Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

control

Automaticon organisers expect visitors from more countries than ever

by

Organisers of the upcoming Automaticon event are expecting more visitors from more countries than ever before. 

The Polish trade show takes place on 17-19 of March in Warsaw. The “International Fair for Industrial Automation Automaticon”, to give the event its full name, is the main fair for automation, control, measurements and robotics in Poland.

The Automaticon exhibition occupies three pavilions with the total indoor area of the fair 9,500 square meters. [Read more…] about Automaticon organisers expect visitors from more countries than ever

SICK’s outdoorScan3 wins Honorable Mention at Engineers’ Choice Awards

by

SICK’s outdoorScan3 has won an Honorable Mention for Machine Safety Category at Control Engineering 2020 Engineers’ Choice Awards.

Every year, Control Engineering honors new products in automation, control, and instrumentation technology markets with the Engineers’ Choice Awards (ECA).

The ECA program is an annual reader-choice program, created to provide Control Engineering readers with information about top new products in the industry. [Read more…] about SICK’s outdoorScan3 wins Honorable Mention at Engineers’ Choice Awards

ZF unveils ‘SHI’ new cockpit

by

Automotive systems supplier ZF has unveiled a new driving environment, or “cockpit”, as car interiors are increasingly called these days. 

The companies say the new “Safe Human Interaction Cockpit” enables human drivers and electronic drivers enhances to work better together.

This “seamless” integration enables “enhanced safety” and easy operation of complex driving systems, wether they are human-controlled or autonomous, say the companies. [Read more…] about ZF unveils ‘SHI’ new cockpit

MIPI introduces new data communications standard

by

The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, has announced MIPI I3C v1.1, the first update to its innovative interface that eliminates the historical pain points of I2C development. 

MIPI I3C v1.1, available now to MIPI members, is a scalable, medium-speed, utility and control bus that connects peripherals to an application processor, streamlining integration and improving cost efficiencies in the development of smartphones, wearables, high-performance servers, automotive applications and more. [Read more…] about MIPI introduces new data communications standard

Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry

by

Fearless of the difficult applications – dust and bad weather – the Danfoss VLT AutomationDrive FC 302 was chosen to ensure efficient production of 800,000 tons of hard limestone at the Roussas quarry (main picture).

With an annual cement production capacity of 60 million tons and 42 cement plants across four continents, Italcementi Group is a leading global supplier of construction materials.

The group is a major player in the French building-material market; in the cement business through Ciments Calsia, in the ready-mix concrete sector through Unibéton and in aggregates production and supply with GSM. [Read more…] about Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry

Columbia develops ‘robotic trunk support assists’ for people with spinal cord injuries

by

Engineers at Columbia university have invented a robotic trunk-support-trainer to retrain patients with spinal cord injury to sit more stably and gain an expanded active sitting workspace. (See video below.)

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause devastating damage, including loss of mobility and sensation. Every year, there are an estimated 17,000 new SCIs in the US alone, a rate higher than in most regions of the world.

In addition, the rate of SCIs in people 65 years or older is expected to rise in the US, from 13 percent in 2010 to 16.1 percent by 2020. [Read more…] about Columbia develops ‘robotic trunk support assists’ for people with spinal cord injuries

Panasonic obtains international certification for robotic mobility chair

by

Panasonic has obtained the international safety standard IEC 62061 certification for its safety control system designed for robotic mobility chair.

The IEC standard is required by the international safety standard ISO 13482 applicable to personal care robots.

This certification means that the Japan Quality Assurance Organization has recognized that Panasonic’s safety control system for personal care robots conforms to the IEC 62061 standard: “Safety of machinery – functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic systems”. [Read more…] about Panasonic obtains international certification for robotic mobility chair

Omron launches 237 new factory automation control devices

by

Omron has launched the sixth wave of its factory automation control devices built on a common design platform for further innovation in control panel building.

The new products include 237 models in six categories low voltage switch gear: J7KC, J7TC, J7MC, J7KCA and J7KCR series low voltage switching gears (LVSG), S8V-CP series DC electronic circuit protectors, and PTF-XX-PU socket for LY relays with Push-In Plus technology.

With its Value Design products, Omron’s goal is to provide a complete solution to panel builders, while saving space and reducing the workload and total cost of ownership. [Read more…] about Omron launches 237 new factory automation control devices

Parrot launches new SDK for its thermal drones

by

Parrot has launched a new SDK Partner program to help both enterprise and start-ups create new applications, software and hardware to seamlessly integrate with Parrot ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal drones.

Parrot’s SDK program currently allows developers to create their own iOS and Android applications and service programs for ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal drones.

Now, industry partners will gain access to both hardware and software support, along with go-to-market strategy support to business partners across the globe. [Read more…] about Parrot launches new SDK for its thermal drones

Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

by

Mitsubishi Electric has released the company’s smallest and most powerful compact programmable logic controller to date – the FX5UC series Premium Micro PLC.

The company says the new PLC’s diminutive size is set to help machine builders and manufacturers pack “ever more functionality into a smaller space”, while also providing the web access and network connectivity demanded by the latest smart factory applications.

Mitsubishi Electric launched its first range of micro controllers, the FX family of PLCs, over 35 years ago as part of the MELSEC-F series. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller