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factories

‘Connected, smart factories are crucial’ to automotive manufacturing in the future, says ABB

March 21, 2025 by David Edwards

ABB Robotics’ third Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey, in partnership with Automotive Manufacturing Solutions magazine, has highlighted how moving to the “smart factory” is viewed as a critical next step by global manufacturers and major suppliers.

A smart factory is generally understood to be a highly digitized and connected manufacturing facility that uses interconnected systems, machinery, and data to improve production processes and enable better decision-making, as well as greater flexibility or change of use to make different products.

Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics automotive business line, says: “Automotive manufacturers are acutely aware that advanced robotics, Artificial Intelligence and digital twinning technology are positive drivers of change. [Read more…] about ‘Connected, smart factories are crucial’ to automotive manufacturing in the future, says ABB

Filed Under: Manufacturing, News Tagged With: automotive, business, change, combustion, connected, electric, engine, factories, internal, smart, usage, vehicles

The three-computer solution: Powering the next wave of AI robotics

November 5, 2024 by Mark Allinson

By Madison Huang, director of product and technical marketing, Nvidia

Industrial, physical AI-based systems – from humanoids to factories – are being accelerated across training, simulation and inference.

ChatGPT marked the big bang moment of generative AI. Answers can be generated in response to nearly any query, helping transform digital work such as content creation, customer service, software development and business operations for knowledge workers.

Physical AI, the embodiment of artificial intelligence in humanoids, factories and other devices within industrial systems, has yet to experience its breakthrough moment.

This has held back industries such as transportation and mobility, manufacturing, logistics and robotics. But that’s about to change thanks to three computers bringing together advanced training, simulation and inference.

The rise of multimodal, physical AI

For 60 years, “Software 1.0” – serial code written by human programmers – ran on general-purpose computers powered by CPUs.

Then, in 2012, Alex Krizhevsky, mentored by Ilya Sutskever and Geoffrey Hinton, won the ImageNet computer image recognition competition with AlexNet, a revolutionary deep learning model for image classification.

This marked the industry’s first contact with AI. The breakthrough of machine learning – neural networks running on GPUs – jump-started the era of Software 2.0.

Today, software writes software. The world’s computing workloads are shifting from general-purpose computing on CPUs to accelerated computing on GPUs, leaving Moore’s law far behind.

With generative AI, multimodal transformer and diffusion models have been trained to generate responses.

Large language models are one-dimensional, able to predict the next token, in modes like letters or words. Image- and video-generation models are two-dimensional, able to predict the next pixel.

None of these models can understand or interpret the three-dimensional world. And that’s where physical AI comes in.

Physical AI models can perceive, understand, interact with and navigate the physical world with generative AI. With accelerated computing, multimodal physical AI breakthroughs and large-scale physically based simulations are allowing the world to realize the value of physical AI through robots.

A robot is a system that can perceive, reason, plan, act and learn. Robots are often thought of as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), manipulator arms or humanoids. But there are many more types of robotic embodiments.

In the near future, everything that moves, or that monitors things that move, will be autonomous robotic systems. These systems will be capable of sensing and responding to their environments.

Everything from surgical rooms to data centers, warehouses to factories, even traffic control systems or entire smart cities will transform from static, manually operated systems to autonomous, interactive systems embodied by physical AI.

The next frontier: Humanoids robots

Humanoid robots are an ideal general-purpose robotic manifestation because they can operate efficiently in environments built for humans, while requiring minimal adjustments for deployment and operation.

The global market for humanoid robots is expected to reach $38 billion by 2035, a more than sixfold increase from the roughly $6 billion for the period forecast nearly two years ago, according to Goldman Sachs.

Researchers and developers around the world are racing to build this next wave of robots.

Three computers to develop physical AI

To develop humanoid robots, three accelerated computer systems are required to handle physical AI and robot training, simulation and runtime. Two computing advancements are accelerating humanoid robot development: multimodal foundation models and scalable, physically based simulations of robots and their worlds.

