Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Opinion: How co-ordinated multi-robot systems are transforming EV battery swapping

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As electric vehicles transform our transportation landscape, the demand for innovative charging solutions grows. Battery swapping – where depleted batteries are quickly replaced with fully charged ones – offers a compelling alternative to traditional charging.

Yet, this seemingly straightforward concept requires sophisticated engineering behind the scenes. The complexity extends beyond what single-robot automation can effectively handle, pushing the industry toward coordinated multi-robot systems that work in concert to achieve what individual robots cannot.

Single robots have revolutionized many industries but face significant limitations with multi-stage operations. [Read more…] about Opinion: How co-ordinated multi-robot systems are transforming EV battery swapping

Battery electric vehicles vs hydrogen fuel cell vehicles: Which technology will power the future?

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Despite all the hype about electric cars, the vast majority of motorists still drive petrol-driven vehicles – approximately 7 percent of new car sales were electric last year.

And while governments have already outlined the phasing out of internal combustion engines, it is by no means certain that this is something that will actually happen – there may be stronger resistance to it closer to the time and the consumers simply might not want to make the switch, despite their best environmental intentions.

The problem is that green cars – most of which are lithium-ion battery powered – are still not quite as good as people want them to be. Electric supercars aside, general production cars that are battery powered tend to have limited range and lack power. It’s the same problem as several years ago, when electric vehicle sales started taking off. [Read more…] about Battery electric vehicles vs hydrogen fuel cell vehicles: Which technology will power the future?

SES AI unveils ‘entirely new AI-enhanced battery cell’ for robots and drones

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SES AI, a developer and manufacturer of AI-enhanced high-performance Li-Metal and Li-ion batteries, has unveiled “an entirely new AI-enhanced 2170 cylindrical cell” for emerging humanoid robotics applications.

SES AI’s new 2170 cylindrical cell is the first battery that uses an electrolyte discovered by SES AI’s Molecular Universe effort, which is mapping the physical and chemical properties of the entire universe of small molecules suitable for battery electrolytes (10^11 molecules).

The latest advancements in GPU and computing software have accelerated the time to map the single molecule properties of the Molecular Universe from more than 8,000 years to just two months. [Read more…] about SES AI unveils ‘entirely new AI-enhanced battery cell’ for robots and drones

ARE installs batteries in demolition robots for cable-free movement

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Briggs & Stratton, an American multinational which produces engines, says it is breaking new ground in the robotics field, as it works with Advanced Robotic Engineering (ARE) to power their range of mobile industrial demolition robots with the Vanguard 48V Si1.5kWh swappable and 48V Fi3.5kWh fixed battery packs. Vanguard is part of the Briggs & Stratton group.

For many years, onsite workers have struggled with needing their demolition machines to be cable powered when moving from one site to another. While one operator controlled the machine, another assisted on navigating the cable.

As a consequence, moving machines was not only complicated and time consuming, but also required the involvement of several people at the job site. A disaster in an industry where uptime is everything and the reduction of total cost of ownership crucial. [Read more…] about ARE installs batteries in demolition robots for cable-free movement

Empowering Automation: A Comprehensive Guide to AGV Battery Charging Systems

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In the realm of industrial automation, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) represent a pivotal innovation, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs across numerous sectors.

Central to their performance is an often-overlooked component: the battery charging system.

This guide embarks on a detailed exploration of AGV battery charging systems, elucidating why an efficient charging system is not just an accessory but a cornerstone for AGV performance and longevity.

AGVs, robotic movers that follow markers or wires on the floor or use vision, magnets, or lasers for navigation, are indispensable in modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers. [Read more…] about Empowering Automation: A Comprehensive Guide to AGV Battery Charging Systems

Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing

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Siemens Digital Industries Software is collaborating with Voltaiq to “accelerate battery manufacturing” by combining their strengths to offer unparalleled capabilities for battery manufacturing-focused companies.

This collaboration aims to bring together the production-proven capabilities of both Siemens’ Insights Hub and Voltaiq’s Enterprise Battery Intelligence (EBI), customers can gain access to unparalleled capability specific to battery-domain companies to help rapidly scale operations smoothly, from initial testing to full-scale production lines.

Raymond Kok, SVP and managing director, cloud and edge foundational services, Siemens Digital Industries CTO, says: “Our collaboration with Voltaiq aligns with Siemens’ ongoing mission to continue delivering Industrial IoT value. [Read more…] about Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing

Comau and LiNa Energy develop automated manufacturing for battery production

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Comau has joined forces with LiNa to design an “innovative and scalable manufacturing” solution for solid-state sodium-metal-chloride battery cells.

Through simultaneous engineering, the team has finalized a concept design, allowing LiNa, a provider of low cost solid-state sodium battery technologies, to automate their battery production process.

The companies intend to validate the sustainable, safe, and efficient oxygen-free dry box environment as a step towards larger-scale manufacturing. [Read more…] about Comau and LiNa Energy develop automated manufacturing for battery production

Falling Demand is Undermining Government Investment in Battery and Semiconductor Tech

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Improvements in battery and semiconductor technology are essential for automation. Physically instantiated AI systems need power cells that can fuel them for work. Tethering them to long cables is impractical in most situations.

Unfortunately, demand for these ancillary technologies is drying up, despite billions of dollars in direct U.S. government funding. Slowing growth in electric vehicle sales is partly to blame.

Still, pundits are also anticipating Donald Trump’s return to the Whitehouse, dampening sentiment in the science and technology sector’s long-term investment plans. [Read more…] about Falling Demand is Undermining Government Investment in Battery and Semiconductor Tech

Boost Your Business Operations With These 5 Battery Intelligence Software Tips

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Is there anything more frustrating than being out and about and realising your phone has no battery?

Well, for businesses that rely on batteries at the very core of their operation, charging issues are a lot more problematic than this!

The likes of original equipment manufacturers and fleet operators know how they manage battery life and performance can significantly impact their success. [Read more…] about Boost Your Business Operations With These 5 Battery Intelligence Software Tips

Comau developing fully automated system for battery recycling

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Comau has renewed its commitment to the EU’s Flexible Battery Dismantling (Flex-BD) project for the second year, to help deliver a fundamental pillar on the path towards a truly circular economy.

Flex-BD is a robotized system that automates the entire process of dismantling worn-out electric batteries using a highly flexible, repeatable and standardizable process.

Now, having validated the proof-of-concept, Comau has expanded the scope to include second life repurposing of automotive batteries. [Read more…] about Comau developing fully automated system for battery recycling