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Robotic 3D metal printing startup MX3D raises €2.25 million in new funding

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Innovative robotic 3D metal printing company MX3D has raised €2.25 million to scale up and launch its M1 Metal Additive Manufacturing System.

DOEN Participaties, PDENH and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency took part in the investment round in MX3D, which is based in Holland and is famous for building a 3D printed bridge across a canal.

The funds will be used to launch the M1, a complete robotic metal AM system, including a welding robot, software and control system to 3D print metal parts in-house. [Read more…] about Robotic 3D metal printing startup MX3D raises €2.25 million in new funding

MIT CSAIL’s robo-starfish enables closer study of aquatic life

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Scientists have invented a ‘robo-starfish’ which give us more insights into aquatic life, as Adam Conner-Simons, or MIT CSAIL, reports. (See video below.)

Biologists have long experienced the challenges of documenting ocean life, with many species of fish proving quite sensitive to the underwater movements of humans.

As a possible solution, computer scientists have been developing special marine robots that can stealthily move among their carbon-based counterparts. In 2018, for example, a team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) fabricated a soft robotic fish that autonomously swam with real fish along the coral reefs of Fiji.

However, the complex dynamics of how water moves – and its ability to quickly ruin some perfectly good electronics systems – have made underwater robots especially difficult to develop compared to ones for air or land. [Read more…] about MIT CSAIL’s robo-starfish enables closer study of aquatic life

IDS unveils camera-based cap control with AI for beverage and bottle industry

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Strong price pressure combined with high quality requirements – the beverage and bottle industry faces the classic dilemma of many industries. This is also the case in the quality control department of a French manufacturer of plastic caps.

Reliably detecting cracks and micro-cracks on plastic caps in 40 different colours and shades running at high speed on a production line is a real challenge.

APREX Solutions from Nancy, France has successfully achieved this goal with the help of image processing technology and artificial intelligence.

The basic images are provided by a USB 3 industrial camera from IDS Imaging Development Systems. [Read more…] about IDS unveils camera-based cap control with AI for beverage and bottle industry

Fuzzy Logic Robotics launches platform that enables users to go from CAD to control with one software

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Startup company Fuzzy Logic Robotics has launched a new, “easy-to-use and universal” software platform which it says “reduces robotics programming costs by 10”.

The first release of Fuzzy Studio, during Hannover Messe Industry 2021, is described as a “game changer” for unlocking flexible robotic production.

Fuzzy Logic Robotics highlights some of the features available in Fuzzy Studio as follows:

  • Drag and drop CAD parts into the 3D digital twin, automatically generate complex trajectories and deploy to the production robot in one click – all with one universal software platform.
  • From offline simulation to real-time control, Fuzzy Studio removes the gap between simulation and reality to reduce downtime and streamline the robotics workflow.
  • Designed from the ground up to drastically reduce the need of robotics expertise thanks to no-code real-time digital twin technology.
  • With two clicks, swap between any make and model of robot to find the right one for the application – no need to switch softwares and redo time-intensive design work.
  • Handles even the most complex robotic applications and accessible to any size of company.

[Read more…] about Fuzzy Logic Robotics launches platform that enables users to go from CAD to control with one software

Hanwha Aerospace earns ’Supplier Gold’ certification from Pratt & Whitney

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Hanwha Aerospace has received a “Supplier Gold” certification from the one of the world’s top aircraft engine manufacturers, Pratt & Whitney (P&W).

The certification is the product of a partner evaluation program known as RTX Supplier Gold, which is run by P&W’s parent company, Raytheon Technology Corporation (RTX). It is awarded only to exceptional partners who have not missed deadlines or exhibited any quality control issues for 12 consecutive months, while exhibiting continuous improvements and satisfying customers.

Dongwan Yoo, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace USA, says: “We are pleased to see that our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has been recognized. [Read more…] about Hanwha Aerospace earns ’Supplier Gold’ certification from Pratt & Whitney

GE Digital upgrades its industrial control offerings for ‘modern’ workers

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GE Digital has unveiled enhancements to its Cimplicity and Tracker software that “provide critical decision support for operators to make them more efficient”, says the company.

Cimplicity is GE’s name for its human-machine interface and supervisory control and data acquisition (HMI/SCADA) solution, which provides client-server visualization to monitor and control operations.

Tracker, part of GE Digital’s Proficy Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) offering, automates routing and sequencing to accelerate time to market, reduce warranty and recall exposure, and support Lean operations and building right the first time. [Read more…] about GE Digital upgrades its industrial control offerings for ‘modern’ workers

Mitsubishi Electric extends supervisory control and data acquisition range

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Mitsubishi Electric has extended its supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) lineup for EMEA markets, now offering two additional types of software for system monitoring and process control under the series name “GENESIS64”, complementing the existing “MAPS” SCADA software.

The new lineup will meet the diversifying IoT needs, covering a wide variety of purposes from small production line monitoring and control to multi-site monitoring and business intelligence (BI) for plant-wide systems, process automation as well as utility and building automation.

The “GENESIS64 Basic SCADA” is an entry-level software with essential functions for small production lines, and the “GENESIS64 Advanced Application Server” is a full SCADA suite for large-scale monitoring of factories, buildings, and utilities. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric extends supervisory control and data acquisition range

Desmasa launches ‘mobile collaborative robot’

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A Spanish automation technology company called Desmasa has launched what it describes as a “mobile collaborative robot”, or MCR. 

Essentially, the machine comprises what’s widely known as an autonomous mobile robot, or AMR, which is a wheeled robotic platform, and collaborative robotic arm integrated on top.

Although the machine uses two familiar type of robots, together, they form a new type of robot for which specific standards are being developed by the relevant industry associations. [Read more…] about Desmasa launches ‘mobile collaborative robot’

How a top automotive manufacturer went ‘fork free’ to boost productivity and safety

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By Rob Sullivan, president and CEO, AutoGuide Mobile Robots

With forklifts an ongoing contributor to workplace accidents, and skilled operators difficult to find and retain in today’s competitive manufacturing environment, automating material transport is solving both issues.

A few years ago, a top-tier automotive manufacturer wanted to reduce how often employees had to manually lift and move heavy objects, and eliminate the risk of forklift-related injuries.

They understood that they needed safer and more efficient solutions for transporting engines and other materials from assembly to testing within their 40,000 square foot facility. [Read more…] about How a top automotive manufacturer went ‘fork free’ to boost productivity and safety

SafeLog launches warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a ‘swarm’

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SafeLog has launched warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a “swarm”, and says it offers customised automated guided vehicle solutions that have no need for a control station connection.

The company adds that the latest model of the SafeLog AGV L1 lifts loads of up to 1500 kg.

At present, many processes and systems for internal transport tasks in both, production and intralogistics are in a state of upheaval. [Read more…] about SafeLog launches warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a ‘swarm’