Breakthroughs in generative AI are bringing 3D perception, control, skill planning and intelligence to robots. Robot simulation at scale lets developers refine, test and optimize robot skills in a virtual world that mimics the laws of physics – helping reduce real-world data acquisition costs and ensuring they can perform in safe, controlled settings.

Nvidia has built three computers and accelerated development platforms to enable developers to create physical AI.

First, models are trained on a supercomputer. Developers can use Nvidia NeMo on the Nvidia DGX platform to train and fine-tune powerful foundation and generative AI models.

They can also tap into Nvidia Project GR00T, an initiative to develop general-purpose foundation models for humanoid robots to enable them to understand natural language and emulate movements by observing human actions.

Second, Nvidia Omniverse, running on Nvidia OVX servers, provides the development platform and simulation environment for testing and optimizing physical AI with application programming interfaces and frameworks like Nvidia Isaac Sim.

Developers can use Isaac Sim to simulate and validate robot models, or generate massive amounts of physically-based synthetic data to bootstrap robot model training.

Researchers and developers can also use Nvidia Isaac Lab, an open-source robot learning framework that powers robot reinforcement learning and imitation learning, to help accelerate robot policy training and refinement.

Lastly, trained AI models are deployed to a runtime computer. Nvidia Jetson Thor robotics computers are specifically designed for compact, on-board computing needs.

An ensemble of models consisting of control policy, vision and language models composes the robot brain and is deployed on a power-efficient, on-board edge computing system.

Depending on their workflows and challenge areas, robot makers and foundation model developers can use as many of the accelerated computing platforms and systems as needed.

Building the next wave of autonomous facilities

Robotic facilities result from a culmination of all of these technologies.

Manufacturers like Foxconn or logistics companies like Amazon Robotics can orchestrate teams of autonomous robots to work alongside human workers and monitor factory operations through hundreds or thousands of sensors.

These autonomous warehouses, plants and factories will have digital twins. The digital twins are used for layout planning and optimization, operations simulation and, most importantly, robot fleet software-in-the-loop testing.

Built on Omniverse, “Mega” is a blueprint for factory digital twins that enables industrial enterprises to test and optimize their robot fleets in simulation before deploying them to physical factories. This helps ensure seamless integration, optimal performance and minimal disruption.

Mega lets developers populate their factory digital twins with virtual robots and their AI models, or the brains of the robots.

Robots in the digital twin execute tasks by perceiving their environment, reasoning, planning their next motion and, finally, completing planned actions.

These actions are simulated in the digital environment by the world simulator in Omniverse, and the results are perceived by the robot brains through Omniverse sensor simulation.

With sensor simulations, the robot brains decide the next action, and the loop continues, all while Mega meticulously tracks the state and position of every element within the factory digital twin.

This advanced software-in-the-loop testing methodology enables industrial enterprises to simulate and validate changes within the safe confines of the Omniverse digital twin, helping them anticipate and mitigate potential issues to reduce risk and costs during real-world deployment.

Empowering the developer ecosystem with Nvidia technology

Nvidia accelerates the work of the global ecosystem of robotics developers and robot foundation model builders with three computers.

Universal Robots, a Teradyne Robotics company, used Nvidia Isaac Manipulator, Isaac accelerated libraries and AI models, and Nvidia Jetson Orin to build UR AI Accelerator, a ready-to-use hardware and software toolkit that enables cobot developers to build applications, accelerate development and reduce the time to market of AI products.

RGo Robotics used Nvidia Isaac Perceptor to help its wheel.me AMRs work everywhere, all the time, and make intelligent decisions by giving them human-like perception and visual-spatial information.

Humanoid robot makers including 1X Technologies, Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Fourier, Galbot, Mentee, Sanctuary AI, Unitree Robotics and XPENG Robotics are adopting Nvidia’s robotics development platform.

Boston Dynamics is using Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab to build quadrupeds and humanoid robots to augment human productivity, tackle labor shortages and prioritize safety in warehouses.

