development

Comau exoskeleton ‘first’ to be awarded EAWS certification

July 6, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Comau Robotics & Automation claims its “MATE” exoskeleton is the first on the market to receive the Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet certification.

The company says the certification provides clear evidence of its exoskeleton’s effectiveness in reducing the “risk of biomechanical overload” of the upper limbs.

Based on the evaluation system promoted by Ergo Foundation, Italy’s reference for the organization and measurement of work and ergonomics, the successful recognition studied workers who used MATE to perform daily tasks requiring flexion-extension of the arms. [Read more…] about Comau exoskeleton ‘first’ to be awarded EAWS certification

Horiba Mira offers simulation platform to autonomous car developers

July 6, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Automotive engineering and development consultancy Horiba Mira says it is providing its new “co-simulation” platform to helps US Connected and Autonomous Challenge organisers get through the Covid-19 lockdown.

With the coronavirus pandemic causing disruption across the industry, Horiba Mira’s forward-thinking Horizon Scanning team has provided critical support to the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (EcoCAR), using its new Component-in-the-Loop (XiL) co-simulation platform, DigiCAV, to help EcoCAR safely carry on developing its vehicles despite the recent lockdown.

As one of the world’s leading competitions for creating concept vehicles for future mobility, the EcoCAR Challenge is a four-year scheme managed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), a multidisciplinary science and engineering research centre based in Chicago. [Read more…] about Horiba Mira offers simulation platform to autonomous car developers

Opinion: Innovation is in need of better platforms to support its growth

July 2, 2020 by Mai Tao Leave a Comment

By Frederick Bravey, business development manager, SVV

Innovation is adapting faster with no signs of slowing down. In this fast-paced environment, innovation is in need of better platforms to support its growth. Corporations today are facing extensive challenges in getting new innovative ideas to market.

According to Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen, there are over 30,000 new products introduced every year, and 95 percent fail, resulting in huge amounts of time wasted on failed concepts.

However, corporations are now looking toward new ways to greatly reduce their lead time as well as expanding their horizons beyond their current business models. [Read more…] about Opinion: Innovation is in need of better platforms to support its growth

Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

June 30, 2020 by Mai Tao Leave a Comment

Toyota will make its Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) software freely available from January 2021 as part of its efforts toward a safe mobility society.

THUMS is a virtual human body model software program for computer analysis of human body injuries caused in vehicle collisions. Free access to THUMS, and subsequent use by a wider variety of users, is expected to enhance vehicle safety.

Designed to aid vehicle safety technologies’ research and development, and developed in cooperation with Toyota Central R&D Labs, THUMS was the world’s first virtual human body model software when it launched in 2000. [Read more…] about Toyota offers free access to virtual crash test dummy software

Country Garden builds ‘world’s first’ robot restaurant in China

June 24, 2020 by Mai Tao Leave a Comment

Country Garden says it has built what it claims is “the world’s first-ever robot restaurant complex” in Guangdong, China.

The modern eaterie was opened on June 22 by Qianxi Robot Catering Group, a subsidiary of Country Garden. The location is Shunde, a city in China’s Guangdong province.

Powered by the latest in advanced technologies, the restaurant has separate sections for Chinese food, hot pot and fast food and features a wide selection of dishes, each one of which is delivered to the waiting diner within seconds. [Read more…] about Country Garden builds ‘world’s first’ robot restaurant in China

Analysis: Qualcomm’s new robotics platform raises a few questions

June 22, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

By Rian Whitton, principal analyst at tech market advisory firm ABI Research

Qualcomm last week launched its next step in its bid to power the next generation of commercial 5G-enabled robots, with the release of its RB5 platform.

Bringing high-compute power and a significant degree of modularity to the energy-constrained robotic platform market, the RB5 is an evolution on the company’s RB3 platform released in 2019, and a potential game-changer in the development of smart robotic fleets.

RB5 is advertised as a premium platform, with an emphasis on sophistication over cost-efficiency, supporting high-performance heterogeneous computing with built-in 5G capability and 4K HDR video streaming. [Read more…] about Analysis: Qualcomm’s new robotics platform raises a few questions

AImotive becomes ‘most-funded’ automated driving software supplier in Europe

June 22, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

AImotive claims it has become “the most-funded automated driving software supplier in Europe” after its latest investment round.

AImotive, an automated driving technology company, says the new funding round has raised $20 million, and comes despite amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

The round was led by Lead Ventures, a Budapest based scale-up investor. [Read more…] about AImotive becomes ‘most-funded’ automated driving software supplier in Europe

BMW and Mercedes blame ‘timing’ for abandoning plan to jointly develop autonomous cars

June 19, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

German auto giants BMW and Mercedes are blaming “timing” for abandoning a plan to jointly develop autonomous cars.

The two companies had reached an agreement in July last year to enter into a “co-operation” agreement on the development of autonomous cars, or “automated driving”, as the two companies call it.

The developments are intended to build vehicles that are classed as “Level 4” – or “full autonomy with human” – on the SAE’s categorisation. [Read more…] about BMW and Mercedes blame ‘timing’ for abandoning plan to jointly develop autonomous cars

Qualcomm launches ‘world’s first’ 5G and AI-enabled robotics platform

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Qualcomm Technologies has launched what it claims is the “world’s first 5G and artificial intelligence-enabled robotics platform”. (See video below.)

The company says its Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is its “most advanced, integrated, comprehensive offering designed specifically for robotics”.

Building on the Qualcomm Robotics RB3 platform and its broad adoption in a wide array of robotics and drone products available today, the Qualcomm says its RB5 platform is comprised of an extensive set of hardware, software and development tools. [Read more…] about Qualcomm launches ‘world’s first’ 5G and AI-enabled robotics platform

Honeywell forms business units for unmanned aerial systems

June 16, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Honeywell has formed a new business unit dedicated to the growing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industries.

The UAS business unit will continue Honeywell’s momentum and leadership in these emerging markets, utilizing Honeywell’s technology, software, services and certification expertise to meet customers’ needs in these markets.

Mike Madsen, president and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace, says: “Urban Air Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems will play an increasing role in the future of aerospace, with potential applications in all-electric urban air taxi vehicles, hybrid-electric unmanned cargo drones, optionally piloted airplanes, delivery drones and everything in between. [Read more…] about Honeywell forms business units for unmanned aerial systems