Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

excavator

Autonomous excavator constructs 6-metre-high dry-stone wall

by

ETH Zurich researchers from Gramazio Kohler Research, the Robotics Systems Lab, Vision for Robotics Lab, and the Chair of Landscape Architecture deployed an autonomous excavator to build a 6-metre-high and 65-metre-long dry-stone wall.

The wall is embedded in a digitally planned and autonomously excavated landscape and park. The team developed this innovative design application as part of the National Centre of Competence in Research for Digital Fabrication (NCCR dfab). [Read more…] about Autonomous excavator constructs 6-metre-high dry-stone wall

Austrian start-up Sodex automates essential construction processes

by

Sodex Innovations has released a range of new technologies to automate the construction industry.

The company says that, through this system, the surveying, documentation and billing of each excavation will be largely automated.

Effort, time and costs are to be minimized for construction companies in the area of administration. And this with an assistance system mounted directly on the excavator. [Read more…] about Austrian start-up Sodex automates essential construction processes

Autonomous excavators ready for around the clock real-world application

by

Researchers from Baidu Research and the University of Maryland have developed a robotic excavator system that integrates perception, planning, and control capabilities to enable material loading over a long duration with no human intervention

Researchers from Baidu Research Robotics and Auto-Driving Lab (RAL) and the University of Maryland, College Park, have introduced an autonomous excavator system (AES) that can perform material loading tasks for a long duration without any human intervention while offering performance closely equivalent to that of an experienced human operator.

AES is among the world’s first uncrewed excavation systems to have been deployed in real-world scenarios and continuously operating for over 24 hours, bringing about industry-leading benefits in terms of enhanced safety and productivity.

The researchers described their methodology in a research paper published on June 30, 2021, in Science Robotics. [Read more…] about Autonomous excavators ready for around the clock real-world application

Komatsu integrates automated collision avoidance system as standard in its excavators

by

Komatsu has launched hydraulic excavators equipped with the in-house developed “KomVision Human Detection & Collision Mitigation System” as a standard feature.

The company, which also produces giant autonomous trucks for the mining industry, claims that the new collision avoidance systems is an industry first in the Japanese market.

Komatsu has developed this system by upgrading the “KomVision” bird’s eye view camera system equipped with conventional models as standard in the Japanese market. [Read more…] about Komatsu integrates automated collision avoidance system as standard in its excavators

Komatsu develops electric mini excavator

by

Komatsu Ltd has unveiled its electric mini excavator, based on its accumulated technological expertise of hybrid construction equipment and electric forklift trucks.

Equipped with an in-house developed new charger, high-voltage converter and other devices, it offers excavation performance on a par with the internal combustion model of the same power output, while achieving zero exhaust gas emissions and a dynamic reduction in noise levels.

Komatsu expects a wider range of applications for this machine, including construction work near hospitals or schools or in residential areas, where contractors pay special attention to exhaust gas and noise during work, as well as inside tunnels or buildings.

[Read more…] about Komatsu develops electric mini excavator