Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

electric

Electric ATVs vs. UTVs for Worksites: Which Vehicle is More Efficient?

by

Choosing the right vehicle for worksite tasks is crucial for maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.

Electric All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) are popular choices, each offering distinct advantages depending on the nature of the work.

This comparison aims to guide businesses in selecting the best vehicle for their specific needs by evaluating the efficiency of both options. [Read more…] about Electric ATVs vs. UTVs for Worksites: Which Vehicle is More Efficient?

SMD makes first sale of its compact electric remote underwater vehicle

by

Subsea technology company, SMD, has made the first sale of its compact workclass electric remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the Atom EV, to Greece’s Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the primary Greek public body undertaking marine research in the Eastern Mediterranean.

With a 4,000 m rated turnkey system, the vehicle represents the latest technological evolution in the e-ROV sphere and will unlock a host of capabilities for HCMR.

John McCann, discussing the milestone contract win, SMD’s business development manager says: “As part of a significant upgrade to its primary marine facilities, HCMR was seeking a sustainable and adaptable vehicle with which to conduct its operations.

[Read more…] about SMD makes first sale of its compact electric remote underwater vehicle

How Plasma Polishing is Revolutionizing the Future of Surface Finishing

by

Surface finishing is a crucial process in many industries, from medical to automotive, aimed at improving the functionality and aesthetics of a material’s surface.

Traditional methods like grinding and polishing have their limitations, especially when it comes to treating surfaces with high precision and without deformation.

Plasma polishing, an innovative technique, offers a solution to these challenges, delivering not only more precise results but also being more environmentally friendly. In this article, we explain how plasma polishing is revolutionizing the future of surface finishing.

[Read more…] about How Plasma Polishing is Revolutionizing the Future of Surface Finishing

On the road to decarbonization: The importance of the electric arc furnace route in steel production

by

The steel industry is facing an epochal challenge: decarbonization. With growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the need to mitigate climate change, steel manufacturers must find alternative ways to make their production more environmentally friendly.

In this context, the electric arc furnace route is becoming increasingly important and promises a more sustainable future for the steel industry.

Traditionally, steel has mainly been produced by the blast furnace route, which is based on smelting iron ore with coke. However, this process is extremely energy-intensive and results in significant CO2 emissions. In response, the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route has gained popularity in recent years.

[Read more…] about On the road to decarbonization: The importance of the electric arc furnace route in steel production

Kuka receives order for robotic work cells ‘in the double-digit million range’

by

Industrial automation specialist Kuka is supplying 23 friction stir welding cells with integrated robots for the production of electric vehicles for an automotive customer.

The industrial automation specialist say it is the largest single order for robotic work cells in this area to date.

The Friction Stir Welding (FSW) cells with various technologies and Kuka KR Fortec robots are integrated into production lines for electric vehicles.

[Read more…] about Kuka receives order for robotic work cells ‘in the double-digit million range’

ROCIN-ECO consortium takes ‘major step’ towards hands-free EV charging

by

Rocsys, a provider of hands-free charging solutions, together with partners Ionity, Audi, TÜV SÜD and affiliated partners Porsche, BMW, Ford, Marquardt, AVL, and Huber+Suhner, as part of the ROCIN-ECO consortium, has developed and demonstrated what they say is “the first interoperable automatic conductive charging solution for passenger electric vehicles”.

The solution both uses and contributes to international standards (ISO and IEC) for automatic charging.

The partners worked together to create an ecosystem where any car can charge automatically regardless of brand or type, and which Rocsys will adopt in early 2025. [Read more…] about ROCIN-ECO consortium takes ‘major step’ towards hands-free EV charging

Lincoln Electric acquires Inrotech

by

Lincoln Electric has acquired Inrotech. Headquartered in Odense, Denmark, Inrotech is a privately held automation system integration and technology firm specializing in automated welding systems.

Inrotech says its automated welding systems are differentiated by proprietary adaptive intelligence software and computer vision which guides and optimizes the welding process without the need for programming or the use of CAD files.

The vision-based technology has proven to be valuable in the shipbuilding, energy, and heavy industry sectors, where welding accessibility can be challenging for traditional automated systems, but precision and quality are mission critical. [Read more…] about Lincoln Electric acquires Inrotech

Advancements in Micro-mobility

by

Micro-mobility is a term used to describe the use of smaller vehicles, not cars, for personal transportation purposes.

These are compact, lightweight vehicles that generally travel at speeds of 20 miles per hour or less and accommodate only one person. Bikes, e-bikes, and electric scooters are all examples of micro-mobility.

Unlike traditional automobiles, they don’t consume fossil fuels to run and are more environmentally friendly. [Read more…] about Advancements in Micro-mobility

Mitsubishi Electric leads Series B investment in Realtime Robotics

by

Realtime Robotics, a provider of collision-free autonomous motion planning software for industrial robots, has secured a strategic investment from Mitsubishi Electric.

This is the lead investment in Realtime Robotics’ recently opened Series B round.

Mitsubishi Electric was also a participant in the Series A round, and will be adding a senior representative to Realtime’s board of directors. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric leads Series B investment in Realtime Robotics

Yaskawa Electric’s new robot with AI and autonomy uses Wind River Linux

by

Wind River, a provider of software for intelligent systems, says industrial robot-maker Yaskawa is using Wind River Linux for its next-generation Motoman Next series of robots.

Yaskawa is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of servo motor, AC drives, and industrial robots.

Motoman Next is capable of autonomous adaptivity to the environment and can make judgments with advanced AI capabilities. Yaskawa’s new robot is powered by Nvidia Jetson Orin and Wind River Linux to realize new levels of intelligence and autonomy. [Read more…] about Yaskawa Electric’s new robot with AI and autonomy uses Wind River Linux