Robotics & Automation News

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Software-based PLCs pose challenge to traditional hardware infrastructure

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By Sharmila Annaswamy, IoT Analytics

Software is increasingly replacing hardware in industrial environments. Software-based programmable logic controllers (Soft PLCs) today are reliable, powerful and flexible.

Soft PLC adoption is expected to double between 2019 and 2025, posing an “innovator’s dilemma” for incumbent industrial automation vendors.

Actions taken by incumbents will prevent significant disruption in the near-term, but the long-term threat of soft PLCs will remain. [Read more…] about Software-based PLCs pose challenge to traditional hardware infrastructure

Audi turns to augmented reality for logistics planning

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Audi is turning to augmented reality to plan complex logistics processes: Virtual presentation of three dimensional holograms that are shown in their actual environment helps planners to better evaluate the future situation.

Because of this, prototypes of containers or equipment, and so on, which are elaborate to produce, are no longer necessary. Audi uses the new generation of Microsoft’s “HoloLens 2” device for this.

The “LayAR” system (short for “layout” and “augmented reality”) supports Audi logistics planners when setting up new logistics structures in an existing production hall. [Read more…] about Audi turns to augmented reality for logistics planning

Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

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Volansi, a drone company specializing in medical logistics, has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceuticals and biotech giant Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, Volansi is piloting the delivery of cold-chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about drone technology’s role and ability to improve access to healthcare.

With 1.4 million people across 29 counties, eastern North Carolina’s vast, rural environment can create challenges for accessing care. Initial flights in the project resulted in the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the US. [Read more…] about Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

Circle K to build fully automated store in partnership with Standard Cognition

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Circle K, a large grocery chain in America, is to build a cashierless store in partnership with Standard Cognition.

Alimentation Couche-Tard, which operates close to 14,500 convenience stores worldwide, including the Circle K chain, has selected Standard Cognition to pilot touchless, autonomous checkout technology for its stores.

Together, the two companies will launch what they claim will be the world’s first convenience store retrofitted with artificial intelligence technology, located in the Phoenix, Arizona area, with other stores to follow. [Read more…] about Circle K to build fully automated store in partnership with Standard Cognition

Kuka gains three new orders for assembly line conversions

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Kuka Systems has won three new orders for assembly line conversions.

The automation specialist says that converting existing assembly lines is “time-critical and requires significant experience in systems engineering”.

Within the scope of two new orders, Kuka says it is leveraging its “comprehensive expertise to provide support in the quick and efficient conversion of plants”. [Read more…] about Kuka gains three new orders for assembly line conversions

GÖPEL improves quality control in automotive manufacturing with Universal Robots

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Using the UR10e, the company says it has eliminated the tedious and physically taxing tests manually conducted by employees

Universal Robots says GÖPEL electronic, a manufacturer of testing and inspection systems for electronic assemblies and printed circuit boards, has developed a revolutionary, automated quality control system for its automotive customers using its UR10e cobot.

According to Thomas Schöppe, senior team manager at GÖPEL electronic, the cobot replaces the company’s manual and cumbersome end of line seating test system. He says: “Previously, our employees have to simulate the vehicle-driver interaction.

For example, pressing the seat’s buttons and switches to measure the voltage or current. This process could often result in production errors which proved costly further down the manufacturing line. [Read more…] about GÖPEL improves quality control in automotive manufacturing with Universal Robots

NextShift Robotics develops interface connection to SVT Robotics software platform

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NextShift Robotics has developed a new interface connection with SVT Robotics, provider of a universal software platform that minimizes the labor and expense involved in integrating robotic solutions with business systems.

For NextShift, SVT Robotics software creates universal connectivity to major warehouse management systems. It provides a pre-built integration bridge between businesses of all sizes and NextShift’s autonomous mobile robots.

SVT is said to be “the fastest, simplest way to connect any company to any robot”, and its technology cuts down barriers to adoption by easily linking NextShift’s advanced autonomous mobile robot workflow software with the existing WMS and other systems installed at distribution, manufacturing and fulfillment centers. [Read more…] about NextShift Robotics develops interface connection to SVT Robotics software platform

Waypoint Robotics moves to larger facility to ‘meet growing demand’ for its warehouse robots

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Waypoint Robotics has moved to a larger facility to meet what it says “growing demand” for its autonomous mobile robots. Among the products the company supplies is the MAV3K, an AMR with the capacity to lift 3000 lb.

The new, larger manufacturing facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. The new location features expanded space for production, design, engineering, quality control, and robot testing.

Jason Walker, CEO and co-founder of Waypoint, says: “The response for our Vector and MAV3K AMRs has been strong and we quickly outgrew our Merrimack, New Hampshire location. We need space to ramp up production as customers transition from pilot programs into scaling their robot fleets. [Read more…] about Waypoint Robotics moves to larger facility to ‘meet growing demand’ for its warehouse robots

Wynright aims to double sales after opening new $26 million manufacturing facility

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Wynright, a wholly-owned subsidiary of material handling giant Daifuku, says it aims to double sales after it opens its new $26 million manufacturing facility at the end of this year.

Wynright plans to expand its North American US manufacturing capabilities in the Greater Chicago area. The company will consolidate its existing factories in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and Oak Lawn, Illinois into a new, larger facility in Hobart, Indiana, in phases, by the end of December 2019.

In line with the completion of the new factory, the existing factories in Elk Grove and Oak Lawn in Illinois will close. Daifuku Wynright has offered all employees at both sites the opportunity to continue with the company at the new facility. More than 80 percent of current employees have confirmed their intention to do so. [Read more…] about Wynright aims to double sales after opening new $26 million manufacturing facility

Velo3D ships seventh Sapphire printer to aerospace production customer

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Velo3D, a manufacturer of metal additive manufacturing systems or 3D printers, has delivered its seventh Sapphire printer to its largest production customer, which has already ordered a total of 12 systems in the past year.

All previously installed systems are in full production creating mission-critical parts for aerospace applications. The balance of the systems will ship before the end of Q1 2020.

The combination of 12 systems and their productivity makes this one of the largest concentrations of metal additive-manufacturing capacity in the world. [Read more…] about Velo3D ships seventh Sapphire printer to aerospace production customer

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