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New electronic skin developed to make robots ‘feel pain’

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Scientists at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have developed a new type of “electronic skin” that could make robots and other machines more sensitive to touch and contact.

The researchers say their “pain-sensing” prototype mimics the human body’s near-instant feedback response and reacts to painful sensations with the same lighting speed that nerve signals travel to the brain.

Lead researcher Professor Madhu Bhaskaran says the prototype e-skin is a “significant advance” towards next-generation biomedical technologies and intelligent robotics. [Read more…] about New electronic skin developed to make robots ‘feel pain’

SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

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A Japanese startup company called SkyDrive has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest flying car. (See video below.)

Designed to carry one person, the vehicle could be said to be the aerial equivalent of a motorcycle.

SkyDrive says it can put the what we’ll call the “airbike” into mass production in just two years’ time, by which time there should be more regulations about aerial vehicles. [Read more…] about SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

Geisel Software wins NASA contract to develop collaborative mobile robotics for space program

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development company, and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) have been awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The award will support the development of a solution that will allow for collaborative mobility and manipulation in a heterogeneous robotic environment.

The research is critically important to solving problems such as mapping, localization, atmospheric transmission spectroscopy, electromagnetic radiation detection of all kinds, seismic and other planetary sensing, and more. [Read more…] about Geisel Software wins NASA contract to develop collaborative mobile robotics for space program

US launches billion-dollar plan to establish quantum computing and artificial intelligence institutes

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The US government has launched a billion-dollar plan to establish quantum computing and artificial intelligence scientific research institutes.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the US Department of Energy (DOE) will distribute the $1 billion in awards for the establishment of 12 new artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum information science (QIS) research institutes nationwide.

The $1 billion will go towards NSF-led AI Research Institutes and DOE QIS Research Centers over five years, establishing 12 multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional national hubs for research and workforce development in these critical emerging technologies. [Read more…] about US launches billion-dollar plan to establish quantum computing and artificial intelligence institutes

Panasonic to invest extra $100 million in battery-making factory in the US

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Panasonic is to invest an additional $100 million in a battery-making factory it is building in Nevada, US, according to Nikkei Asian Review.

The so-called “Gigafactory 1” is currently equipped with 13 production lines, but the new investment will enable Panasonic to add an extra line and increase capacity by 10 percent.

The expansion is intended to boost the supply of batteries to automaker Tesla for its electric vehicles. The original agreement between the two companies stipulated that Panasonic builds and equips the facility to produce batteries, while Tesla provides and manages the land and utilities. [Read more…] about Panasonic to invest extra $100 million in battery-making factory in the US

Robotics and Automation News Review: Fanuc and Kuka launch new robots, Pittsburgh ready to go to ‘infinity and beyond’, Foxconn moves operations out of China, and much more…

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Friday 14 August 2020: This is a new, weekly column – to be published every Friday – which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form. 

This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel.

Comau Robotics says it has created an “innovative, in-line testing and quality control system that optimizes the construction and assembly of batteries”. The company says the MI.RA / Thermography system uses thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to perform non-invasive automated assessment and control of welded joints, to ensure battery integrity and prevent waste.

Kuka Robotics has launched a new compact industrial robot. The company says its new KR 4 Agilus is “a hot candidate for first place in the small robotics charts from October onwards”.

Fanuc Robotics has launched a new “extremely compact” robot which it claims has the “best precision in its class”. The new M-10iD/16S robot is the most compact model of the M-10iD series, says Fanuc, adding that it combines the best features of its two predecessors, M-10iA/10MS and M-10iA/12S.

Hyundai Robotics has signed an agreement with Korea’s Asan Medical Center and KT for joint development and commercialization of smart hospital solutions on June 30th. The company is planning to prepare for the post-corona era with a smart hospital solution for infection management by ICT-based digital transformation.

Techman Robot, a manufacturer of collaborative robots, says it has adopted proactive steps against the new coronavirus. Techman Robot says it checks the health of its employees on a daily bases and collects global virus information. It also implementing prevention measures. The company maintains business communications online and is frequently in touch with all overseas offices, global distributors, partners, and customers.

HRG International Institute of Research and Innovation has unveiled a new floor cleaning robot, the SW10. The company says it is exclusively designed for floor cleaning tasks in commercial and industrial environments. The robot is combined with sweeping, mopping and vacuum cleaning functions and its work can maintain 2,000 square meters per hour.

Denso has established the Pittsburgh Innovation Lab, a new US research and development center designed to strengthen open innovation and enhance technology development that enables automated driving.

FedEx has installed industrial robotic arms to do what is considered the “most difficult” job to automate in a sorting facility in Memphis, USA. The logistics giant has integrated Yaskawa robots and software from Plus One Robotics into a robotic system that performs a task which involves picking up parcels or envelopes from a tray and placing them on a conveyor.

Foxconn, Apple’s main contract manufacturing partner, has moved a significant portion of its operations outside of China. The company has already moved an additional 5 percent of its operations to countries other than China, bring it up to 30 percent, compared with 25 percent last year.

Pittsburgh local authorities say they are looking to “infinity and beyond” after NASA awarded a local company, Astrobotic Technology, a $200 million contract to build and send the first-ever US robotic rover to the Moon by 2023.

A Story of 3D Printers and Robots

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3D printing is a true modern-day marvel. It’s the perfect example of how advancement in one particular technological area can trigger an exponential effect in the industry as a whole, as well as other industries.

With any new technological revelation, the most exciting aspect is how that discovery will impact the world as a whole and what interesting ways people will use it.

And 3D printing is that recent technological trend, which has made its way into every corner of the world. And one of the spheres it has had a huge impact on is the world of robotics. [Read more…] about A Story of 3D Printers and Robots

Flylogix and Cambridge Consultants to use Iridium’s satellites for drone platform

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Flylogix and Cambridge Consultants have agreed a collaboration that will use Iridium’s satellite communications to safely control unmanned aerial vehicles from a central control hub.

This will enable Flylogix to move from local drone piloting at the airfield to centrally controlled operations, massively increasing the resilience of their services to offshore installations.

The Flylogix service reduces the cost, risk and environmental impact of gathering data from offshore exploration and production activities. [Read more…] about Flylogix and Cambridge Consultants to use Iridium’s satellites for drone platform

Ocious Technology to provide Australia with autonomous boats to watch out for refugees at sea

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A startup company called Ocious Technology is to provide Australia with autonomous boats to watch out for refugees at sea. 

The company was awarded $5.5 million a couple of months ago by the Australian government’s Department of Defence to continue developing its autonomous unmanned surface vessels.

Following on from that, Ocious is to launch a total of five of its “Bluebottle” small autonomous vessels by next year. [Read more…] about Ocious Technology to provide Australia with autonomous boats to watch out for refugees at sea

CATL and Honda agree ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’ on batteries for new energy vehicles

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Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and automaker Honda have signed an agreement to form a “comprehensive strategic alliance” on new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries to strengthen their strategic partnership and promote the popularization of electrified vehicles.

This agreement will enable the two companies to begin discussions on a broad range of areas including joint development, stable supply, and the recycling and reuse of batteries.

By bringing together the two companies’ individual technology advantages, CATL and Honda will conduct joint development on NEVs batteries and joint research and development into fundamental technologies, aiming for their future application. [Read more…] about CATL and Honda agree ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’ on batteries for new energy vehicles