Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

communications

Omron, NTT, and Nokia partner to test 5G networks at manufacturing sites

by

Omron, NTT Docomo, and Nokia have agreed to jointly conduct trials utilizing the fifth-generation mobile communications system in factories and other manufacturing sites.

Through these trials, the three companies will jointly evaluate the usefulness and possibilities of 5G’s high-speed, large-capacity, low-latency, and simultaneous multiple connections with the aim of solving the challenges facing the manufacturing industry and developing communications technology required in manufacturing sites of the future.

In the manufacturing industry, the demand for wireless communications is increasing as efforts aimed at improving productivity through the use of IoT data make progress in dealing with various issues, such as a shortage of skilled workers and high-mix low-volume production. [Read more…] about Omron, NTT, and Nokia partner to test 5G networks at manufacturing sites

New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

by

New Scale Robotics has launched its newest gripper for the Universal Robots e-Series collaborative robot.

The company says its new technology “harnesses UR’s new high-speed communications interface to increase measurement precision and control multiple grippers on one robot”.

New Scale Robotics describes the new peripheral as “a precision electric parallel gripper for Universal Robots e Series cobots”. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

Kerlink and Tata Communications launch partnership to expand LoRaWAN network deployments

by

Kerlink, a specialist in solutions dedicated to the internet of things, and Tata Communications Transformation Services (TCTS), have formed a partnership to promote and deploy LoRaWAN IoT networks globally.

The partnership was announced at the LoRa Alliance three-day All Members Meeting in Berlin. LoRaWAN stands for long-range wide area network.

Kerlink and TCTS will demonstrate to telecom carriers, start-up IoT connectivity providers, cities and large multinationals how LoRa technology is one of the most responsive and reliable protocols for IoT connectivity. [Read more…] about Kerlink and Tata Communications launch partnership to expand LoRaWAN network deployments

Second SpaceDataHighway satellite to launch in July

by

The EDRS-C satellite, the second node of the SpaceDataHighway network (also known as EDRS), will be launched into geostationary orbit at 31° East on 24 July 2019 by an Ariane 5 launcher.

Once positioned above Europe, it will provide redundant back-up for the SpaceDataHighway system, double transmission capacity and be able to relay the data from two observation satellites simultaneously.

This second satellite will be joining EDRS-A which transmits the images of Earth acquired by the Copernicus programme’s four Sentinel observation satellites on a daily basis.

[Read more…] about Second SpaceDataHighway satellite to launch in July

Europe continues to build 5G networks with Huawei despite US ban

by

Europe is continuing to construct 5G networking infrastructure using Huawei equipment, according to Nikkei, despite the Chinese company being effectively banned from doing business in the US.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been vocal in its criticism of what it sees as Chinese companies using communications technology as a way to potentially spy on the US.

After days of speculation, Trump signed an executive order which, although does not name Huawei, effectively prevents the company from selling its products in the US, and even buying components from the US.

[Read more…] about Europe continues to build 5G networks with Huawei despite US ban

Phihong launches new electric vehicle charger

by

Phihong has launched a new electric vehicle charger.

Following successful deliveries of EV changer products in Asia and Europe, Phihong, a supplier of power solutions, announces the availability of the AC32A 7.7kW Electric Vehicle Charger with UL certification for the North American market.

The AC32 7.7kW AC charger is compact, reliable, lightweight, and vibration resistant. With a sleek, ergonomic and customizable design, the AC32 chargers require a single-phase 220Vac to 240Vac input and have options to be wall-mounted or free standing. [Read more…] about Phihong launches new electric vehicle charger

LoRaWAN network now available to aliens as Semtech and Lacuna start receiving messages from space

by

Lacuna Space extends LoRaWAN network global coverage with satellite connectivity

Semtech, a supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, and Lacuna Space announced its collaboration with key industry leaders, including the European Space Agency and Parametric, to extend a LoRaWAN network by providing satellite connectivity to fill voids between the terrestrial gateways out of cellular reach and give continuous global coverage.

Lacuna Space uses a constellation of polar low-earth orbiting satellites to receive messages from sensors integrated with Semtech’s LoRa devices and wireless radio frequency technology (LoRa Technology) on the ground.  [Read more…] about LoRaWAN network now available to aliens as Semtech and Lacuna start receiving messages from space

5G Automotive Association and European Automotive Telecom Alliance to develop new connected car standards

by

5gaa image

The 5G Automotive Association and the European Automotive Telecom Alliance have entered a cooperation deal in the field of connected and autonomous driving solutions as well as standardisation, spectrum and related use cases. 

5GAA and EATA say they are dedicated to prioritising the use cases identified by the two organisations in order to establish the technical requirements that need to be addressed, both in the short and in the long term.

In order to better support standards for connected and automated driving, standardisation prioritisation for standards bodies such as ETSI, 3GPP and SAE is necessary as well.  [Read more…] about 5G Automotive Association and European Automotive Telecom Alliance to develop new connected car standards

Qualcomm unveils first communications chip for connected cars

by

qualcomm at ces

Chip giant Qualcomm has revealed its first communications chip for connected cars, a market in which it is soon to be dominant after its acquisition of NXP Semiconductor goes through. 

Presenting the new chip at CES, Patrick Little, Qualcomm’s senior vice president of automotive, said the chip can handle cellular signals at speeds measured in gigabits per second, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

“No longer will you be cranking windows and pushing buttons,” WSJ quoted Little as saying. “You’ll walk into your car and it will feel like a very seamless transition with your handset.”

Full report on Wall Street Journal

Industrial internet: 42Q launches new protocol capability for factory automation

by

 

42Q, a provider of cloud manufacturing execution systems (MES), has introduced Semiconductor Equipment Communications Standard, Generic Equipment Model (SECS/GEM) protocol capability.

SECS/GEM is an industry standard factory equipment interface protocol for equipment-to-host data communications.

In securing SECS/GEM capability, 42Q says it greatly simplifies the implementation of factory automation, machine to machine (M2M) communication, real time in process data collection and data analytics, all key elements of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Several factories using 42Q have already deployed this new protocol in their operations, sasy the company.  [Read more…] about Industrial internet: 42Q launches new protocol capability for factory automation