Robotics & Automation News

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Epson Flexion N-Series wins 2017 Golden Mousetrap Award

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Epson’s newest 6-axis robot recognized for industry innovation

Epson Robots’ Flexion N-Series has won the highly acclaimed Golden Mousetrap Award in the category of Automation & Control: Motors and Mechanical Motion Devices.

The Golden Mousetrap awards celebrate leading companies, products, and people who are driving innovation in design, engineering, and manufacturing.

The winners were announced at an awards ceremony held a few weeks ago.  [Read more…] about Epson Flexion N-Series wins 2017 Golden Mousetrap Award

MDA recognized by Nasa for robotic servicing of International Space Station

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nasa ssl robotic spacecraft to fix satellites
Artist’s illustration of the robotic spacecraft which will float around in space, fixing satellites. Picture courtesy of SSL

MDA US Systems, a division of MDA managed by SSL, has been recognized by Nasa’s Johnson Space Center for its “outstanding support” of a robotic upgrade to the International Space Station’s power system which took place in January.

The MDA team based in Houston played a critical role in planning and validating the robotic maneuvering both before and during the mission.

Nasa JSC ground controllers used the 15-degrees-of-freedom Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (Dextre) arm to install six new 430-pound lithium-ion batteries in two power channel integrated electronics assembly pallets.

Dextre first removed 12 older and depleted 740-pound nickel-hydrogen batteries from the pallets, nine of which were put on the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle’s external pallet to burn up on re-entry with it.  [Read more…] about MDA recognized by Nasa for robotic servicing of International Space Station

Prosthetic arm technology that detects spinal nerve signals developed by scientists

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prosthetic arm

Scientists have developed sensor technology for a robotic prosthetic arm that detects signals from nerves in the spinal cord.

To control the prosthetic, the patient has to think like they are controlling a phantom arm and imagine some simple manoeuvres, such as pinching two fingers together.

The sensor technology interprets the electrical signals sent from spinal motor neurons and uses them as commands.

A motor neuron is a nerve cell that is located in the spinal cord. Its fibres, called axons, project outside the spinal cord to directly control muscles in the body. [Read more…] about Prosthetic arm technology that detects spinal nerve signals developed by scientists

ST Robotics launches new ‘super-fast’ industrial robot arm for $18,000

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ST R17HS

ST Robotics has launched what it says is a high speed version of their five-axis vertically articulated R17 robot arm.

The company says its new machine compares favourably to the Universal Robots UR5 model.

ST claims its new ST R17HS is one of the industry’s fastest robots. Standard tool speed is “over four times as fast as the nearest competitor”, yet it’s less than half the price, says the company.  [Read more…] about ST Robotics launches new ‘super-fast’ industrial robot arm for $18,000

Startup launches desktop robot selling for less than $300

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ufactory uarm robot

These days, it seems barely a week goes by without someone somewhere building a robotic arm of some description. 

Using components which can be bought from almost anywhere online, and chipsets such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, the “makers” of the world are launching more and more sophisticated pieces of equipment.

While there are internationally agreed codes about what defines a true “collaborative” robot and other industrial-standard machines, startups are bypassing those specifications and releasing products which may eventually require some sort of regulation of their own.  [Read more…] about Startup launches desktop robot selling for less than $300

Automotive industrial robot market forecast to reach $8 billion within four years

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industrial robots

Industrial robots are in high demand in the automotive sector, and a research company is saying the market will grow to beyond $8 billion by 2021. 

In the report published by MarketsandMarkets, the market was estimated to be $5.07 billion in 2016, and is projected to grow to $8.44 billion by 2021, at a growth rate of 10.74 per cent.  [Read more…] about Automotive industrial robot market forecast to reach $8 billion within four years

Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

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DoBot Magician robot
The DoBot Magician robot from Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology

lockA Chinese startup company has demonstrated what it calls the “first industrial robotic arm for small business”, and has raised more than $400,000 on Kickstarter. 

The company describes the “DoBot M1” as a “professional SCARA based robotic arm” suitable for desktop use by small businesses, makers and hobbyists. Dobot was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas.

Manufactured by Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology, the Dobot M1 is a robotic arm with a number of extensions. The robots can also connected together to form a multi-arm system.  [Read more…] about Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

Igus launches pre-assembled Robolink D 5-axis articulated arms

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igus robolink_D_roboter

Igus says the low-cost robot enables simple configuration, easy acquisition, and immediate connection 

Igus has launched its Robolink D 5-axis articulated arms as an assembly kit consisting of arm, motor and gearbox, or now as a ready-to-connect articulated arm, enabling machine and system builders to rapidly implement their own low-cost robotic automation systems.

Robert Dumayne, director of dry-tech bearings, Igus, says: “Robots are taking over more and more in automation tasks. Last year, sales of industrial robots exceeded 245,000 pieces, marking a new record.”

At the same time, Igus says, interest is also growing in simple and inexpensive robotics solutions. In the area of low-cost automation, engineers can increase the productivity of their machines with a flexible robot kit using Robolink D, says Igus.  [Read more…] about Igus launches pre-assembled Robolink D 5-axis articulated arms

Your next nurse could be a robot, say scientists who trained one

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operating room

Robots can successfully imitate human motions in the operating room, claim scientists

The nursing assistant for your next trip to the hospital might be a robot. This is the implication of research recently published by Dr Elena De Momi and colleagues in the open access journal Frontiers in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Dr De Momi, of the Politecnico di Milano, in Italy, led an international team that trained a robot to imitate natural human actions. De Momi’s work indicates that humans and robots can effectively coordinate their actions during high-stakes events such as surgeries.

Over time this should lead to improvements in safety during surgeries because unlike their human counterparts robots do not tire and can complete an endless series of precise movements. The goal is not to remove human expertise from the operating room, but to complement it with a robot’s particular skills and benefits.  [Read more…] about Your next nurse could be a robot, say scientists who trained one

Servosila launches robotic arm for mobile market

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servosila-robotic-arm-7

Servosila, a robotics technology company, has launched a new line of robotic arm manipulators specifically targeted at mobile robotics market.

Gary Silver, chief marketing officer for Servosila, says: “Servosila robotic arms are the first manipulators specifically designed for mobile robots. It is very easy to retrofit any existing robotic chassis or a torso with a Servosila robotic arm.”

Servosila robotic arms are attachable payload modules for mobile service robots or other robotic platforms. Servosila robotic arms are typically mounted on a chassis or a torso of a mobile robot and be powered by an on-board power supply system of the host robotic platform.  [Read more…] about Servosila launches robotic arm for mobile market