environmental

How the Energy Industry Can Help Us Towards a Greener Future

Generating energy is vitally important to our survival as a species, but it is also one of the biggest contributors to our carbon footprint.

Fortunately, the industry is starting to wake up to these challenges and has a potentially huge role to play in securing our environmental future.

Renewable Sources of Energy

One of the most important steps that the energy sector is taking to reduce its environmental impact is the transition towards renewable sources of energy. [Read more…] about How the Energy Industry Can Help Us Towards a Greener Future

New solder paste enables further miniaturisation in automotive electronics

For the production of miniaturised electrical systems, such as those used in the automotive industry, solder material must meet extremely high requirements.

In response, Heraeus Electronics has developed its new solder paste Microbond SMT650, which it says guarantees consistently high surface resistance.

The combination of the new F650 flux system with the Innolot metal alloy increases reliability and prevents electrochemical migration even under the most extreme environmental conditions.

[Read more…]

World Economic Forum selects robotics and automation companies in its ‘Technology Pioneers 2017’ list

The World Economic Forum, the global nonprofit foundation whose annual meeting in Davos is attended by global leaders from business and politics, has published a list of companies which it considers to be the most pioneering in the field of technology.

In publishing its Technology Pioneers 2017 list, WEF has chosen 30 different companies to highlight from a variety of industries including biotechnology, agriculture, energy, transport, as well as a number of companies from the robotics and automation sector.

One of them is Horizon Robotics, a Chinese company which develops computer infrastructure to enable artificial intelligence computing and real-time decision-making, mainly aimed at enhancing self-driving vehicle safety. [Read more…] about World Economic Forum selects robotics and automation companies in its ‘Technology Pioneers 2017’ list

Worldwide sales of Toyota hybrids surpass 10 million units

In the footsteps of the iconic Prius that started it all, Toyota now sells 34 different hybrid models in more than 90 countries and regions across the globe

Toyota says it has reached cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales of 10.05 million units as of January 31, surpassing the 10 million unit mark.

More than a numerical milestone, Toyota says this demonstrates the staying power of a technology that is now emerging as a mainstream solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

Helping to mitigate the environmental effects of automobiles has long been a priority for Toyota, claims the company in a statement. [Read more…] about Worldwide sales of Toyota hybrids surpass 10 million units

Market for agricultural robots and drones to grow to $10 billion, says report

The market for robots and drones in the agricultural sector is predicted to grow to $10 billion by 2022, according to a new study.

The report by IDTechEx Research, Agricultural Robots and Drones 2016-2026: Technologies, Markets and Players, says there is already a $3 billion market in 2016, and will rise to $10 billion by 2022.

Some of the promising technologies that are available to help farmers increase yield without negative environmental factors, are to be discussed at a NIAB and Agri-Tech East event – Innovations for Sustainable Intensification, on 14 September in Cambridge, UK. [Read more…] about Market for agricultural robots and drones to grow to $10 billion, says report

Harvest Automation sells robotic warehouse business to focus on agriculture

Harvest Automation has sold its robotic warehouse automation technology and business to focus on robotic material handling in a variety of agriculture markets.

Harvest developed what it says are “groundbreaking robotic systems” for e-commerce order fulfillment over the last year and a half.

The company had completed a small fleet of robots that demonstrated a three-fold increase in order picking efficiency. [Read more…] about Harvest Automation sells robotic warehouse business to focus on agriculture

DoE awards Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute $3m to train students in nuclear clean-up operations

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, DoE deputy secretary, seen here with Nathan Michael, CMU assistant research professor of robotics

The US Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management has selected Carnegie Mellon University to provide specialized training for graduate students in robotics to support environmental remediation of nuclear sites.

Deputy DoE Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall announced the selection during an appearance at Carnegie Mellon recently.

The five-year agreement for the Robotics Traineeship program is valued at up to $3 million and will provide full or partial support for as many as 20 PhD and master’s degree students in robotics, said Martial Hebert, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute. [Read more…] about DoE awards Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute $3m to train students in nuclear clean-up operations