Robotics & Automation News

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Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

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At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, car manufacturing companies such as Ford quickly shifted their production focus from automobiles to masks and ventilators.

To make this switch possible, these companies relied on people working on an assembly line. It would have been too challenging for a robot to make this transition because robots are tied to their usual tasks.

Theoretically, a robot could pick up almost anything if its grippers could be swapped out for each task. To keep costs down, these grippers could be passive, meaning grippers pick up objects without changing shape, similar to how the tongs on a forklift work. [Read more…] about Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

Kinova unveils ‘first’ Canadian collaborative robot

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Kinova has launched Link 6, a new generation industrial robot designed for all businesses looking to benefit from automation.

Kinova says that, in a booming market, this innovation created from start to finish in North America stands out for its ease of use and unparalleled user experience.

Kinova says Link 6 is “Canada’s first industrial collaborative robot”, featuring automation solutions that enable greater daily efficiency while improving the quality and consistency of production results. [Read more…] about Kinova unveils ‘first’ Canadian collaborative robot

Uruguay to build world’s largest smart street lighting system in Montevideo

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National Narrowband Network Company (NNNCo), operator of the Australian national LoRaWAN network powered by Actility, has signed a contract with a European technology provider Wellness TechGroup, to provide IoT network coverage to 70,000 smart streetlights in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.

LoRaWAN stands for low-power wide-area network. It defines the communication protocol and system architecture for the network, while the LoRa physical layer enables the long-range communication link. LoRaWAN is also responsible for managing the communication frequencies, data rate, and power for all devices.

The Montevideo infrastructure will include a private LoRaWAN network based on Actility’s ThingPark Enterprise IoT platform, and managed on customer premises. [Read more…] about Uruguay to build world’s largest smart street lighting system in Montevideo

Facebook files patent for robotic eyeball

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Social media giant Facebook has filed a patent for a robotic eyeball, according to a report on Gizmodo.com.

The “mechanical eyeball” is said to feature human-like abilities and can be integrated to humanoid or other types of robots.

Why Facebook, which recently rebranded itself as Meta, is developing a robot eyeball is subject to considerable speculation. [Read more…] about Facebook files patent for robotic eyeball

ExcelsiusGPS robotic system used for brain surgery

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Christus Health has become the first health provider to use a robotic system for brain surgery, describing the ExcelsiusGPS as “a world-class robotic guidance and navigation system”.

The ExcelsiusGPS system, built by Globus Medical, was used in the first Christus Ochsner Health case this week, setting a new standard for robotic neurosurgery procedures in Southwest Louisiana.

Bringing the ExcelsiusGPS to the region was made possible with the help of the Christus Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana Foundation and its generous donors who gifted more than $1.1 million to make the purchase possible. [Read more…] about ExcelsiusGPS robotic system used for brain surgery

Robot performs laparoscopic surgery without guiding hand of a human

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By Catherine Graham, Johns Hopkins University

In four experiments on pig tissues, the robot excelled at suturing two ends of intestine – one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in abdominal surgery

A robot has performed laparoscopic surgery – also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery – on the soft tissue of a pig without the guiding hand of a human.

The people responsible say this is “a significant step toward fully automated surgery on humans”.

Designed by a team of Johns Hopkins University researchers, the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot, or STAR, is described today in Science Robotics.

Senior author Axel Krieger, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins’ Whiting School of Engineering, says: “Our findings show that we can automate one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in surgery: the reconnection of two ends of an intestine. [Read more…] about Robot performs laparoscopic surgery without guiding hand of a human

Doosan showcases collaborative robot for camera work

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Doosan Robotics, a manufacturer of collaborative robots, has showcased a new robot designed for camera work in television studios. (See video below.)

The company demonstrated the system – which it has called NINA, short for “New Inspiration, New Angle” – at the recent Consumer Electronics Show.

NINA is Doosan’s first entry into the entertainment industry marketplace and its first public appearance of the CES 2022 Innovation Award winning product prior to its global launch in 2022. [Read more…] about Doosan showcases collaborative robot for camera work

REE starts trials of new electric platform for delivery vehicles

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REE Automotive is commencing trials of its all-new P7 platform designed for commercial delivery vehicles and walk-in vans.

The P7 platform, targeted to a US based delivery van program, was designed based on functional and operational specifications from one of the world’s largest delivery companies.

Fully flat from end-to-end, P7 offers greatest interior space and volumetric efficiency for vehicles in classes 3-5. [Read more…] about REE starts trials of new electric platform for delivery vehicles

AutoX builds ‘first’ dedicated robotaxi manufacturing line in China

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AutoX, the autonomous car developer backed by e-commerce colossus Alibaba, has built what is believed to be the first-ever production line specifically designed to build autonomous robotic taxis. (See video below.)

AutoX claims to be “the front-runner in Level 4 fully autonomous robotaxis in China”, but it has relatively strong competition in the form of Apollo, which is backed by another internet giant, Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google.

AutoX has built what it says is “the first dedicated production facility in the country to produce Level 4 fully driverless robotaxis”, as shown in the startling pictures accompanying this article, which AutoX supplied. [Read more…] about AutoX builds ‘first’ dedicated robotaxi manufacturing line in China

Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants

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Bill Gates-backed company Heliogen, a provider of concentrated solar power, has unveiled a new robot which it describes as a “technological breakthrough” in the production of low-cost renewable energy.

In field tests at Heliogen’s Lancaster, California facility, the company successfully completed the first technical demonstration of an autonomous field maintenance system, Heliogen’s Installation & Cleaning Autonomous Robot & Utility Solution, or “ICARUS”. (See video below.)

By bringing the same advanced technologies that enable its AI-enabled concentrated solar power systems to the task of installing and maintaining those systems, the company’s latest innovation is expected to significantly reduce the time to implement its concentrated solar facilities, as well as the costs associated with construction and ongoing maintenance. [Read more…] about Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants