Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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New robotic painting system saves ‘significant’ resources, claims Fraunhofer

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An automated painting system, involving an industrial robot, is claimed to save significant resources by its developer, the Fraunhofer Institute.

The robotic system – called SelfPaint – is said by Fraunhofer to offer reductions of 20 percent in paint use, 15 percent in energy consumption and 5 percent in production time.

These are “significant advantages” compared to manual painting operations, which have previously been the preferred option, adds Fraunhofer.  [Read more…] about New robotic painting system saves ‘significant’ resources, claims Fraunhofer

Danlaw partners with Siemens on product lifecycle management

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Danlaw, a company which develops connected car and automotive electrics technologies, is now an official Siemens product lifecycle management – or automated lifecycle management – solution partner.

The company says the partnership highlights Danlaw’s commitment to providing a seamless solution between its Mx-Suite verification and validation test software and Siemens Polarion QA software with the Mx-Suite Polarion Connector.

Our customers benefit from increased quality and reduced development cycles, when developing electronic modules by centrally managing test case generation and execution with test results tied directly to requirements.  [Read more…] about Danlaw partners with Siemens on product lifecycle management

Autonomous sea-going vessels likely to be launched before driverless cars

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The vast majority of the world’s goods are shipped – quite literally – by sea. According to the International Maritime Organization, 90 per cent of the world’s trade is carried by ships and boats. 

The IMO adds that the sea “is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world”.

So while we’re all waiting for drones and driverless vehicles to deliver our online shopping orders by road and by air, it seems the really big trends are all at sea.  [Read more…] about Autonomous sea-going vessels likely to be launched before driverless cars

Toshiba launches three new industrial robots aimed at automated picking applications

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Toshiba Machine has launched three new industrial robots.

The three new models are part of the company’s TVM series of vertically articulated robots, and all have “high cost performance and reliability”, says Toshiba.

The TVM series is designed primarily for use in transfer and assembly processes in the automobile components industry and enables high productivity in assembly and transfer by combining with a wide array of system installation support tools.  [Read more…] about Toshiba launches three new industrial robots aimed at automated picking applications

Google grants almost $1 million to press agency developing robot journalists

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The writer of this article is human, but soon you may be reading articles on this website which are written by robots or automation software. 

And who knows, some of the articles you read online may already be written by robots. Over the course of a longer period of time, you’ve almost certainly read something written by automation software.

Companies such as Automated Insights have been supplying thousands of articles a month to a variety of clients for a couple of years.  [Read more…] about Google grants almost $1 million to press agency developing robot journalists

Octopuz releases new version of industrial robot programming software

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Octopuz has released the latest version of its industrial robot programming and simulation software. 

The company says Octopuz 1.7 is packed with new features and enhancements, including robot code importing, NC code importing, an all-new tool manager, and URP program generation for UR robots.

Octopuz has also added something called SmartPath, which provides automated methods of orientating the robot and making changes to solve conflicts.  [Read more…] about Octopuz releases new version of industrial robot programming software

Bharati Robotics shows off autonomous industrial cleaning robot

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bharati agv crop
The Bharati autonomous guided vehicle for materials transport

Bharati Robotics Systems has been showing off its new autonomous industrial floor cleaning robots. 

The company says the small vehicle saves labour costs and increases productivity by up to 200 per cent, and cleans the floor better than humans, or the “highest quality of cleaning”.

The robot’s battery lasts up to four hours on one charge and it has a smartphone interface through which it can be monitored and controlled.  [Read more…] about Bharati Robotics shows off autonomous industrial cleaning robot

Dekra takes over Lausitzring race track to turn it into an autonomous vehicle testing circuit

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lausitzring track
The Lausitzring race track has been the venue for many races

A company called Dekra will take over the Lausitzring race track on November 1, 2017, and turn it into an autonomous vehicle testing ground.

Together with the Dekra Technology Center, in immediate proximity to the race track in Klettwitz, Brandenburg, since 2003, the site will be made into the innovation center for the testing of the mobility of the future.

It will become a central component of the international testing network for connected and automated driving, which Dekra is establishing in Europe and Asia, and will bring “new, high-quality jobs to the region”, says the company.  [Read more…] about Dekra takes over Lausitzring race track to turn it into an autonomous vehicle testing circuit

Hirotec on long journey towards lights-out manufacturing with robots from Otto and Yaskawa

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“Lights-out manufacturing” is a term to mean the method of making things in a way that’s entirely automated and does not need humans to be involved in the process. 

Of course, humans initially set up the process, build the factory and so on, but the factory which outputs the final product only requires robotics and automation technology.

It’s an idea that has probably been explored in science fiction many times, but in reality, a fully automated factory that needs no human intervention at all is still a distant dream.  [Read more…] about Hirotec on long journey towards lights-out manufacturing with robots from Otto and Yaskawa

PLC vs PAC: Similar but not the same

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By Zach Arnold, founder, Arnold Machine

Programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, and programmable automation controllers, or PACs, are similar as they both perform the same essential functions. But with modern technology, their differences are becoming more blurred. 

The most notable difference between PLCs and PACs is their programming interface. PACs are more intricate, using C or C++. PLCs on the other hand, are programmed using ladder logic.

These programming differences create distinctions in the architecture and capability between the two computers.  [Read more…] about PLC vs PAC: Similar but not the same