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Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

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Flexiv, a developer of robotic and artificial intelligence solutions, has unveiled Flexiv Elements, its all-new operating system for “adaptive robots”.

Adaptive robots are a new category – very similar to collaborative robots – which Flexiv is concentrating on. It describes its “Rizon” model (main picture) as “the first adapative robot” – referring to its ability to maintain performance even amid significant changes in the environment, such as floating base, vibration, and human interference.

Created to provide integrators with “ground-breaking new features” which simplify complex robotic operations, Flexiv says Elements makes it “easier than ever” before to develop customized programs that enhance efficiency and productivity. [Read more…] about Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

Automation specialist Keba acquires software startup Drag & Bot

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Keba acquired the Germany-based software company Drag & Bot – or “drag and bot”, as it prefers to be known. The start-up develops an innovative operating system for robots.

As a 100 percent subsidiary, drag and bot is part of Keba Industrial Automation, one of the three business areas of Keba Group.

With this new acquisition, Keba strengthens its position in industrial automation and strategically expands its product portfolio with flexible automation software. [Read more…] about Automation specialist Keba acquires software startup Drag & Bot

Scientists unveil robotic grippers ‘delicate enough to lift egg yolks and precise enough to lift a human hair’

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Engineering researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated a new type of flexible, robotic grippers that they say “are able to lift delicate egg yolks without breaking them, and that are precise enough to lift a human hair”. (See video below.)

The work has applications for both soft robotics and biomedical technologies.

The work draws on the art of kirigami, which involves both cutting and folding two-dimensional (2D) sheets of material to form three-dimensional (3D) shapes. [Read more…] about Scientists unveil robotic grippers ‘delicate enough to lift egg yolks and precise enough to lift a human hair’

Stäubli Robots to unveil new hygienic robotic solutions at trade show

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Stäubli Robotics will present live demonstrations plus an educational session on its new hygienic robotic solutions for the food industry at IPPE 2022 in Atlanta.

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) takes place January 25-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a leading provider of advanced automation solutions for the food industry, Stäubli Robotics is a must-see for inventively engineered robots used in food production, processing and packaging applications. [Read more…] about Stäubli Robots to unveil new hygienic robotic solutions at trade show

New Kuka robotic technology ‘guarantees highest hygiene standards’

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Kuka says it is now using a range of new lubricants in its robotic technology which “guarantees the highest hygiene standards”.

The food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries impose special requirements on robotics.

Kuka says its new “Hygienic Oil” (HO) portfolio and “Hygienic Machine” (HM) variants are designed to avoid potential contamination and comply with the highest hygiene requirements. [Read more…] about New Kuka robotic technology ‘guarantees highest hygiene standards’

AutoStore unveils new robot for its warehouse automation system

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AutoStore, probably the leading provider of robotic automated storage and retrieval systems for warehouses, has launched its R5+ Robot.

The newest addition to the AutoStore Robot fleet will enable warehouses to manage larger items, thanks to the R5+’s ability to handle Bins up to 425 mm, the tallest Bins available in the AutoStore system.

Until now, this has been a premium feature possible only with AutoStore B1 Robot installations. The R5+ is now available for operations globally. [Read more…] about AutoStore unveils new robot for its warehouse automation system

2022 Energy Forecast: Ultra-dense power delivery networks are re-shaping the future

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By Tom Curatolo, senior director, applications engineering, Vicor Corporation

It is estimated by the year 2030 there will be a global skilled labor shortage of up to 85 million jobs, which equates to $8.5 trillion, according to a recent Korn Ferry report.

Many of these jobs will be in the industrial and service sectors where the Covid pandemic has exposed weaknesses in global supply chains and labor pools. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots can alleviate this situation by efficiently automating manual tasks.

Today, UAVs are being quickly ushered into service for a host of unique and mission-critical applications, including security/surveillance, parcel delivery, agriculture, defense and even natural disaster recovery and humanitarian aid delivery missions. [Read more…] about 2022 Energy Forecast: Ultra-dense power delivery networks are re-shaping the future

Epson unveils ‘no-code, easy-to-use’ robot teaching environment

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Epson Robots has launched what it says is a “no-code, easy-to-use” robot teaching environment.

The business need for automation continues to grow as manufacturers look to ramp up volume and improve quality, cost and employee safety.

Many new entrants to the market with limited automation experience lack expertise in text-based robotic programming language, creating a need for an intuitive robotic teaching environment. [Read more…] about Epson unveils ‘no-code, easy-to-use’ robot teaching environment

Learn More About Cloud Faxing Services

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Cloud computing is still a relatively new technology. Because of its comparative novelty, states are still trying to figure out how to tax transactions that occur within the cloud computing industry.

They regularly issue new policy statements, enact new legislation, and promulgate new rules regarding the taxability of cloud-based transactions, so it can be hard for the average business owner to keep up.

Modern companies that utilize cloud-based solutions must be aware of the complexity of state sales and use tax treatment. To that end, this article will offer a basic introduction to the tax treatment of the three types of cloud computing transactions. [Read more…] about Learn More About Cloud Faxing Services

Nvidia brings AI perception to ROS developers

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Nvidia has unveiled initiatives to deliver a suite of perception technologies to the Robot Operating System (ROS) developer community.

The chipmaker says these initiatives will “reduce development time and improve performance for developers seeking to incorporate cutting-edge computer vision and AI/ML functionality into their ROS-based robotics applications”.

Nvidia and Open Robotics, the organisation which maintains ROS, have entered into an agreement to accelerate ROS 2 performance on Nvidia’s Jetson edge AI platform and GPU-based systems and to enable seamless simulation interoperability between Open Robotics’s Ignition Gazebo and Nvidia Isaac Sim on Omniverse. [Read more…] about Nvidia brings AI perception to ROS developers