Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

automotive

Daimler Truck makes strategic investment in Apex.AI

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Apex.AI, a company developing safety-certified software for mobility and autonomous applications, says that Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has made a strategic minority investment in the company.

Apex.AI has developed an industry-leading suite of automotive safety-certified software solutions, including the Apex.OS operating system.

The software suite serves as the foundational infrastructure on which smart machines operate in the automotive, agriculture, mining, IoT and industrial automation industries. [Read more…] about Daimler Truck makes strategic investment in Apex.AI

ABB Robotics unveils world’s first robot-painted art car

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ABB Robotics has collaborated with two world-renowned artists – eight-year-old Indian child prodigy Advait Kolarkar and Dubai-based digital design collective Illusorr – to create the world’s first robot-painted art car.

ABB’s award-winning PixelPaint technology has, without human intervention, perfectly recreated Advait’s swirling, monochromatic design as well as Illusorr’s tri-color geometrical patterns.

Equipped with 1,000 nozzles in the printer head, ABB’s IRB 5500 paint robots were able to complete the highly complex artworks in less than 30 minutes. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics unveils world’s first robot-painted art car

Comau launches new industrial robot

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Comau is expanding its product portfolio with the new N-220-2.7 (N-220), a 220 kg payload robot featuring a modular set up, direct kinematics, absolute calibration, and enhanced algorithms.

These characteristics deliver significant ease of use, straightforward integration, and faster post-installation maintenance while ensuring precision, flexibility, repeatability, and minimum backlash.

Manufactured via a fully automated production line directly in its Turin, Italy Innovation Center of Advanced Robotics, Comau’s increased generation robot offers new levels of quality and supply chain flexibility in addition to cost-effective operation, as required by today’s high-growth market segments. [Read more…] about Comau launches new industrial robot

ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

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ABB has entered into an agreement with Scania, one of world’s largest truck and bus manufacturers, to provide “a comprehensive range of robotic solutions” for Scania’s new highly automated battery assembly plant in Sweden.

The new facility will be a key milestone on Scania’s journey towards the electrification of heavy vehicles. Scania will invest more than SEK 1 billion ($108 million) in the facility over several years and the new Södertälje plant is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics’ automotive business line, says: “We are delighted to work with one of our longest-standing clients to help deliver their electrification roadmap. [Read more…] about ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

Visteon partners with Steradian Semiconductors to build ‘enhanced’ advanced driver assistance systems

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Visteon, a technology company serving the mobility industry, and Steradian Semiconductors, an India-based high-tech imaging radar specialist, will collaborate on efforts that will produce “enhanced” Advance Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) for the global automotive market.

As part of a joint development agreement, Steradian will provide Visteon with access to its advanced 4D image radar sensor hardware and perception software technology.

Imaging radars are integral to autonomous driving technology that are classed as Level 2 and above because they enable safety application development, AI-based perception algorithms, and sensor fusion. [Read more…] about Visteon partners with Steradian Semiconductors to build ‘enhanced’ advanced driver assistance systems

Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

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The other day, I got an email asking me to participate in a survey regarding robots in hotels. Basically, the people behind the study wanted to gauge how comfortable respondents were about letting robots and AI systems take care of different aspects of their stay.

Would they be happy to check in without ever speaking to a human? What about having a robot clean their rooms?

The reason this survey stuck with me is that it posited the possibility that hotels would be staffed by robots in the near future. I wondered if it would be people coming to stay in hotels who would delay this from happening due to technophobia. This is in spite of the fact that mechanisation itself is not fully automated in many industries. [Read more…] about Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

Automotive software company TTTech Auto raises $285 million investment from Aptiv and Audi

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TTTech Auto, an Austria-based automotive safety technology startup, has raised $285 million (€250 million) from Aptiv and Audi in its latest funding round.

Aptiv is investing $228 million (€200 million), while Audi is increasing its existing stake by $57 million (€50 million).

With this latest funding round and a valuation of more than $1 billion, TTTech Auto confirms its strong position amid a growing number of auto tech unicorns. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close within the next two months. [Read more…] about Automotive software company TTTech Auto raises $285 million investment from Aptiv and Audi

Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

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Comau has agreed a strategic alliance with Mullen Automotive, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, for the build-out of a vehicle body shop at Mullen’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center in Tunica, Mississippi, United States.

Comau and Mullen Automotive are joining forces to develop the state-of-the-art body shop for the new and upcoming Mullen “Five” EV Crossover.

Comau’s competency stems from over 45 years of field proven-experience and a strong presence within every major industrial country. [Read more…] about Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

Fanuc launches new 1,000 kg payload industrial robotic arm

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Fanuc America, the world’s largest maker of industrial robots, has introduced the new M-1000iA robot capable of handling very heavy products including automotive components, construction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles.

The M-1000iA’s serial-link construction gives the robot a wider range of motion in every direction. It can extend its arm upright or rotate it backwards, which is not possible for typical heavy-payload robots with a parallel-link mechanism.

With a 1,000 kg payload, a 3,253 mm horizontal reach, and a 4,297 mm vertical reach the M-1000iA is ready to go to work for manufacturers looking to increase output and maximize their production line’s efficiency. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new 1,000 kg payload industrial robotic arm

Three opportunities to implement new fleet management innovations

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Like the automotive retail market, giant strides are being made in the fleet management industry.

Electrification has been introduced for long haul trucks and integration has radically altered what maintenance and refueling looks like.

5G technology has supplanted slower satellite and 3G data transmission for more accurate tracking, routing, and vehicle diagnostics. Dash cams have improved driver safety by preventing instances of distracted driving. [Read more…] about Three opportunities to implement new fleet management innovations