Robotics & Automation News

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Freedom Robotics receives $6.6 million in seed funding

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Freedom Robotics, which provides cloud and on-device software for monitoring, control and management of robots and robotic fleets, has closed a $6.6m seed round.

The funding was led by Initialized Capital, with Toyota AI Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, Andrew Miklas from S28 Capital, and James Lindenbaum, alongside existing investors Green Cow Ventur­e Capital, Justin Kan, Josh Buckley, Kevin Mahaffey, and Arianna Simpson.

Freedom Robotics creates tools and infrastructure that all robotics companies require but are not core to their product or value creation.

[Read more…] about Freedom Robotics receives $6.6 million in seed funding

Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

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North American distributors of Universal Robots are now opening Authorized Training Centers (ATCs), offering classes spanning basic to advanced programming of UR cobots. The first four ATCs have been launched, with another nine to follow by end of 2019.

Universal Robots says it is committed to making collaborative robots (cobots) in the workplace accessible to all. The company is now building on the popular online modules offered through the UR Academy by enabling its sales channel to open ATCs.

Through hands-on classes hosted by UR trained teachers, the ATCs will broaden users’ understanding of the UR cobots’ range of use cases, while providing opportunities for hands-on practice in real-life applications.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

Kia car to feature ‘first’ CVVD engine technology

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Hyundai Motor Group, Kia Motors‘ parent company, has developed the world’s first Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology to feature in future Kia vehicles.

The innovation was revealed at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang alongside the Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi, the first engine to feature the technology.

CVVD is claimed to optimise both engine performance and fuel efficiency while also being eco-friendly.

[Read more…] about Kia car to feature ‘first’ CVVD engine technology

Subsea valve actuator ‘reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent’, says Rexroth

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Launched less than a year ago, Bosch Rexroth’s innovative Subsea Valve Actuator (SVA) – an entirely new concept for underwater actuators which offers SIL3 safety levels and up to 75 per cent lower energy consumption – has been granted a Mechanical Engineering Design Award.

The SVA was developed to help address some of the challenges and shortcomings associated with either purely electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuator technology used on the sea floor for oil and gas exploration and production systems.

Until now, underwater actuators required large, central hydraulic power units above water. Designed to supply the actuators with fluid, the fluid-lines themselves can be miles long. [Read more…] about Subsea valve actuator ‘reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent’, says Rexroth

BMW provides insight into how it uses artificial intelligence in production

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise in automotive production. Since 2018, the BMW Group has been using various AI applications in series production.

One focus is automated image recognition: In these processes, artificial intelligence evaluates component images in ongoing production and compares them in milliseconds to hundreds of other images of the same sequence.

This way, the AI application determines deviations from the standard in real time and checks, for instance, whether all required parts have been mounted and whether they are mounted in the right place.

[Read more…] about BMW provides insight into how it uses artificial intelligence in production

Industrial measurement and testing: Faster commissioning results in quicker time to market

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Bosch Rexroth provides insight into measurement and testing processes

To ensure consistency, repeatability, quality and compliance with regulations, many companies employ rigorous testing and measurement processes.

Kraus automation technology (KAT), specialises in providing tailored testing systems for life-span, fatigue and material tests.

To offer testing systems which meet the needs of their diverse customer base, KAT use National Instruments’ LabView software to create custom user interfaces for engineers. [Read more…] about Industrial measurement and testing: Faster commissioning results in quicker time to market

DJI unveils the RoboMaster S1 educational robot 

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DJI, a leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, has taken a step into educational technology by launching the RoboMaster S1, the company’s first ground-based robot.

The S1 was built to introduce new users to the fun and possibilities of robotic technology, with brushless motors, a chassis that can move in all directions, a high-precision gimbal, and interactive modes for programming, play, and competition.

S1 users can assemble designated and custom hardware, learning to manoeuvre the rover, programming with Python or Scratch and competing with friends in multiple modes.

[Read more…] about DJI unveils the RoboMaster S1 educational robot 

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

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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

JMP Solutions earns new control system integration certification

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JMP Solutions, industrial technology partner to Fortune 1000 companies, has earned CSIA Certified status in the Control System Integrators Association “Best Practices and Benchmarks” certification program.

This marks the 13th year JMP has held this coveted certification with CSIA, after receiving its initial certification in 2006. JMP is one of only 83 companies in the world that is CSIA certified.

JMP Solutions earned the certification following a successful audit administered by an independent consulting firm that assessed its performance against client-centric criteria in a wide range of business, project management, and system development categories. [Read more…] about JMP Solutions earns new control system integration certification

Epson Robots wins Vision Systems Design 2019 Innovators award

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Epson Robots was presented with a Silver-Honoree award in the Robotics category at the Fifth Annual Vision Systems Design Innovators Awards presentation, held recently in Chicago, Illinois.

The Epson Force Guide was recognized by a panel of esteemed experts from system integrator and end-user companies. The company was recognized the previous year for their Synthis T3 All-in-One SCARA robot.

Gregg Brunnick, director of product management for Epson Robots, says: “Vision Systems Design’s recognition of our new Force Guide underscores our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs for a revolutionary force control system that opens up possibilities for robot automation in areas that were not possible before. [Read more…] about Epson Robots wins Vision Systems Design 2019 Innovators award