Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

based

Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

by

Comau’s wearable exoskeleton with its news model, the MATE-XT, aims to satisfy the special needs of those working in harsh conditions in industry, other sectors and even outdoors.

Comau’s MATE exoskeleton is the first and still the only exoskeleton in the world to be EAWS (Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet) certified. This confirms its effectiveness in reducing the risk of biomechanical upper limb strain in workers whose daily activities involve repetitive flexion and extension of the arms.

MATE has become an indispensable aid for some of the operators at Pintarelli, who perform repetitive manual movements involving continuous use of the upper limbs and shoulders. Pintarelli Verniciature is based in Lavis in the province of Trento and employs around 30 people. [Read more…] about Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

Franz Morat unveils innovative system that comfortably rotates and turns bedridden patients

by

For bedridden individuals, everything revolves around the correct resting position in the bed. The position must be adjusted to match each individual patient and their physical condition.

This means the patient’s position in the bed must be changed regularly to take pressure off of areas of the patient’s body and to prevent pressure sores. The goal is to make life in bed as pleasant as possible for the person in need of care.

Turning and repositioning bedridden individuals is a physically challenging procedure for caregiving staff. It is usually performed multiple times per day by a team of two or three caregivers and it requires a lot of time. [Read more…] about Franz Morat unveils innovative system that comfortably rotates and turns bedridden patients

Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

by

By John Hayes, Balyo USA

Economic policies from Industry 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and connected warehouses point to the imperative to lower costs, increase productivity, and guarantee quality. There are as many forklift truck operator positions to be filled as there are IT developer and R&D engineer jobs combined.

In the United States, 65 percent of the businesses surveyed by Deloitte (as part of its annual Supply Chain report) noted that it is “extremely difficult” to hire qualified warehouse labor.

Moving pallets is expensive. One of the global Fast Moving Customer Goods (FMCG) leaders estimates spending “almost 380 million dollars per year” for tasks that create no additional value for the business. [Read more…] about Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

VW electric vehicle sales increase more than 400 percent

by

Volkswagen’s electric vehicle sales have increased more than 400 percent over the past year, according to the German auto giant’s latest figures.

The Volkswagen Group says its “e-offensive is gaining traction”. Deliveries of electric models in the EU including the UK, Norway and Iceland increased “more than fourfold in the year now ended to a total of 315,400 electric vehicles (2019: 72,600)”.

The proportion of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in-hybrids (PHEVs) in the total deliveries rose to 9.7 percent (2019: 1.7 percent). [Read more…] about VW electric vehicle sales increase more than 400 percent

Ibeo and SICK partner in ‘largest ever’ LiDAR co-operation agreement

by

Ibeo Automotive Systems and SICK Sensor Intelligence are partnering in what is described as the “largest ever LiDAR co-operation agreement”. The technology partnership between Hamburg-based automotive LiDAR specialist Ibeo and SICK will result in a 3D solid-state LiDAR sensor for industrial applications.

The technology, developed by Ibeo to automotive standards, is based on a new photon laser measurement technology and is entirely free of moving parts. An additional, camera-like reference image adds a “fourth dimension” to the measurement provided by the sensor.

The market for autonomous and semi-autonomous systems in an industrial context is predicted to grow at above-average rates. There is particular demand for durable, small, and cost-efficient sensor solutions. [Read more…] about Ibeo and SICK partner in ‘largest ever’ LiDAR co-operation agreement

Teledyne Technologies to acquire FLIR Systems

by

Teledyne Technologies and FLIR Systems have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, FLIR stockholders will receive $28 per share in cash and 0.0718 shares of Teledyne common stock for each FLIR share, which implies a total purchase price of $56 per FLIR share based on Teledyne’s 5-day volume weighted average price as of December 31, 2020.

The transaction reflects a 40 percent premium for FLIR stockholders based on FLIR’s 30-day volume weighted average price as of December 31, 2020. [Read more…] about Teledyne Technologies to acquire FLIR Systems

NGen invests $5 million into manufacturing of disinfection robots

by

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), the industry-led organization leading Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, is co-investing $5 million in projects leading to the development and production in Canada of automated hands-free disinfection technologies to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Five outstanding projects have been selected for funding under NGen’s Disinfection Robot Challenge. With matching contributions from industry, total value of these projects will exceed $10 million.

In April NGen challenged companies to develop innovative robotic solutions that would reduce the number of healthcare associated infections to protect the safety of both patients and healthcare workers, or that would disinfect private spaces and facilities so that businesses could bring employees back to work in a safe and sanitized environment. [Read more…] about NGen invests $5 million into manufacturing of disinfection robots

ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology

by

ADLINK Technology, a provider of edge computing systems, has launched the ROScube-I with Intel, providing a real-time ROS 2 robot controller for advanced robotic applications.

The ADLINK ROScube-I Series is a ROS 2-enabled robotic controller based on Intel Xeon E, 9th Gen Intel Core i7/i3 and 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processors, and features exceptional I/O connectivity supporting a wide variety of sensors and actuators to meet the needs of a wide range of robotic applications.

The ROScube-I supports an extension box for convenient functional and performance expansion with Intel VPU cards and the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit for computation of AI algorithms and inference. [Read more…] about ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology

Senseye adds new feature to its AI-powered predictive maintenance software

by

Senseye, the industrial software company, has launched “Attention Index”, a new feature in its software that alerts users to issues that need immediate attention.

The company call Attention Index a “pioneering technology”, which is now available within Senseye PdM, the “only AI powered predictive maintenance product with automated condition monitoring and prognostics techniques”.

Claiming it to be “an industry first”, Senseye says its PdM software now pinpoints assets that appear to require immediate attention based on an abnormal behavior detected. It notifies the appropriate user when it detects anomalies. [Read more…] about Senseye adds new feature to its AI-powered predictive maintenance software

4 Ways Robotics and AI Are Transforming Design and Creatives

by

While AI and robotics have made waves in several industries, it would seem inconceivable to the uninitiated for robots and intelligent machines to make a mark in the creatives sector. How could systems be taught creativity?

In fact, when researchers from the Oxford Martin School ranked 702 occupations according to their susceptibility to computerization, jobs that center around creativity were least in danger.

Designers, curators, artists, choreographers, dancers, musicians, singers, writers, and authors were among those less likely to be replaced by robots. [Read more…] about 4 Ways Robotics and AI Are Transforming Design and Creatives