense capabilities, such as submarines. [Read more…] about Healey-Driscoll Administration grants $1.1 million to Western New England University to support advanced robotic welding technologies

Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

by

Reliable Robotics, a specialist in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), says it has completed flight tests designed to substantiate the use of existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primary surveillance radar (PSR) data to improve the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Reliable Robotics has been working with NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign since 2021 to advance the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Of note – the FAA granted NASA limited access to PSR data for these specific flights conducted by Reliable Robotics – a step towards utilizing existing radar infrastructure for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

Super Micro to avoid Chinese components amid US-China trade war

by

Super Micro Computer, one of the world’s largest server manufacturers, has decided to avoid using components manufactured in China, according to a report on Nikkei.

Nikkei reports that Super Micro has instructed its suppliers to move production out of China.

Super Micro says the move is a consequence of the trade dispute between the US and China, in which security concerns raised by the US have also affected other Chinese companies such as Huawei.

[Read more…] about Super Micro to avoid Chinese components amid US-China trade war

US manufacturing sector is seeing ‘record investment’, says Pence

by

The manufacturing sector is experiencing a dramatic turnaround in business, according to figures released by the White House. 

President Donald Trump has consistently said he wants the manufacturing sector to grow and has personally intervened to persuade many large manufacturing companies to consider relocating or expanding their operations in the US.

However, the vast majority of manufacturing companies in the US are small businesses, of less than 100 people.  [Read more…] about US manufacturing sector is seeing ‘record investment’, says Pence

Trump administration will be a catalytic converter for autonomous cars, says Chao

by

Newly appointed US Transport Secretary Elaine Chao says the Trump administration will have a catalysing effect on the autonomous car industry. 

Chao made her first public remarks on the subject while speaking at the National Governors Association, as reported by Reuters.

Chao said: “This administration is evaluating this guidance and will consult with you and other stakeholders as we update it and amend it, to ensure that it strikes the right balance.”

She added that the Trump administration wanted to ensure it “is a catalyst for safe, efficient technologies, not an impediment. In particular, I want to challenge Silicon Valley, Detroit, and all other auto industry hubs to step up and help educate a skeptical public about the benefits of automated technology”.  [Read more…] about Trump administration will be a catalytic converter for autonomous cars, says Chao

Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

by

By David Shepardson, Reuters

Apple is wading in to the debate over regulation of self-driving cars, declaring it is excited about the potential for automated transportation and calling on US regulators not to restrict testing of such vehicles.

A five-page letter from Steve Kenner, Apple’s director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the company’s most comprehensive statement yet about its interest in self-driving vehicle technology.

The November 22 letter followed more than a year of industry speculation about the computer and iPhone maker’s plans for expanding into transportation.  [Read more…] about Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

US government officials criticized for ‘inappropriate’ relationship with autonomous car developer Google

by

rights for robots

Consumer Watchdog has called on US President Barack Obama to hold expected autonomous vehicle policies and stop the administration’s undue haste to get autonomous vehicle technology on the road after newly released documents showed “an inappropriate and possibly unethical relationship between Google and key members of your administration involved in developing autonomous vehicle policy”. 

In a letter to Obama, John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s privacy project director, writes: “The new revelations make it even more imperative that any such NHTSA policy statements be delayed until adequate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering autonomous technologies are implemented through a public rule-making process.”  [Read more…] about US government officials criticized for ‘inappropriate’ relationship with autonomous car developer Google