Robotics & Automation News

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automation

Large industrial robots finding their way into smaller enterprises, says Acieta

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acieta Welding_Am120i

Mark Sumner, national sales manager for Acieta, a provider of industrial automation solutions, says large robots which used to be the preserve of mega corporations are gradually finding their way into smaller enterprises

Robots benefit manufacturers in many ways: improved quality, increased capacity and a safer workplace. That’s why sales of robot handling systems increase year after year, and it’s not just high-volume manufacturers that are buying them.

Dramatic advances in robotic technologies and lower costs are reducing barriers to implementation, making them effective in medium- and low-volume environments.  [Read more…] about Large industrial robots finding their way into smaller enterprises, says Acieta

President Barack Obama appoints GM CEO Mary Barra to advisory panel on self-driving cars

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra

US President Barack Obama has appointed General Motors chief executive Mary Barra to a newly created advisory committee on self-driving cars, and critics are already saying she should be the first person to whom the incoming president, Donald Trump, should say: “You’re fired.” 

Consumer advocates called on President-elect Donald Trump to make Barra his first firing and remove her as co-chairman of the newly created Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation.

In a letter to Trump, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, John Simpson, the group’s privacy project director, and Joan Claybrook, chair of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, wrote: “As you know, robot cars, trucks, drones and other technology threaten to replace tens of millions of American jobs, pose a danger to the safety of our roads and public spaces, and come with significant privacy and security threats.

“We should not allow the robot makers alone to oversee the safety of vehicles coming out of robot factories, but the Obama Administration’s eleventh hour appointments do just that.”  [Read more…] about President Barack Obama appoints GM CEO Mary Barra to advisory panel on self-driving cars

TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million

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port of virginia
Port of Virgina. Picture courtesy PortStrategy.com

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation has been selected to provide industrial drive and automation solutions for The Port of Virginia’s historic expansion project, totaling 86 Konecranes Automated-Stacking Cranes (ASC) at the Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) and Virginia International Gateway (VIG) facilities.

This is the largest ASC order TMEIC has received to date and the largest single ASC order ever placed by a port.

“TMEIC has been a longtime, proven partner with Konecranes and The Port of Virginia, including the construction of VIG and the original ASC implementation there in 2007,” TMEIC president and CEO Dale Guidry said.  [Read more…] about TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million

Universal Robots signs up Cimtec Automation as US distributor

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universal robots ur3_news crop 600

Partnership augments Cimtec’s automation component offering to southeast US  

Cimtec Automation has been selected as Universal Robots’ distribution partner for collaborative robots serving the US southeastern region.

The partnership augments Cimtec’s automation components and will provide even more advanced automation tools to “improve its customers’ manufacturing quality and efficiency”, says a statement from Cimtec.

Dan Keenan, president of Cimtec Automation, says: “We are excited about this new partnership with Universal Robots.

“Having built our reputation on providing state-of-the-art automation products and industry solutions, we are eager to bring this advanced robotic technology to our customers.”  [Read more…] about Universal Robots signs up Cimtec Automation as US distributor

That drug, man… it, like, uh, really ties the artificially intelligent, automated greenhouse together… you know?

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“I’m the Dude, so that’s what you call me. That or, uh, His Dudeness, or, uh, Duder, or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.”

Dope, weed, grass, cannabis, marijuana, or even pot – if, like Hollywood superstar Jeff Bridges, you live in the 1970s and make classic stoner films like The Big Lebowski.

There are hundreds of words for what is probably the most widely used recreational drug in the world. It’s still illegal in much of the world, but some states in the US have taken what many see as an enlightened view and decided they would rather not spoil someone else’s rug, or take it away.  [Read more…] about That drug, man… it, like, uh, really ties the artificially intelligent, automated greenhouse together… you know?

Technical insight: The brake chopper size conundrum

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brake choppers

John Mitchell, global business development manager of maintenance and repair specialist CP Automation, looks at the dangers of taking your IGBT for granted

Many drives manufacturers design and build their products with a seventh Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), in the form of a brake chopper, incorporated into the device. 

Manufacturers often include a brake chopper up to a certain size of inverter, but beyond that size, they will expect customers to use an external unit.

However, to reduce the cost of the drive to the end user, the seventh IGBT isn’t necessarily rated to the full power rating of the drive itself.  [Read more…] about Technical insight: The brake chopper size conundrum

Integrating industry with the universe

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kuka robot at hannover messe
A scene from last year’s Hannover Messe, which attracted more than 200,000 visitors

lockHannover Messe is widely regarded as the world’s leading trade fair for industrial companies – particularly those in engineering, robotics, and automation.

Held in Germany every year in April, the event attracts more than 200,000 visitors and over 5,000 exhibitors.

Considered to be the most important exhibition of its type, last year the special guests were German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and US President Barack Obama.  [Read more…] about Integrating industry with the universe

Virtual factory: Visual Components launches new version of its industrial design application

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visual components robots

Visual Components has launched the latest version of its design application which the company says offers a number of new features and capabilities. 

Visual Components 4.0 is the company’s new range of 3D factory simulation products, designed for manufacturing professionals and built on a “powerful, flexible, and scalable platform”.

The company says the new version offers:

  • smarter simulation;
  • improved user interface refresh;
  • better performance;
  • advanced rendering; and
  • open architecture.

Visual Components was founded by a group of simulation experts with long experience in industry.  [Read more…] about Virtual factory: Visual Components launches new version of its industrial design application

Beam me up virtually, Scotty: I canna change the laws of physics, captain

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Kirk, Spock teleportation

lockA while ago, Robotics and Automation News interviewed Alex Boch about 360 cameras, and he said he would be developing a new product soon which would incorporate virtual reality. 

Now, having helped build the ALLie Camera, Boch – who is VP of operations there – is back in touch to talk about the device which he says gives users a better view of events than if they were actually there.

One of the events ALLie has been used for is the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, which Boch mentions in the Q&A that follows.  [Read more…] about Beam me up virtually, Scotty: I canna change the laws of physics, captain

Manufacturing: Trump tempts Toyota with tax break if it builds cars in US instead of Mexico

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toyota mexico
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto with Toyota North America CEO James Lentz last year during the start of building the facility in Guanajuato

lockAfter apparently pressuring Ford to change its plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Mexico, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly putting pressure on Toyota to follow suit. 

Ford had intended to build a plant in Mexico, but is now applying the brakes on those plans, according to the Economist.

A couple of days ago, Ford said it would cancel its $1.6 billion project in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and instead invest $700 million in its plant in Michigan, in the US.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing: Trump tempts Toyota with tax break if it builds cars in US instead of Mexico