Robotics & Automation News

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Figure to supply ‘general purpose’ humanoid robots to BMW Manufacturing

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Figure, a California-based company developing autonomous humanoid robots, has signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to install general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.

Figure says its humanoid robots enable the automation of difficult, unsafe, or tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process, which in turn allows employees to focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated, as well as continuous improvement in production efficiency and safety.

Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of Figure, says: “Single-purpose robotics have saturated the commercial market for decades, but the potential of general purpose robotics is completely untapped. [Read more…] about Figure to supply ‘general purpose’ humanoid robots to BMW Manufacturing

ABB identifies new frontiers for robotics and AI in 2024

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ABB is celebrating 50 years of robotic innovation throughout 2024. Here, Marc Segura, president ABB Robotics Division, identifies three drivers for robotics-driven AI solutions in 2024, as ABB continues expansion into new segments not previously served by robotic automation.

Marc Segura, president ABB Robotics Division, says: “The coming year will see a growing focus on the critical role of AI.

“From mobile robots and cobots, to enabling new robotic applications in new sectors and creating new opportunities for people to learn and develop, these new frontiers for AI are redefining the future of industrial robotics.”

1. AI will drive new levels of autonomy in robotic applications

Accelerating progress in AI is redefining what is possible with industrial robotics. AI is enhancing everything from robots’ ability to grip, pick and place as well as their ability to map and navigate through dynamic environments.

From mobile robots to cobots and beyond, AI is giving robots unprecedented levels of speed, accuracy, and payload carrying ability, enabling them to take on more tasks in settings like flexible factories, warehouses, logistics centers and laboratories.

Segura says: “AI-enabled mobile robots can transform sectors like discrete manufacturing, logistics and laboratories.

“Robots equipped with ABB’s new Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology, for example, have advanced mapping and navigation skills, granting new levels of autonomy, while greatly reducing the infrastructure needed by previous generations of guided robots.

“This paves the way for a shift from linear production lines to dynamic networks, creating significant efficiencies and taking on more dull, dirty and dangerous tasks, to enable workers to take up more rewarding jobs.”

2. AI will see robots enter new sectors

The potential offered by AI-enabled robotics is influencing sectors far beyond manufacturing. In 2024, these technologies are expected to bring substantial efficiency improvements to more dynamic environments, such as healthcare and life sciences, as well as retail.

Another example is the construction industry, where AI-powered robotics can make a material contribution to boosting productivity, enhancing safety and sustainable construction practices while spurring growth.

Segura says: “The construction industry is a great example of a sector where AI-powered robots will prove transformative, delivering real value by addressing many of the issues facing the industry today, including worker shortages, safety issues and stagnant productivity.

“Abilities such as enhanced recognition and decision-making offered by AI, coupled with advances in collaborative robots enable safe deployment alongside workers.

“These advances also enable robots to perform key tasks such as bricklaying, modular assembly and 3D printing with greater precision and speed, all while contributing to more sustainable construction by lowering emissions, such as concrete mixing on site, to reducing the need to transport materials across far distances with on-site assembly.”

3. AI will offer new opportunities for education and working with robots

The advances being made in AI and robotics are significant for training and education, closing the automation skills gap and making robots more accessible to more people and businesses.

With AI making programming easier, through lead-through and even natural language, education can shift more towards how robots can assist humans more effectively, rather than just teaching programming skills.

This transition will make robots more approachable and bring them to a wider audience, leading to new job prospects while helping alleviate labor and skills shortages.

Segura says: “A shortage of people with the skills needed to program and support robots has long been a hurdle to the uptake of robotic automation, especially in small to medium sized manufacturing companies.

“We will see this increasingly being overcome as advances in generative AI lower the barriers to automation and expand the focus of education beyond programming.

“Developments in natural language programming, powered by AI in which workers can verbally instruct a robot in its task, will create a new dynamic in human-robot interactions.”

ABB Robotics: 50 years of innovation

The continued development of AI-powered robotics is the latest chapter in ABB’s fifty-year story of robotic innovation that began in 1974 with the sale of the world’s first commercial all-electric robot, the IRB 6.

Fifty years later, ABB is pioneering new ways of helping customers boost their productivity, efficiency, and sustainability through robotic automation.

ABB will be celebrating 50 years of robotic innovation throughout 2024, Search ABB Robotics in LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram or head to new.abb.com/products/robotics/events/50-years-of-robotic-innovation for all the latest news and updates.

Why Artificial Intelligence Matters in Robotic Technology

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Part of one of the world’s largest automation and robotics companies, Yaskawa Southern Africa is a pioneer in innovative technologies, not least when it comes to adopting burgeoning trends and automated solutions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a groundbreaking force in a plethora of sectors, including transportation, healthcare, finance, and agriculture.