Fourier is tapping into Isaac Sim to train humanoid robots to operate in fields that demand high levels of interaction and adaptability, such as scientific research, healthcare and manufacturing.

Using Isaac Lab and Isaac Sim, Galbot advanced the development of a large-scale robotic dexterous grasp dataset called DexGraspNet that can be applied to different dexterous robotic hands, as well as a simulation environment for evaluating dexterous grasping models.

Field AI developed risk-bounded multitask and multipurpose foundation models for robots to safely operate in outdoor field environments, using the Isaac platform and Isaac Lab.

The era of physical AI is here – and it’s transforming the world’s heavy industries and robotics.

Filed Under: Computing, Features Tagged With: ai, autonomous, digital, facilities, factories, humanoid, nvidia, omniverse, robotics, robots, solution, three-computer, twin

ZF opens new factories in India and the USA

February 15, 2024 by David Edwards

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division is leveraging global growth opportunities brought by increasing trends towards decarbonizing commercial vehicles.

Yesterday, the division opened a plant in Oragadam, India (Tamil Nadu Province), where electric components will also be produced for the Indian and Asian markets.

A week earlier, ZF’s US plant in Gray Court started local production of the efficient and hybrid-capable PowerLine transmission for light commercial vehicles for the North American market. With both locations, the CVS division is continuing its global growth and sustainability strategy. [Read more…] about ZF opens new factories in India and the USA

Filed Under: Infrastructure, News Tagged With: commercial, division, factories, india, plants, usa, vehicles, zf

Nvidia partners with Foxconn to build factories and systems

October 20, 2023 by David Edwards

Nvidia says it is collaborating with Hon Hai Technology Group – more popularly known as Foxconn – to accelerate the AI industrial revolution.

Foxconn will integrate Nvidia technology to develop a new class of data centers powering a wide range of applications – including digitalization of manufacturing and inspection workflows, development of AI-powered electric vehicle and robotics platforms, and a growing number of language-based generative AI services.

Announced during a “fireside chat” between Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang and Foxconn chairman and CEO Young Liu at Hon Hai Tech Day, in Taipei, Taiwan, the collaboration starts with the creation of AI factories – an Nvidia GPU computing infrastructure specially built for processing, refining and transforming vast amounts of data into valuable AI models and tokens – based on the Nvidia accelerated computing platform, including the latest Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip and Nvidia AI Enterprise software. [Read more…] about Nvidia partners with Foxconn to build factories and systems

Filed Under: Features, Industry Tagged With: ai, build, data, factories, foxconn, nvidia, partnership, systems

Kivnon to launch new version of its forklift AGV at Advanced Factories Expo

March 29, 2023 by Mark Allinson

Kivnon will launch one of the latest additions to its AGV portfolio, the K55 Pallet Stacker, at this year’s Advanced Factories Expo, which runs from 18-20th April in Barcelona. 

Kivon’s range of AGVs is renowned for robustness, safety, and accuracy, and this new addition to the portfolio provides customers with a vehicle that can automatically transport stack pallets.

Thierry Delmas, managing director at Kivnon, says: “The K55 is an ideal solution for end-of-line palletizing, food and beverage, and retail applications. It is designed to ensure efficiency, reliability, and complete safety.” [Read more…] about Kivnon to launch new version of its forklift AGV at Advanced Factories Expo

Filed Under: Logistics, News Tagged With: advanced, agv, agvs, automatically, customers, delmas, design, ensure, expo, factories, forklift, kivnon, launch, meet, pallet, portfolio, range, safety, solution, stacker, transport, vehicle

Intel to invest $20 billion in building two new chip factories in Ohio

February 16, 2023 by Mark Allinson

Intel has announced plans for an initial investment of more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories in Licking County, Ohio.

The investment will help boost production to meet the surging demand for advanced semiconductors, powering a new generation of innovative products from Intel and serving the needs of foundry customers as part of Intel’s IDM 2.0 strategy.

