Market trends and business perspectives
The International Space Station is creating new biological life forms using “cutting-edge 3D biomanufacturing”.
3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – is a well-known method of making things here on Earth, and on the ISS, but this method uses materials such as plastics and metals.
However, 3D biomanufacturing uses biological materials such as new tissue or blood vessels. (See video below.) [Read more…] about International Space Station creating new biological life forms
The Seat factory in Martorell is the first Spanish plant to receive components via drone delivery. In collaboration with Grupo Sesé, the Spanish carmaker has a pioneering service connecting Sesé’s logistics centre in Abrera with the Seat factory using drones.
The first parts delivery service between two production plants in Spain by drone will deliver steering wheels and airbags to the Seat assembly lines.
The pilot project is being carried out under the supervision of the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) and will go forward in an experimental phase with several flights per day.
[Read more…] about Seat and Grupo Sesé launch a parts delivery service using drones
Unique testing facility accelerates progress of robotics for inspection and maintenance
Quasset Test Facility has opened in the Netherlands to facilitate the experimentation and validation of robotic solutions for inspection and maintenance.
The 600-square-meter testing facility offers a highly flexible and controlled environment, housing a range of decommissioned assets which serve to test crawling, flying and swimming robotic systems.
As an independent facility, QTF provides third-party assessments of technology for robotic and inspection systems. From start-ups to leading oil and gas companies, service providers have the opportunity to work in consultation with QTF’s specialist robotics staff. [Read more…] about Robotic test facility opens in the Netherlands
A pilot project on truck platooning has been successfully completed by DB Schenker, MAN Truck & Bus and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
‘Platooning’ is when two or more trucks drive in a tight convoy on a motorway, benefiting from reduced air drag. All vehicles driving in the platoon are electronically linked to each other
Operating electronically linked trucks on German motorways is safe, technically reliable and easily applicable in the routine of a logistics company.
[Read more…] about Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany
The Eclipse Foundation has launched the openMobility Working Group, which will focus on open and shared collaboration around one of the major issues in urban planning around autonomous vehicles and future transportation requirements – traffic simulation and modelling.
The Eclipse Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that acts as a steward of the Eclipse open source software development community.
Based on the cutting-edge Eclipse Simulation of Urban Mobility project that originated at the German Aerospace Center, the openMobility Working Group brings together researchers and industry to create a common simulation platform for urban areas in a shared collaboration, open source environment.
[Read more…] about Eclipse Foundation launches openMobility group to plan future of autonomous carsSwisslog, a warehouse automation company, has received a major order from Ikea Supply in Malaysia.
The contract is valued at approximately €43 million.
The project comprises of 215,000 pallet locations of clad-rack, 21 warehouse pallet stacker cranes Vectura, the pallet conveyor system ProMove, the electric Monorail System and the core of the system, the Swisslog software SynQ.
[Read more…] about Swisslog wins major order from Ikea in MalaysiaQueensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers will play a key part in developing smart logistics to link growers with their markets and high-tech methods of growing customised food, with the announcement of the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre.
The Future Food Systems CRC will involve more than 50 commercial and research partners, with the Federal Government injecting AUS$35 million in funding over 10 years along with almost AUS$150 million in support from the research centre’s educational and commercial participants.
QUT’s involvement in the CRC is spread across the centre’s three research and development programs of planning and logistics in linking growers to their markets, developing smart automated indoor cropping and creating nutrient-dense foods and hybrid food and medical goods tailored to growing domestic and export markets.
[Read more…] about Australian university focuses on future food systems
The boss of Kuka has welcomed the takeover bid by Chinese company Midea, according to the Reuters news agency.
Dr Till Reuter, chief executive of Kuka, is said to have made the comments at a shareholders’ meeting today.
Speaking of the proposal by Midea, Dr Reuter says: “The bid, as it has been announced, can support our strategy.” [Read more…] about Kuka takeover bid welcomed by Reuter, according to Reuters
