Robotics & Automation News

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Comau and IUVO design new wearable robots to support manual work

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Comau and IUVO are developing an innovative wearable robotics solution to improve the ergonomics of operators engaged in manually moving loads at Esselunga, a leading large-scale retail trade company. The aim is to improve well-being by reducing lower back fatigue.

The action of the exoskeleton will assist the back muscles that are typically stimulated during lifting and handling tasks, thus creating short- and long-term benefits through a significant reduction in physical effort and fatigue.

There are three protagonists of the project. Comau’s role is to lead the engineering process related to the new exoskeletal device for lumbar support. IUVO’s design team will specialize in the conception, development and testing of wearable robotic technologies. [Read more…] about Comau and IUVO design new wearable robots to support manual work

Amazon launches $1 billion industrial innovation fund

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Amazon is investing $1 billion into the industrial sector to “spur supply chain, fulfillment, and logistics innovation and further improve the customer and employee experience”.

The $1 billion venture investment program is called the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund (AIIF).

As customers increasingly shop online and look for even faster delivery, Amazon says it is continuing to invent new ways to raise the bar on customer and employee experience while working with other companies focused on those fields. [Read more…] about Amazon launches $1 billion industrial innovation fund

Car Exports 101

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The automotive industry is a vital part of the global economy, and the export of cars is a significant contributor to this.

There are several reasons countries export cars. For example, a country may have a surplus of cars that it cannot sell domestically, or it may seek to take advantage of attractive foreign markets.

Whatever the reason, exporting cars can be a complex process, and there are a number of things that need to be taken into consideration. [Read more…] about Car Exports 101

Comau to develop new robotic systems with shipbuilder Fincantieri

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Shipbuilder Fincantieri and Comau Robotics, two Italian industrial giants in their respective markets, have signed a letter of intent to develop prototypes of robotized steel welding solutions and the resulting construction of series of machines, to be implemented at first in Fincantieri shipyards.

Paolo Carmassi, Comau CEO, and Fabio Gallia, Fincantieri general manager, signed the agreement.

The first joint project, of which the operating agreement is currently under way and related tests are scheduled at the Fincantieri shipyards by the first half of the year 2022, will involve a welding robot vehicle consisting of an anthropomorphic welding robot and a remote control tracked vehicle. [Read more…] about Comau to develop new robotic systems with shipbuilder Fincantieri

Swiss university developing mobile robot that learns on the job

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A team from the Autonomous Systems Lab at the public research university ETH Zurich in Switzerland is creating robots and intelligent systems that are able to learn on the job. (See video below.)

The team’s machine – which consists of a robotic arm mounted on a mobile platform – can “autonomously operate in complex and diverse environments”, says an article on Clearpath Robotics’ website.

Using a Clearpath Ridgeback as a base and equipped with a Franka Emika Panda manipulator arm (called RoyalPanda, that is Ridgeback + Panda), the team is experimenting with a series of different scenarios to develop best practices of how a robot could “learn”. [Read more…] about Swiss university developing mobile robot that learns on the job

US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

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The US Federal Aviation Administration has given Amazon permission to make drone deliveries, certifying the company as an “air carrier” – basically like an airline company.

The world’s largest online retailer has been trying to get permits to operate its Amazon Prime Air drones for several years, making test deliveries by drones while it waits.

One sticking point was that the FAA had originally wanted drone operators to maintain human vision on the drone while in the air. [Read more…] about US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

Tech giants and driverless cars: Racing against the automakers

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Modern tech conglomerate Amazon – whose interests range from online shopping, through computing devices such as the Kindle and Amazon Echo, to cloud computing and even space exploration – is in advanced talks to acquire self-driving startup Zoox, according to a report on the Financial Times website. 

It’s not the first time Amazon has shown interest in the automotive sector. The company was the lead investor in Aurora Innovation’s $530 million funding round last year.

Aurora is seen as a rival to Waymo, the driverless car company set up by Google, another tech giant. [Read more…] about Tech giants and driverless cars: Racing against the automakers

Interview: Startup Reflect developing new solution to ‘a real industrial problem’

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Interview with George Papanikolopoulos, CEO of CASP, which is developing a software solution to what he describes as ‘a real industrial problem’

Reflect is one of the experiments that successfully passed to Phase II of the first Open Call in ESMERA, the EU agency that has a multimillion-euro budget to help robotic startups. 

Being one of the 12 experiments that started in ESMERA in the summer of 2019, Reflect proved its concept to external evaluators and has been selected as one of the currently five final experiments in Phase II. [Read more…] about Interview: Startup Reflect developing new solution to ‘a real industrial problem’

Omron developing robotic suitcase with AI to assist visually impaired people

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Omron has joined a consortium which is developing a robotic suitcase with artificial intelligence to assist visually impaired people.

As well as Omron, the consortium includes companies such as IBM Japan, Mitsubishi Motors, and Shimizu Corporation.

The AI suitcase is described as an integrated solution that will help the visually impaired to get around town independently, by supplementing visual information by combining the latest AI with robotics. [Read more…] about Omron developing robotic suitcase with AI to assist visually impaired people

Robotics poised to increase productivity and reshore manufacturing, says new report

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Robotics and automation technologies are likely to increase productivity and reshore manufacturing, according to a new report.

As the adoption and use of robotics increase, a new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the world’s top-ranked think tank for science and technology policy, evaluates the impact robotics is likely to have on the future of production.

The report shows that robotics has the potential to reshore manufacturing production to developed countries, and it argues that most forecasts exaggerate the impact automation brought by robotics will have on employment. [Read more…] about Robotics poised to increase productivity and reshore manufacturing, says new report