Robotics & Automation News

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collaborative robots

Opinion: The intersection of paperless work instruction and IIoT cobots

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By Randy Blaylock, VP of sales for eFlex Systems

Interoperability has arrived and the ability of machines, devices, sensors, and people to connect and communicate with each other via the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is no longer conceptual.

It is practised every day on plant floors worldwide. Information systems can create a virtual copy of the physical world by enriching digital plant models with sensor data.

This requires the aggregation of raw sensor data to higher-value context information.  [Read more…] about Opinion: The intersection of paperless work instruction and IIoT cobots

Automatica preview: Robotics innovations of today for the smart production concepts of tomorrow

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Automatica is probably the world’s leading showcase event for the robotics and automation industry.

This time around, Robotics and Automation News is highly pleased to announce that we are an official media partner for the biennial trade show.

Event organisers are previewing some of the main robotics innovations for smart production concepts that will be at the show next month.  [Read more…] about Automatica preview: Robotics innovations of today for the smart production concepts of tomorrow

The collaborative robotics revolution: A panacea for low productivity and an ageing work force?

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By Andrew Dyer, investment manager at Baird Capital

Industry 4.0, the catch-all phrase to describe industry’s embrace of Big Data, the internet of things and robotics, tends to inspire equal feelings of excitement and anxiety.

Excitement for the manufacturers who dream of lower costs, greater efficiencies and faster and greater outputs, anxiety for the millions of workers around the world who fear that the robotic revolution will leave them without a job.

A new study by the OECD suggests, however, that they needn’t be too worried. Whereas previously pundits warned that close to 50 per cent of American jobs would soon be lost to automation, the OECD now predicts just 14 per cent of jobs in OECD countries could now be lost to robots.  [Read more…] about The collaborative robotics revolution: A panacea for low productivity and an ageing work force?

Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

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Andrew Watts, CEO Newtecnic, discusses the construction industry’s move towards robotics and mass-customization that brings designers and makers together for positive disruption within and beyond the industry

Digitalization, robotics and automation, have produced significant quality and productivity benefits in manufacturing over several decades.

In construction, however, while digitalization has very successfully automated design, the disconnect between designing and making is ripe for an industrial revolution.

And while innovative product manufacturers use technology to move from mass-production to mass-customization, the construction industry is only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production of standardized components.

This use of what can be considered an outmoded idea seems to be a retrograde step because the opportunity now exists for construction to deploy the very latest technology and thereby take the lead in manufacturing.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion

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The South Korean government has decided to invest significant resources into expanding the country’s production of industrial robotics and automation systems so that it’s worth $6.15 billion by 2022.

This is according to BusinessKorea.com, which says the plan is intended to increase the number of small and mid-size robot makers with sales of more than $46 million to 25.

The report says government-backed organisations, academic and research institutions, as well as private enterprise will take part in the new initiative.  [Read more…] about South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion

Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

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If we were to think of robotics and automation as one industry – which we at this website in fact do – we could argue that it’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now.

Certainly if we were to include software automation systems – such as robotic process automation – it would probably be the biggest.

But Robotics and Automation News tends to concentrate on physical machines – such as robotic arms or autonomous vehicles – which can be seen in a typical manufacturing or logistics facility.

And we try and understand what other sectors are most closely related to robotics and automation – manufacturing and logistics being two obvious ones.

[Read more…] about Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

Astounding growth at Universal Robots sees company sell 20,000 industrial robots

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Universal Robots, one of the first companies to launch a collaborative industrial robot, says it has sold 10,000 more units since Robotics and Automation News last did a count. 

In a statement to the website, a spokesperson for the company says while Robotics and Automation News has been reporting that it has so far sold 10,000 units, the actual, most recent figure is in fact 20,000.

This means that if each robot is sold for between $23,000 and $45,000 then the company has generated additional revenues of between $230 million and $450 million since last count.  [Read more…] about Astounding growth at Universal Robots sees company sell 20,000 industrial robots

Mitsubishi Electric to launch collaborative robots

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Mitsubishi Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots, is preparing to launch collaborative robots. 

The company admits it is a late arrival in the collaborative robotics market in comments to Nikkei.

Mitsubishi Electric “has come to collaborative robotics later than others, we intend to make ease of use our selling point”, Nikkei quotes a spokesperson as saying.  [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to launch collaborative robots

Saint-Gobain plant reduces injuries with Robotiq force-torque sensor

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Glass production company says it has reduced injuries and improved production using collaborative robot

Saint-Gobain’s plant in Sully-sur-Loire, France, focuses on glass production for the armoured and aeronautical industries, and the civil market.

In their shift towards Industry 4.0, Saint-Gobain’s management has installed collaborative robot cells to free employees from tedious and repetitive tasks.

The company says Robotiq’s FT 300 Force Torque Sensor has proven “essential” to automate the grueling glass polishing process. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Saint-Gobain plant reduces injuries with Robotiq force-torque sensor

Universal Robots puts on a show in Singapore for people interested in its technologies

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The Singapore business unit of Universal Robots has put on what it called a “roadshow” for people interested in its collaborative robots and associated technologies.

Established a couple of years ago as Universal’s Asia-Pacific headquarters, the Singapore branch has been enthusiastic in its work in promoting the company’s machines to the local market.

The Universal Robots Ecosystem Roadshow was held a few days ago at the posh Fullerton Hotel in the city-state.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots puts on a show in Singapore for people interested in its technologies