Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

artificial

The Turing Test: Origins, significance, and controversies

by

The Turing Test is a concept deeply embedded in the history and philosophy of artificial intelligence. First proposed in 1950 by Alan Turing, the pioneering British mathematician and logician, the test aims to address a fundamental question: Can machines think?

Or can machines convincingly appear to be thinking in human-like ways in their responses to questions asked by humans? Or, in other words, can a chatbot fool humans into believing it is human? [Read more…] about The Turing Test: Origins, significance, and controversies

AI-generated images: Is this the future of art?

by

Dictionary definitions of “art” are many and varied, but for people of a certain age – let’s say around 60 – art used to mean paintings and sculptures… pretty much exclusively.

But over those 60 years – starting around 30 years ago – art started to mean different things, although those “different” artistic expressions still often incorporated the traditional modes of expression – painting and sculpting.

One of those “different” things that came to constitute art was “installation art”, which is usually a relatively large-scale work – taking up one whole gallery room or more. Installation art uses mixed media to create an immersive experience for people to walk through and perhaps interact with or even be an essential part of.

[Read more…] about AI-generated images: Is this the future of art?

Artificial Intelligence Propels Metal Manufacturing Forward

by

The earlier decade marked the introduction of Industry 4.0 with digitalization.

Now, that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves in all industries, its impact can be felt in metal manufacturing, particularly metal parts machining and precision fabrication.

With AI algorithms, machines, and tools have gotten smarter, quicker, and more efficient. Automation technology has advanced, and access to information has become easier than ever.

[Read more…] about Artificial Intelligence Propels Metal Manufacturing Forward

Honeywell and Google Cloud to accelerate autonomous operations with AI agents for the industrial sector

by

Honeywell and Google Cloud are partnering to launch a “unique collaboration” connecting artificial intelligence (AI) agents with assets, people and processes to accelerate safer, autonomous operations for the industrial sector.

This partnership will bring together the multimodality and natural language capabilities of Gemini on Vertex AI – Google Cloud’s AI platform – and the massive data set on Honeywell Forge, a leading Internet of Things (IoT) platform for industrials.

This will unleash easy-to-understand, enterprise-wide insights across a multitude of use cases. Honeywell’s customers across the industrial sector will benefit from opportunities to reduce maintenance costs, increase operational productivity and upskill employees. [Read more…] about Honeywell and Google Cloud to accelerate autonomous operations with AI agents for the industrial sector

Driving Efficiency in Manufacturing with Intelligent Automation: Beyond Robotics

by

If you want to stay competitive in today’s manufacturing landscape, you’ll need more than just manpower and machines.

Intelligent automation (IA) has become the force behind efficiency, plus it gives manufacturers the chance to optimize their operations beyond traditional robotics.

When you integrate advanced technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and more, you’re able to automate processes, predict machine failures, and make decisions based on up-to-date data. [Read more…] about Driving Efficiency in Manufacturing with Intelligent Automation: Beyond Robotics

Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

by

Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a robotic leg with artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, it jumps across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner.

Inventors and researchers have been developing robots for almost 70 years. To date, all the machines they have built – whether for factories or elsewhere – have had one thing in common: they are powered by motors, a technology that is already 200 years old.

Even walking robots feature arms and legs that are powered by motors, not by muscles as in humans and animals. This in part suggests why they lack the mobility and adaptability of living creatures.

[Read more…] about Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

Why Artificial Intelligence Matters in Robotic Technology

by

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

by

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

Quasi Cloud Connect Simplifies Mobile Robots Control

by

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

ETH develops ‘lighter, safer, more robust’ artificial muscles for robots

by

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed artificial muscles for robot motion. The researchers say their solution offers several advantages over previous technologies: it can be used wherever robots need to be soft rather than rigid or where they need more sensitivity when interacting with their environment.

Many roboticists dream of building robots that are not just a combination of metal or other hard materials and motors but also softer and more adaptable. Soft robots could interact with their environment in a completely different way; for example, they could cushion impacts the way human limbs do, or grasp an object delicately.

This would also offer benefits regarding energy consumption: robot motion today usually requires a lot of energy to maintain a position, whereas soft systems could store energy well, too. So, what could be more obvious than to take the human muscle as a model and attempt to recreate it? [Read more…] about ETH develops ‘lighter, safer, more robust’ artificial muscles for robots