Robotics & Automation News

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NEC unveils autonomous mobile robot control system

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NEC has developed a control technology that the company claims “doubles the efficiency of autonomous mobile robots” in warehouses while maintaining a high level of safety.

NEC plans to put this technology into practical use by March 2024 and to have it installed in NEC’s co-operative AMRs in Japan.

In recent years, the introduction of robots for transporting materials has accelerated due to labor shortages and large warehouses. [Read more…] about NEC unveils autonomous mobile robot control system

Motion capture is guiding the next generation of extraterrestrial robots

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“How do we build robots that can optimally explore space?” is the core question behind Dr Frances Zhu’s research at the University of Hawai’i. One part of the answer is, “with motion capture”.

“It is my hope that my research contributes to the way extraterrestrial robots move and make decisions on other planets,” explains Zhu (main image), an assistant researcher and deputy director at the University’s Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology.

That research is in its early stages, but NASA has seen the value in it and awarded Zhu an EPSCoR grant by the name “Autonomous Rover Operations for Planetary Surface Exploration using Machine Learning Algorithms”. [Read more…] about Motion capture is guiding the next generation of extraterrestrial robots

BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

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Seoul Robotics, a robotics perception company, has introduced what it describes as a “Level 5 Control Tower” (LV5 CTRL TWR), a mesh network of sensors and computers on infrastructure that guides vehicles autonomously rather than having to place any sensors on an individual vehicle.

This “revolutionary technology” – which is said to enable non-autonomous vehicles to be controlled autonomously – is in the final stages of testing with automaker BMW and preparing for implementation to automate last-mile fleet logistics at their manufacturing facility in Munich.

Beyond original equipment manufacturers, the system has the potential to transform operations for a wide range of business applications ranging from vehicle distribution centers to car rental companies and trucking logistics. [Read more…] about BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

Fugro’s robotic space operations complex to be located in Perth, Australia

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Fugro has confirmed that its Australian Space Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) will be located in the heart of downtown Perth’s central business district.

Housed in Western Australia’s largest telecommunications exchange, and thanks to an ongoing partnership with Telstra, Fugro’s world-class facility will manage robotics and remote operations in Australia, around the world and in space.

SpAARC will support the translation of terrestrial capabilities into space, while also providing innovative remote solutions here on earth. [Read more…] about Fugro’s robotic space operations complex to be located in Perth, Australia

Comau unveils new software for ‘easy programming of complex robotic applications’

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Comau has unveiled what it describes as a “powerful software program” based on artificial intelligence algorithms that makes man-machine communication easier while optimizing industrial operations.

The industrial automation company says its MI.RA/Dexter reflects Comau’s “commitment to simplified automation”.

MI.RA/Dexter is a metalanguage that makes aims to make robotics more accessible for companies of all sizes by translating human language syntax into robot syntax. [Read more…] about Comau unveils new software for ‘easy programming of complex robotic applications’

ABB claims 20 percent share of $14 billion distributed control systems market

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ABB claims it has “global market leadership” in the distributed control systems market, and that this claim has been confirmed “for 22nd consecutive year”. The industrial giant is making the claim after a report by the ARC Advisory Group.

ARC’s report calculates that ABB’s Distributed Control Systems (DCS) maintained a “leading share” of around 20 percent in 2020 in a market worth more than $14 billion .

During 2020, ABB saw growth across key regions, despite the impact of the pandemic on the DCS market across industry. [Read more…] about ABB claims 20 percent share of $14 billion distributed control systems market

A system for designing and training intelligent soft robots

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‘Evolution Gym’ is a large-scale benchmark for co-optimizing the design and control of soft robots that takes inspiration from nature and evolutionary processes

Let’s say you wanted to build the world’s best stair-climbing robot. You’d need to optimize for both the brain and the body, perhaps by giving the bot some high-tech legs and feet, coupled with a powerful algorithm to help enable the climb.

Although design of the physical body and its brain, the “control”, are key ingredients to letting the robot move, existing benchmark environments favor only the latter. Co-optimizing for both elements is hard – it takes a lot of time to train various robot simulations to do different things, even without the design element.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), aimed to fill the gap by designing “Evolution Gym”, a large-scale testing system for co-optimizing the design and control of soft robots, taking inspiration from nature and evolutionary processes. [Read more…] about A system for designing and training intelligent soft robots

Artificial Intelligence Technology You Can Control From Anywhere

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Innovative technology makes life easier, and we are entering a new phase of the technological era. It is nothing new that LG provides us with the opportunity to experience the most innovative technology at an elite rate.

To live up to its reputation, LG’s Air Conditioner has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) called AI ThinQ, which unlocks the ability to control the AC and more simply use it by speaking through voice.

It enables you to connect to Wifi and use it wisely. It is easy to control your AC even from outside your home. The AI ThinQ technology is one of the smartest technologies Provided by LG and Butterfly Group is the sole distributor for this product in Bangladesh. [Read more…] about Artificial Intelligence Technology You Can Control From Anywhere

Sea Machines Robotics and HamiltonJet unveil new autonomous vessel technology

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Sea Machines Robotics and HamiltonJet, a marine propulsion systems provider, have launched a new intelligent voyage control product, named JETsense, that utilizes autonomous navigation, multi-sensor fusion and computer vision.

The two companies say the new system is designed to “move waterjet vessels to the forefront of 21st century navigation and utility”.

JETsense utilizes artificial intelligence and advanced autonomy to perceive the domain and maintain precise control of steering and speed during a voyage and re-route to avoid traffic and obstacles, while enabling a new level of streaming data to improve on-water operations.

This new HamiltonJet product, which features Sea Machines’ technology at its core, is the culmination of a partnership announced earlier this year to offer a helm-based system to advise, safeguard or assume active control of open water vessel transits. [Read more…] about Sea Machines Robotics and HamiltonJet unveil new autonomous vessel technology

Taking Control of Your Own Vehicle Repairs

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Keeping your car on the road is very important to most people. No matter how much you drive, you need to make sure that you have a car that is always reliable, but this isn’t always easy to achieve in the modern world.

DIY vehicle repairs can save a lot of money, making this a good choice for anyone who has a little bit of mechanical knowledge and wants to take it further.

Of course, though, there are challenges that come with taking control of your own vehicle repairs, and this makes it worth taking the time to learn about this work before you get started. [Read more…] about Taking Control of Your Own Vehicle Repairs