Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

chemical

How Plasma Polishing is Revolutionizing the Future of Surface Finishing

by

Surface finishing is a crucial process in many industries, from medical to automotive, aimed at improving the functionality and aesthetics of a material’s surface.

Traditional methods like grinding and polishing have their limitations, especially when it comes to treating surfaces with high precision and without deformation.

Plasma polishing, an innovative technique, offers a solution to these challenges, delivering not only more precise results but also being more environmentally friendly. In this article, we explain how plasma polishing is revolutionizing the future of surface finishing.

[Read more…] about How Plasma Polishing is Revolutionizing the Future of Surface Finishing

GMV showcases its robotic inspection capabilities

by

GMV, a Spanish multinational company developing innovative technological solutions, showcased its experience and capabilities in the field of robotic inspection during a demonstration carried out at Messer Ibérica’s facilities.

In the demonstration, held during the meeting of the Chemical Business Association of Tarragona (AEQT)’s Innovation and Technology Committee, GMV presented uPathWay, a grounbreaking solution designed for industrial inspection tasks.

GMV presented uPathWay as a comprehensive solution that allows vehicles to operate autonomously, offering an effective response to inspection needs in specialized environments such as the chemical sector. [Read more…] about GMV showcases its robotic inspection capabilities

Japanese robot manufacturer Sugino Machine partners with Cenit to develop digital twin technology

by

Cenit and Sugino Machine have agreed on a strategic partnership to further refine Sugino’s robotics and automation solutions. Cenit’s FastSuite E2 software will provide the technology basis for the collaboration.

Sugino Machine is one of Japan’s leading providers of machine tools, industrial robots and automation solutions.

Based in Namekawa City and employing about 1,200 staff, the machine maker boasts a broad portfolio covering development, production and sales of high-pressure jet cleaning equipment, drilling units and equipment for inspection and maintenance of nuclear power plants. [Read more…] about Japanese robot manufacturer Sugino Machine partners with Cenit to develop digital twin technology

Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’

by

Saga Robotics says it has delivered “excellent results” in the company’s “biggest season yet”.

Last year, in what’s described as “a world-first”, the ag-tech company removed the requirement for fungicides to control strawberry powdery mildew. This season’s results consolidate the company’s status as a “stable and serious provider of automated integrated pest management”, according to Saga.

Saga Robotics is pleased to announce that its autonomous robotic platform, Thorvald has had its biggest season to date, operating and treating strawberry plants at Clock House Farm with UV-C light to control powdery mildew.

The ag-tech company says it achieved “complete control” of the pathogen treating all of Clock House Farm’s 30 hectares of tabletop crops. [Read more…] about Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’

Seeq names Petter Mörée as managing director of EMEA and introduces industry principals group

by

Seeq Corporation, a provider of advanced analytics software for manufacturing and industrial internet of things, has appointed Petter Mörée as managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Seeq also announced a new group of industry principals.

Lisa Graham, chief operating officer at Seeq, says: 

“Petter brings a deep understanding of the process industries to our team, along with an impressive career scaling global customer bases across the pharmaceutical and bioprocess verticals.

“We’re thrilled to have him join the Seeq team and we’re confident he will help us expand our strong position in Europe and beyond.”

 [Read more…] about Seeq names Petter Mörée as managing director of EMEA and introduces industry principals group

ANYmal robot being put to work inspecting BASF facility

by

Robot maker ANYbotics has unveiled its collaboration with BASF, one of the largest global chemical manufacturers, which involves the use of the ANYmal robot for inspections at Ludwigshafen, Germany. (See video below.) 

The two companies say the collaboration “displays the efficiency, quality, and scalability of robotic inspection and data-collection capabilities in complex industrial environments”.

On production floors, robotics and manufacturing have gone hand-in-hand for decades. But on industrial plants, repetitive inspections, environment mapping, and efficiency analytics have mostly relied on manual work. These physical efforts impact economic sustainability, as well as process reliability and data quality. [Read more…] about ANYmal robot being put to work inspecting BASF facility

Scientists use ‘swarmalation’ to design active materials for self-regulating soft robots

by

During the swarming of birds or fish, each entity coordinates its location relative to the others, so that the swarm moves as one larger, coherent unit.

Fireflies on the other hand coordinate their temporal behavior: within a group, they eventually all flash on and off at the same time and thus act as synchronized oscillators.

Few entities, however, coordinate both their spatial movements and inherent time clocks; the limited examples are termed “swarmalators”, which simultaneously swarm in space and oscillate in time. [Read more…] about Scientists use ‘swarmalation’ to design active materials for self-regulating soft robots

IBM launches new industrial chemistry robot to enable lab automation

by

IBM has launched a new industrial chemistry lab robot called RoboRXN, describing it as “the first remotely accessible, autonomous chemical laboratory”. (See video below.)

The computing giant says the RXN machine is “revolutionizing industrial chemistry, by transforming it into a high tech business”.

RXN uses a combination of artificial intelligence, automation and cloud computing to relieve the chemist from tedious repetitive tasks, allowing more time and space for design and innovation. [Read more…] about IBM launches new industrial chemistry robot to enable lab automation

Automation increases productivity in materials science by 384 times, say researchers

by

An automated method of conducting materials science research can increase productivity by 384 times when compared to a human, according to researchers. 

The robot-plus-software system also makes it easier for people who are not expert researchers or scientists to create new materials.

A Rutgers-led team of engineers has developed an automated way to produce polymers, making it much easier to create advanced materials aimed at improving human health. [Read more…] about Automation increases productivity in materials science by 384 times, say researchers

Isorg and Sumitomo Chemical partner to develop organic photodetectors

by

Isorg, a developer of organic photodetectors and large-area image sensors, and Sumitomo Chemical, a provider of OPD materials production and other fields, have agreed a partnership to develop new OPD products for use as smartphone fingerprint sensors and hybrid organic CMOS image sensors.

This agreement expands the existing collaboration between Sumitomo Chemical and Isorg that began in 2013.

Isorg will license its technology processes to its OEMs, while Sumitomo Chemical will manufacture the dedicated organic semiconductor material, as well as support Isorg in terms of production technology and marketing. [Read more…] about Isorg and Sumitomo Chemical partner to develop organic photodetectors