Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Why China launched the digital yuan in the first place

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China is the first country to develop a digital currency available in the mobile payment system. The website yuan pay coin will help traders to understand more about trading.

CBDCs are designed with two purposes: to simplify and broaden access to financial services and improve security against risks of financial crime and terrorism.

Digital Yuan can have multiple benefits for both countries and citizens: reducing costs for governments when issuing money; making payments easier; increasing transparency to facilitate regulation of private banks; speeding up settlements between banks; enhancing anti-money laundering controls when transferring funds from one account to another, and so on. [Read more…] about Why China launched the digital yuan in the first place

Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

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Baidu, an AI company with strong internet foundation and often referred to as China’s equivalent of Google, has embarked on a major expansion of its commercialized fully driverless robotaxi service in Wuhan.

The new expansion would triple the size of its current operation area, increasing the number of robotaxis in service and expanding operating time to include key evening hours.

The move marks a major milestone on Baidu’s ambitious autonomous ride-hailing roadmap, as the company plans to put an additional 200 fully driverless robotaxis into operation across China in 2023, aiming to cover “the largest fully driverless ride-hailing service area in the world” by the end of the year. [Read more…] about Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

TTTech Auto expands in China with software platform for automated driving

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TTTech Auto, the Austria-based technology company specialising in automotive safety software, is expanding its operations with a dedicated subsidiary in China.

The new TTTech Auto branch in Shanghai will bring its expertise and the series proven safe vehicle software platform, MotionWise, to car manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers and partners to the rapidly developing Chinese automotive market.

TTTech Auto already has a presence in the Chinese market through its joint venture Technomous operated together with SAIC Motor, China’s largest automotive manufacturer. This further expansion, with an office in Shanghai, is part of the growth strategy in light of a $285 million (EUR 250 million) investment from Aptiv and Audi announced earlier this year. [Read more…] about TTTech Auto expands in China with software platform for automated driving

ABB opens state-of-the-art robotics mega factory in Shanghai

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ABB has officially opened its state-of-the-art, fully automated and flexible robotics factory in Kangqiao, Shanghai, China. (See video below.)

The 67,000 sq m production and research facility represents a $150 million (1.1 billion RMB) investment by ABB and will deploy the company’s digital and automation technologies to manufacture next generation robots – enhancing ABB’s robotics and automation leadership in China.

Sami Atiya, president of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation, says: “Building on three decades of success in China, the opening of our new mega factory is another milestone in helping our customers grow sustainably, address labor shortages and create high-value jobs in a new era of automation. [Read more…] about ABB opens state-of-the-art robotics mega factory in Shanghai

Use of Chinese Electric Cars In Japan

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Japan is known as a hub of automotive markets. The big giants in the automotive industry like Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan are from Japan. In developing countries, there is a great demand for Japanese as well as Chinese cars because they are fuel efficient.

The main challenge that people face in developing countries is that they don’t find sphere parts of the car and if they find them, they are very expensive. To make cars available in another country, you must translate the user manual of the car into a language that the customer understands.

Professional translation services can be of great help to automotive companies that want to tap into new foreign markets. [Read more…] about Use of Chinese Electric Cars In Japan

Pony.ai and SAIC AI Lab to develop fully driverless EV robotaxi

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Pony.ai, a leading global autonomous driving technology company, is collaborating with SAIC AI Lab, a division of SAIC Motor (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), China’s largest auto manufacturer, to jointly explore and advance driverless technology.

Together with SAIC AI Lab, Pony.ai launched a concept vehicle based on the SAIC Marvel R model and will build out a fleet of autonomous vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s L4-level driverless solutions, over time.

The concept car is equipped with the latest generation of Pony.ai technology, which utilizes 17 integrated automotive-grade sensors to create a 360-degree visual range covering 200 meters, eliminating blind spots around the vehicle. [Read more…] about Pony.ai and SAIC AI Lab to develop fully driverless EV robotaxi

Baidu granted China’s ‘first-ever’ permits for commercial driverless ride-hailing services

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Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google, has secured the first permits in China to offer commercial fully driverless robotaxi services to the public on open roads.

Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, is now authorized to collect fares for robotaxi rides – completely without human drivers in the car – in Chongqing and Wuhan, two of China’s largest megacities.

Amid increasing regulatory approval of the expansion of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the permits reflect regulatory authorities’ strong recognition and trust in the strength of Baidu’s autonomous driving technology. [Read more…] about Baidu granted China’s ‘first-ever’ permits for commercial driverless ride-hailing services

Honda begins construction of new electric vehicle production plant

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Honda has started the construction of its new electric vehicle production plant in China. Honda, originally a Japanese company, was wholly acquired by Guangzhou Automobile Group in 2017.

Honda Motor (China) Investment, a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, announced that GAC Honda Automobile, (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, began construction of its new EV plant, taking a forward step in establishing a suitable EV production system and capability in preparation for an increase in the number of EV models in its product lineup.

GAC Honda’s dedicated EV production plant will be newly constructed on a lot with the size of 400,000 sq m within the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. The plant is targeted to begin operation in 2024 with an annual production capacity of 120,000 units. [Read more…] about Honda begins construction of new electric vehicle production plant

Yaskawa completes new plant for manufacturing mounting boards and electronic units in China

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Yaskawa Electric, parent company of Yaskawa Mechatronics, one of the world’s largest industrial robot makers, has completed a new plant in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, in China.

The facility has already begun the mass production of mounting boards for servo amplifiers and AC drives as well as electronic units for robot control panels used in its production bases in China.

Yaskawa says that, in China, economic activities are currently “stagnant” because of Covid-19 but demand for factory automation at production sites is increasing due to labor shortages caused by the low birth rate and ageing population, rising labor costs, and the risk of coronavirus spreading. [Read more…] about Yaskawa completes new plant for manufacturing mounting boards and electronic units in China

Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation

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Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google or Alphabet, has unveiled its next-generation fully autonomous vehicle, the Apollo RT6, an all-electric, production-ready model with a detachable steering wheel.

Designed for complex urban environments, Apollo RT6 will be put into operation in China in 2023 on Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service.

With a per unit cost of RMB 250,000 (approximately $37,000), the arrival of Apollo RT6 is set to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment at scale, bringing the world closer to a future of driverless shared mobility. [Read more…] about Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation