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Geek+ powers remote operations and new deployments for Decathlon in China

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Geek+, an autonomous mobile robot manufacturer, has extended its co-operation with Decathlon, one of the world’s largest retailers of sporting goods.

Decathlon is present in over 50 countries with more than 1,600 stores globally and has been partnering with Geek+ on a successful two-year collaboration in its e-commerce and retail fulfillment centers in Shanghai.

Decathlon has now accelerated its automation program, with AMR deployments at two new sites in China. The installations were implemented remotely in under three months, following strict pandemic restrictions. [Read more…] about Geek+ powers remote operations and new deployments for Decathlon in China

Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

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Toyota will make its Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) software freely available from January 2021 as part of its efforts toward a safe mobility society.

THUMS is a virtual human body model software program for computer analysis of human body injuries caused in vehicle collisions. Free access to THUMS, and subsequent use by a wider variety of users, is expected to enhance vehicle safety.

Designed to aid vehicle safety technologies’ research and development, and developed in cooperation with Toyota Central R&D Labs, THUMS was the world’s first virtual human body model software when it launched in 2000. [Read more…] about Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

Coronavirus expected to cut industrial robot revenue by more than 8 per cent this year

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By Maya Xiao of Interact Analysis

The coronavirus pandemic which has devastated economies worldwide is expected to reduce revenues in the industrial robot market by more than 8 per cent, according to a study by Interact Analysis.

“After a weak 2019, we originally expected the 2020 robot market to recover strongly, but Covid-19 changed the market revenue growth forecast from 4.8 percent to -3.6 percent,” writes Maya Xiao, automation market expert at Interact Analysis.

Global industrial robot shipments experienced negative growth for four consecutive quarters from mid-2018, she says. At the end of 2019, recovery signs appeared, and the mid-term growth rate turned positive. This turnaround happened in the context of a continued slowdown in general global manufacturing activity, which led to weak spending on machinery and automation equipment. [Read more…] about Coronavirus expected to cut industrial robot revenue by more than 8 per cent this year

BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

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BMW says it uses an “ongoing algorithm-based analysis” of dust content in vehicle paint booths and compares them to a database to predict the quality of coating it applies to cars

Artificial intelligence can bring even greater precision to controlling highly sensitive systems in automotive production, as a pilot project in the paint shop of the BMW’s Munich plant has demonstrated.

Despite state-of-the-art filtration technology, the content of finest dust particles in paint lines varies depending on the ambient air drawn in. If the dust content exceeded the threshold, the still wet paint could trap particles, thus visually impairing the painted surface.

AI specialists from what BMW calls its “central planning” and the Munich plant have now found a way to avoid this situation altogether: every freshly painted car body must undergo an automatic surface inspection in the paint shop. [Read more…] about BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

Collaborative robotics market to account for 30 per cent of total robot market by 2027, says report

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The collaborative robotics market is forecast to account for approximately 30 per cent of the total overall robot market by 2027, according to a report by Interact Analysis.

The growth rate of collaborative robots is leading the robotics industry, adds the researcher.

Logistics will “surpass automotive” to be the second largest end user of collaborative robots by 2023, with electronics in first place. [Read more…] about Collaborative robotics market to account for 30 per cent of total robot market by 2027, says report

SICK launches new superfast camera system for industrial processes

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SICK has launched a new superfast camera system for industrial environments.

The sensor specialist says the new “EventCam” can eliminate spontaneous errors in the manufacturing process.

This industrial-grade 2D camera brings clarity when unexplained gripping, handling, and positioning problems arise or when unreproducible installation errors or machine downtimes occur. [Read more…] about SICK launches new superfast camera system for industrial processes