Robotics & Automation News

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Dematic automates Landmark Group’s main distribution centre

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Dematic has completed a new automated distribution centre for the Landmark Group in Dubai, UAE, allowing the multinational retailer to consolidate the logistics activities for part of its five existing manual distribution sites.

Mihin Shah, chief supply chain officer of Landmark Group, says: “The automation solution designed by Dematic allows our supply chain network to now operate with enhanced efficiency, productivity and transparency.

“With this investment, we are advancing technological progress and taking a pioneering position in our region.” [Read more…] about Dematic automates Landmark Group’s main distribution centre

Omron launches new SCARA robot

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Omron has launched a new industrial robot, the i4 series SCARA robot, which the company says “automates high-speed, high-precision assembly and transportation with easy installation”.

The i4 series consists of an i4H medium to large sized, high-performance model and an i4L that is compact and suitable for lightweight applications.

By seamlessly integrating and controlling the “i4 series” robots and the robot-hands, or end effector, and other peripheral devices; the interlocking of each device is enabled and complicated tasks which could not be done with conventional SCARA robots are now automated. [Read more…] about Omron launches new SCARA robot

Piab introduces soft gripper range for industrial robots

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Piab has introduced a soft gripper – or end effector – for industrial robots. The company says its piSoftGrip range is developed for the automation of the food and chocolate industry.

Piab once again extends the pi-SoftGrip family with a new pinch gripper developed for the automation of the food/chocolate industry. The vacuum-based soft gripper can grip sensitive and lightweight oblong objects with odd geometries and/or objects with an unusual surface.

piSoftGrip has two gripping fingers and a sealed vacuum cavity, all made in one piece, resulting in a simple and robust product. [Read more…] about Piab introduces soft gripper range for industrial robots

AImotive and Sony partner to develop ADAS capability for Vision-S prototype

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AImotive, the most highly-funded automated driving technology company in Europe, is working with Sony to develop its automated driving software stack with Sony’s Vision-S Prototype (main picture and below).

According to Sony, the Vision-S – announced at CES 2020 – is conceived to re-imagine mobility as we know it, by integrating the advanced ADAS and automated driving systems with the latest electric vehicle technology and an innovative entertainment system.

Sony disclosed an update of the Vision-S concept on January 11 at the all-digital CES 2021, highlighting that prototypes are already being tested on public roads. [Read more…] about AImotive and Sony partner to develop ADAS capability for Vision-S prototype

How Automation Increases the Effectiveness of an Organization

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In today’s tech-driven world, more and more companies are resorting to automation and taking help from relevant software programs to increase effectiveness and boost performance.

While some still consider it a threat, automation can enhance your company’s progress if used in the right way. Software robots and machine learning are also a part of automation that reduces human labour and increases productivity.

Companies use automation tools to increase efficiency as most takes are operated by robots, software tools, and artificial intelligence. With time, machines have learned to use logic and streamline processes applied in a professional work front. [Read more…] about How Automation Increases the Effectiveness of an Organization

ABB expands project to automate semiconductor factory

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What started out as a small project to automate a single production stage has morphed into an award-winning program to digitally transform one of ABB’s own factories – in what is dubbed Project Genesis. (See video below.) 

The power semiconductors produced by ABB pass through hundreds of production steps, from raw wafer dicing to the final semiconductor module.

Production of the BiMOS semiconductor – one of two types produced at Lenzburg, Switzerland – was labor intensive and tended to generate bottlenecks during high demand. [Read more…] about ABB expands project to automate semiconductor factory

Toyota unveils two new autonomous warehouse vehicles

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Toyota Forklift has unveiled two new autonomous warehouse vehicles, developed in partnership with Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics company.

The “Center-Controlled Rider” and “Core Tow Tractor Automated Forklifts” were designed for manufacturing facilities and distribution center operations where tasks are highly standardized, repetitive, and easily accomplished without the need of advanced human management.

The vehicles use ANT software from BlueBotics. ANT is like an operating system for autonomous mobile robots or automated guided vehicles. [Read more…] about Toyota unveils two new autonomous warehouse vehicles

BMW shows off autonomous version of classic Mini

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BMW is showing off an autonomous version of the classic Mini. The new concept car is part of the German automotive giant’s “Vision Next” project, which encapsulates a company-wide philosophy that aims to integrate the latest technologies into a new generation of vehicles.

These technologies include internet connectivity, autonomous or highly automated driving functions, shared availability, and electric propulsion. 

Called the Mini Vision Urbanaut, BMW says the car represents an “all-new interpretation of a vision of space”. In other words, the interior is radically different from conventional modern cars. [Read more…] about BMW shows off autonomous version of classic Mini

Autonomous local public transport introduced in southern Germany

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Autonomous local public transport is being introduced in southern Germany through a research project funded with €7 million.

The RABus project is one of the implemented measures of the strategic goals for automated and networked mobility in the southern German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport of Baden-Wuerttemberg, handed over the notice of funding in the amount of €7 million to the RABus consortium. [Read more…] about Autonomous local public transport introduced in southern Germany

FBI installs AutoStore for centralized automated record filing and retrieval solution

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The General Service Administration (GSA) has installed an automated record filing and retrieval system from robotics technology company AutoStore inside a recently completed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) central records complex in Winchester, Virginia.

The facility includes the country’s first robotic filing and retrieval warehouse in a GSA project.

Certified by the National Archives and Records Administration, this secure, “state-of-the-art”, 250,000-square-foot facility was built to consolidate and contain records previously housed within 256 field offices around the world. [Read more…] about FBI installs AutoStore for centralized automated record filing and retrieval solution