In the realm of robotics, AI is redefining the landscape, as well as human-machine interaction. Andrew Crackett, managing director of Yaskawa, provides some insight into the role of AI in robotics technology, its advantages, challenges, and makes his predictions on what is to come in the future. [Read more…] about Why Artificial Intelligence Matters in Robotic Technology

NEC develops AI technology to enable robots to handle disorderly placed items

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NEC – a large Japanese multinational information technology and electronics company – says it has developed AI technology for robotics that enables “precise handling operations on unorganized and disorderly placed items”.

By predicting both the areas hidden by obstacles and the results of a robot’s actions, this technology makes it possible for robots to perform tasks that were previously performed manually, thereby contributing to the improvement of productivity and work-styles.

In recent years, due to labor shortages and other factors, the need for automation through the introduction of robots and large-scale equipment has been increasing in logistics warehouses and factories. [Read more…] about NEC develops AI technology to enable robots to handle disorderly placed items

Guru’s Slack AI Search: Exploring Capabilities and Benefits

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Imagine a world where finding info is easy like talking to a friend. With Guru’s AI Search in Slack, you can quickly find what you need in Slack using cool AI tech.

It helps you be more productive and efficient by making searches faster and easier. So, you can save time and energy when looking for important stuff.

In today’s days, Guru’s AI Search is like having a smart helper that knows what you need. No more scrolling forever – now you can find info right away. Get ready for easy searching with Slack AI Search! [Read more…] about Guru’s Slack AI Search: Exploring Capabilities and Benefits

Stäubli invests in company developing robot for solar industry

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Stäubli, one of the world’s largest industrial robot suppliers, says it has become involved in innovative Computer Vision, AI, and robotics solutions development with the California-based OnSight Technology.

Active since the early beginning of the Photovoltaic industry, Stäubli is a pioneer for durable and robust PV DC connectors. The Original MC4 PV connector has set the industry benchmark and is currently the most installed worldwide, connecting more than 50 percent of the global PV capacity.

Based on Stäubli’s longstanding expertise, the company says it is committed to sharing its knowledge and investing in future technology to increase safety in the solar industry. [Read more…] about Stäubli invests in company developing robot for solar industry

QYSEA launches ‘groundbreaking AI underwater measurement system’ for submersible robots

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QYSEA Technology has launched its QY-MT QYSEA Measurement Tool, its self-developed AI underwater intelligent precision measurement system.

The “cutting-edge technology” harnesses the robust subsea capabilities of QYSEA’s FIFISH underwater robot, heralding a new era of AI intelligence for underwater robot measurements, says the company.

The QY-MT intelligent measurement system seamlessly integrates underwater data through QYSEA’s advanced AI visual algorithms. It features real-time and offline dual measurement modes, ensuring precision even with offline videos. [Read more…] about QYSEA launches ‘groundbreaking AI underwater measurement system’ for submersible robots

Bosch to use generative AI in manufacturing

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Bosch is piloting generative AI and foundation models in manufacturing. In initial projects in two Bosch plants in Germany, generative AI creates synthetic images in order to develop and scale AI solutions for optical inspection and optimize existing AI models.

Bosch expects that this will reduce the time needed for planning, launching, and ramping up AI applications “from the current six to 12 months to just a few weeks”. Following successful piloting, this service for generating synthetic data is to be offered to all Bosch locations.

There are sound economic reasons for this move: depending on the size of the plant and type of production, artificial intelligence can be used to achieve productivity gains and six- to seven-figure cost savings – per year and plant. [Read more…] about Bosch to use generative AI in manufacturing

Quasi Cloud Connect Simplifies Mobile Robots Control

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Quasi Robotics, based in the tech hub of Frederick, Maryland, is a leading robotics and artificial intelligence company providing mobile automation solutions for laboratory, healthcare, warehousing, and manufacturing businesses alike.

The robotic process automation offered by Quasi combines a trio of elements: the proprietary intelligence suite Qai, which powers the operations of two autonomous mobile robots – Model R2 and Model C2 – all managed through an integrated, user-friendly, all-encompassing, mobile robot platform, Cloud Connect. [Read more…] about Quasi Cloud Connect Simplifies Mobile Robots Control

Top Ten Ways AI Will Benefit Your Business

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In this day and age, we are seeing businesses using artificial intelligence more and more. Some of the ways that artificial intelligence is being used would have been considered to be science fiction just a few short decades ago.

AI powered tools are being applied across the globe by businesses, by individual workers and by personal individuals who are using them in their private lives. And as the AI technology is growing, it’s becoming a huge tool for companies that want to keep their competitive edge.

While we are seeing how AI is helping with content creation, we still have to impress upon you that AI is a tool and therefore still needs human generation and interaction to be realistically used. [Read more…] about Top Ten Ways AI Will Benefit Your Business