Robotics & Automation News

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Mitsubishi Electric unveils new autonomous car for testing new technologies

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Mitsubishi Electric has unveiled the latest version of the xAUTO, (main picture) a vehicle capable of autonomous driving on surface roads without high-definition maps and autonomous parking both indoors and outdoors.

The xAUTO is a demonstration car that incorporates Mitsubishi Electric’s cutting-edge technologies for autonomous driving.

Mitsubishi Electric’s autonomous driving system is realized with sensor-fusion technologies implemented with peripheral sensors, millimeter-wave radar and cameras, and so on, as well as infrastructure-assisted technologies incorporating Centimeter Level Augmentation Service signals from the Quasi Zenith Satellite System and high-definition three-dimensional maps. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric unveils new autonomous car for testing new technologies

Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales jump 12 percent

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Worldwide semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted third-quarter 2019 billings of $14.9 billion, a quarter-over-quarter increase of 12 percent but down 6 percent from the third quarter of 2018.

This is according to data collated by SEMI, the global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, reported today.

The data are gathered jointly with the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan from more than 80 global equipment companies that provide data on a monthly basis. [Read more…] about Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales jump 12 percent

The mundane revolution: Unexpected innovations in robotics

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By Rhys Davies, product manager at Canonical, publishers of Ubuntu

Today’s headlines tend to focus on the weird and wonderful robots of this world: the Hollywood Terminators or mechanical dogs developed by Boston Dynamics and other Silicon Valley start-ups.

The greatest innovations, however, can often be found in the more mundane corners of our society, within the industries and environments people least expect.

It’s happened with medicine and the discovery of penicillin, for example, while Archimedes had his eureka moment in the bath. [Read more…] about The mundane revolution: Unexpected innovations in robotics

IBM joins the Mayflower autonomous ship project

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IBM has joined a global consortium of partners, led by marine research organization ProMare, that are building an unmanned, fully-autonomous ship that will cross the Atlantic in September 2020, on the fourth centenary of the original Mayflower voyage 400 years ago.

The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) will use IBM’s Power servers, AI, cloud and edge computing technologies to navigate autonomously and avoid ocean hazards as it makes its way from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

If successful, it will be one of the first self-navigating, full-sized vessels to cross the Atlantic Ocean and will open the door on a new era of autonomous research ships. [Read more…] about IBM joins the Mayflower autonomous ship project

Arch Systems partners with Flex to develop manufacturing data systems

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Arch Systems, provider of a machine-data-sensing platform compatible with both legacy and new industrial machines, has reached an agreement with Flex, a supply chain and manufacturing company, to supply real-time access to and analysis of manufacturing data at its facilities.

Gus Shahin, chief information officer at Flex, says: “We’re deploying Arch’s technology at key digital factories to capture the relevant analytics and help us drive production efficiencies, process automation and predictive analytics.

“Arch can pull raw data from existing and new machines to help us generate actionable metrics, one of the core competencies of our digital factory. As part of our Industry 4.0 journey, we are excited to partner with Arch and leverage its leading-edge technology.” [Read more…] about Arch Systems partners with Flex to develop manufacturing data systems

Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

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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

Scania teams up with Combient network to tap into ‘huge potential’ of automation and AI

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Scania says its partnership with the Combient Foundry is intended to tap into the “huge potential” of automation and artificial intelligence in the transportation industry.

The Combient network, which Scania is part of, is a cross-Nordic industry collaboration that aims to accelerate transformation in areas like automation, artificial intelligence, analytics and open innovation.

A part of Combient is the Foundry which connects startups with Nordic industry leaders, enabling the co-creation of new services and solutions. [Read more…] about Scania teams up with Combient network to tap into ‘huge potential’ of automation and AI

Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

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Lenovo and Intel are providing critical components for Harvard University’s first liquid-cooled supercomputer, while Lenovo is creating a ‘Visionary Council’ to drive broad adoption of exascale technology

The new supercomputing infrastructure will enable discoveries in earthquake forecasting, predictions on the spread of disease, and star formation.

Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research Computing’s newest supercomputing cluster performs three to four times faster with the upgrade. [Read more…] about Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

Arch Systems partners with Flex for manufacturing data transformation

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Arch Systems has formed a partnership with Flex to develop systems to enable data transformation in its manufacturing operation.

The companies says that innovative data extraction from legacy and new machines will help drive production efficiencies, process automation and predictive analytics across Flex sites.

Arch Systems is a provider of a leading machine-data-sensing platform compatible with both legacy and new industrial machines. [Read more…] about Arch Systems partners with Flex for manufacturing data transformation

Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

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As the internet-connected world continues to transform the manufacturing and logistics industry, Technische Universität Dortmund is leading the way in research into human-robot interaction.

With the help of Vicon’s cutting-edge motion capture and VR solutions, the University is developing innovative ways to approach the coexistence of drones and robots with people in warehouse environments.

The manufacturing and logistics sector faces a major challenge: how best to serve the ever-growing e-commerce market – with increasingly small-scale shipments and shorter delivery deadlines – in a cost-effective and sustainable way. [Read more…] about Helping robots and humans work hand in hand