As the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history, the initial phase of the project is expected to create 3,000 Intel jobs, 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build, and support tens of thousands of additional local long-term jobs across a broad ecosystem of suppliers and partners. [Read more…] about Intel to invest $20 billion in building two new chip factories in Ohio

Filed Under: Infrastructure, News Tagged With: additional, biden, billion, build, capacity, chip, construction, demand, esfarjani, factories, future, initial, intel, investment, jobs, ohio, president, semiconductor, support

Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

February 7, 2023 by David Edwards

Apptronik, a maker of general-purpose robots, exoskeletons and humanoids, has received an equity investment from Terex Corporation and has reached an agreement with Terex to co-develop “first-of-a-kind robots” to work alongside workers to support safety, productivity, and efficiency of industries that power the economy and are essential to building infrastructure.

Robots have long held the promise of solving labor shortages and productivity issues, but until recently have been limited to performing repetitive tasks within structured environments such as warehouses or factories.

While robots have proven useful at completing dull and repetitive tasks in controlled environments, they have not been leveraged for more complex tasks in unstructured environments. [Read more…] about Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

Filed Under: Humanoids, News Tagged With: agreement, apptronik, ceo, commercial, complex, enable, environments, factories, industries, leveraged, logistics, nasa, productivity, robotics, robots, tasks, terex, unstructured, warehouses, work

2023 Predictions & Forecasts: The future is bright machines

January 22, 2023 by Mark Allinson

Two senior executives from Bright Machines, a manufacturing automation company, give Robotics and Automation News their thoughts and forecasts for the year ahead.

The predictions offer insight on manufacturing trends, supply chain evolution, the future of automation, and more. [Read more…] about 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: The future is bright machines

Filed Under: Features, Manufacturing Tagged With: automation, better, bright, chain, distributed, factories, flexibility, future, innovation, intelligent, labor, machines, mitigate, offer, predictions, production, products, reshoring, speed, supply, technology

Formic launches industry’s ‘first turnkey palletizer’

October 27, 2022 by Mark Allinson

Formic, a provider of robotic technologies on a pay-as-you-go basis, has released its SL20 Palletizer – the inaugural product in a new catalog of certified, off-the-shelf, robotics-as-a-service solutions available at a “low cost per hour”.

Built by Sourcelink Solutions, Formic says its new offering further underlines its “commitment to removing the barriers to automation” so that small to mid-sized businesses can onboard the technology and thrive amid today’s challenges.

Buying a robot is largely untenable for the majority of manufacturers due to the risk, complexity, upfront capital, and expertise required. [Read more…] about Formic launches industry’s ‘first turnkey palletizer’

Filed Under: Design, News Tagged With: automation, business, businesses, customers, factories, formic, labor, losing, manufacturing, market, model, month, palletizer, pay-for-productivity, processes, proven, robot, sl, solutions, staff, system, upfront

IndustrialML and one to ONE Holdings expand partnership to serve galvanized steel tube market

April 23, 2022 by David Edwards

IndustrialML, an enterprise software company serving industrial customers, is expanding its partnership with one to ONE Holdings (o2Oh) to develop and bring real-time smart factory solutions to the galvanized steel tubing market around the world.

IndustrialML has a diverse team of experts in manufacturing, enterprise software, and data analysis dedicated to helping the underserved majority of manufacturers – the 99 percent of companies looking to help their employees make and communicate decisions more quickly and effectively.

Nearly all manufacturers are trying not to build new, fully automated factories that stop relying on human intuition; rather, they want to help employees make smarter decisions, both about setting up their production lines and responding to production issues, even as more and more tenured factory workers begin to retire. [Read more…] about IndustrialML and one to ONE Holdings expand partnership to serve galvanized steel tube market

Filed Under: News, Software Tagged With: companies, data, factories, factory, galvanized, holdings, industrialml, industry, manufacturers, manufacturing, market, partnership, platform, production, steel, technologies, tube

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