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AutoFlight achieves ‘world’s longest eVTOL flight’

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AutoFlight, the global eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) pioneer, says it has achieved “the world’s longest eVTOL flight in history” with distance of 250 km / 155 miles on a single charge of the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries.

The flight, which took place at AutoFlight’s eVTOL testing facility on February 23th, consisted of 20 circuits on a predefined flight track, with the plane remotely piloted from the ground by AutoFlight’s Flight Test team.

Interestingly, while AutoFlight’s Gen4 aircraft is fitted with the latest in state-of-the-art avionics, the aircraft also ran third-party avionics to record and verify the distance flown on ForeFlight, an independent system widely used in the aviation sector. [Read more…] about AutoFlight achieves ‘world’s longest eVTOL flight’

Growth in electric vehicle manufacturing drives industrial robot sales to record highs in North America

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Data released by the Association for Advancing Automation show that 44,196 robots were ordered in 2022, up 11 percent over 2021. The record results are credited to a resurgence in sales to automotive companies looking to boost electric vehicle production.

Driven by the resurgence in robot orders from automotive companies, the North American robotics market set all-time records in both robots sold and value in 2022.

According to the report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North American companies ordered 44,196 robots valued at $2.38 billion last year, representing increases of 11 percent and 18 percent, respectively, over 2021, the previous record. [Read more…] about Growth in electric vehicle manufacturing drives industrial robot sales to record highs in North America

Tesla releases stunning videos showing car production facility

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Tesla, the electric car maker, has released a number of visually stunning videos showing its car production line in Berlin, Germany.

The facility is Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg and some of the robots used include its so-called “Godzilla” robot and “Giga Berlin”.

Tesla has made a number of videos available to view on Twitter, and most of them seem to use drone footage quite liberally, making for some amazing shots travelling through the factory. [Read more…] about Tesla releases stunning videos showing car production facility

ABD partners with Jevons Robotics to further automate industrial vehicles

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ABD Solutions has signed an agreement with Jevons Robotics to integrate Indigo Drive – a full stack system of autonomy and communications – with Jevons Robotics’ suite of automation-enabled industrial electric vehicles.

These vehicles will be operated automatically and supervised from a central control room improving safety and streamlining the mining process, both operationally and financially.

Todd Peate, CEO of Jevons Robotics, says: “We are delighted to announce a long-term partnership with ABD Solutions, a globally regarded automation company with substantial experience working with autonomous mining solution providers. [Read more…] about ABD partners with Jevons Robotics to further automate industrial vehicles

Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

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RTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of Raytheon Technologies, has made a minority investment in electric propulsion system company H55 to drive the development of electric aviation solutions.

The investment in H55 aligns with Raytheon Technologies’ longstanding leadership in the development of innovative and sustainable propulsion technologies.

H55, a Swiss company, is a leading enabler of electric propulsion solutions and battery systems. The team has proven ability in developing, integrating and flight-testing electric propulsion systems, including Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered electric airplane to fly around the world. [Read more…] about Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

Mitsubishi Electric to invest $223 million to build new factory in India

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Mitsubishi Electric says it will invest approximately 26.7 billion yen (about $222.5 million), in its subsidiary company Mitsubishi Electric India to establish a factory for the production of room air conditioners and compressors in India.

Local production, targeted to start in October 2025, is expected to help the company meet growing demand in the Indian market. Initial annual capacity will total 300,000 room air conditioner outdoor units and, beginning in December 2025, 650,000 compressors.

The demand to replace older air conditioning and refrigeration systems with newer models is expected to continue growing as consumers and companies shift to energy-saving and low-GWP refrigerants. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to invest $223 million to build new factory in India

Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

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Nidec Leroy-Somer has signed an agreement with Airbus, the worlds largest airplane manufacturer, to develop an electric motor for its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine prototype, as part of Airbus’ ambition to bring the first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

The long-standing expertise and extensive know-how of the French electric motor manufacturer, who already provides proven advanced technologies to many demanding industries, such as navy, nuclear, railway, automotive and robotics is now collaborating on aviation decarbonization.

Leroy-Somer, part of the Japanese Nidec Group since 2017, is entrusted to design and develop a series of electric motor prototypes which meet very high requirements in terms of safety, reliability, energy-efficiency and lowest weight for the targeted power. [Read more…] about Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

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BMW Group Plant Leipzig’s first cell coating line has gone into series operation as e-component production at the site continues to gain momentum.

By 2024 the two existing module assembly lines will be complemented by a third, as well as four more cell coating lines and two more high-voltage battery assembly lines. The four coating lines will enter series operation during the course of this year at roughly two-month intervals.

Markus Fallböhmer, head of battery production at the BMW Group, says: “From 2024 our plant here in Leipzig will be able to run the entire process chain for high-voltage battery production. [Read more…] about BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation has released its MELSOFT Gemini 3D Simulator Software to allow users to expedite the design and construction of manufacturing projects as they introduce new automation components to their facility.

By connecting to a variety of software and factory devices, Gemini provides visualization, simulation, and the streamlining of work processes.

Gemini operates using a PC-based 3D digital space and connects directly to factory devices without having to go through an OPC server. This enables 3D data to be updated in digital spaces approximately 12 times faster than OPC environments. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software

5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Tesla this 2023

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By Cooper Haywood, WallStreetZen.com

Tesla, Inc. is a company that is at the forefront of the integration of robotics and automation in the automotive industry.

Founded in 2003 by a group of engineers who wanted to prove that electric cars could be better than gasoline-powered cars, Tesla has become a leader in developing and implementing advanced technologies in electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving.

In recent years, Tesla has made significant strides in the EV market, revolutionizing the way we think about transportation and energy. [Read more…] about 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Tesla this 2023