Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

gas

ANYbotics unveils new four-legged robot for oil rig inspection

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ANYbotics, a Swiss robotics company, has introduced ANYmal X, describing it as “the world’s first Ex-proof legged robot”.

ANYmal X now makes it possible for the oil and gas and chemical industries to automate routine inspections, thereby increasing safety and operational effectiveness, says the company.

ANYmal X extends the leading mobility, autonomy, and inspection intelligence of ANYbotics’ robotic inspection solution. It is specifically designed and certified for safe usage in hazardous and potentially explosive environments – a game changer for the industry. [Read more…] about ANYbotics unveils new four-legged robot for oil rig inspection

Ethereum co-founder wants a more varied fee structure

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Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain, talked about gas fees and how to reduce them. Buterin informed the public about the possibility of the latest system having the ability to balance the issues people have with the current state of the gas charges that ETH buyers constantly complain about.

Ethereum fees have been a burning topic of discussion recently. It first boomed in 2021 with people complaining about the immensely high gas fees when Ethereum gas costs were at their acme.

Since then, it has reduced, but the fee is still pretty high on several trading websites like redot.com/eth2 and this remains a quandary for Buterin to solve. On a blog, Buterin did talk about gas fee reduction as well as scalability. [Read more…] about Ethereum co-founder wants a more varied fee structure

Welding and automation integration company Central McGowan completes its third acquisition of the year

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Central McGowan, a supplier of gases and technology for manufacturing the upper Midwest and a Fanuc- and Lincoln-authorized integrator, has completed the acquisition of Preferred Welder Sales in Mankato, Minnesota – bringing its acquisition roster for 2021 to three. 

The company acquired Metro Welding Supply in Minneapolis, Minnesota. in April and Fessler Carbonic Gas in Des Moines, Iowa in March.

According to Joe Francis, president/CEO, these acquisitions complement Central McGowan’s current business while strengthening its presence in key market areas. All three of these companies were independently operated, highly successful businesses with owners seeking to retire and wanting a way to continue what they each started. [Read more…] about Welding and automation integration company Central McGowan completes its third acquisition of the year

Seeq names Petter Mörée as managing director of EMEA and introduces industry principals group

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Seeq Corporation, a provider of advanced analytics software for manufacturing and industrial internet of things, has appointed Petter Mörée as managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Seeq also announced a new group of industry principals.

Lisa Graham, chief operating officer at Seeq, says: 

“Petter brings a deep understanding of the process industries to our team, along with an impressive career scaling global customer bases across the pharmaceutical and bioprocess verticals.

“We’re thrilled to have him join the Seeq team and we’re confident he will help us expand our strong position in Europe and beyond.”

 [Read more…] about Seeq names Petter Mörée as managing director of EMEA and introduces industry principals group

FPT Industrial uses Sherpa autonomous mobile robots to increase production

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Powerful performance, advanced technology, real sustainability. And now, also a landmark target achieved. FPT Industrial announces the production of the 10,000th Cursor 13 NG engine, rolling off the line of its plant in Bourbon-Lancy (France) on March 9th.

First unveiled in Turin (Italy) in October 2017 during the FPT Tech Day, the Cursor 13 Natural Gas engine, in little more than three years, has won the hearts and the profit-oriented minds of even the most natural gas-skeptical transport professionals, reaching an ever increasing popularity and record sales.

Currently the most powerful 100 percent Natural Gas engine available in the on-road segment and the first purely NG engine specially developed for long-haul missions, the Cursor 13 NG is produced at Bourbon-Lancy, the FPT Industrial plant located in the Burgundy region of France. [Read more…] about FPT Industrial uses Sherpa autonomous mobile robots to increase production

Gas Turbine and Energy Production: How Sensing Technology Works

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Why Natural Gas Is A Key Contributor to the Energy Industry


Natural gas has a number of benefits over alternative sources of power. Nuclear power is carbon-free, but it is incredibly expensive due to engineering controls in place to ensure its safety. The United States is a domestic producer of natural gas, whereas oil often comes from countries that hate us.

That natural gas is relatively cheap is a side benefit. Natural gas use produces less greenhouse gas than coal or oil, explaining why a number of oil and coal plants have been converted to natural gas. While wind and solar power is being built at a rapid pace, it is unreliable due to weather.

Furthermore, wind and solar tend to be at their low point when power demand is highest, whether it is a freezing winter night or late on a summer evening. The solution is building more natural gas power plants to meet consumer needs, even when it is a backup for renewable energy. [Read more…] about Gas Turbine and Energy Production: How Sensing Technology Works

Explosion-proof ANYmal canine robots inspecting Petronas’ offshore platform

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Petronas, a global energy and solutions company from Malaysia, is testing the ANYmal four-legged dog-like robot from ANYbotics for autonomous robotic inspection on its oil and gas platforms. (See video below.)

They recently conducted a successful multi-week installation with the robot ANYmal C on one of their offshore facilities. For commercial use in 2022, ANYbotics and Petronas are co-developing a specialized version of ANYmal for potentially explosive environments.

Petronas relies on robotics to enable unmanned industrial inspections in its production operations. Its long-term partnership with ANYbotics focuses on bringing robotic routine inspection to offshore and onshore facilities targeting the commercial use of the ANYmal canine robot in potentially explosive environments by 2022. [Read more…] about Explosion-proof ANYmal canine robots inspecting Petronas’ offshore platform

Robotic MIG vs TIG Welding: Picking the Right Option

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Being able to pinpoint the right type of welding for your specific robotic welding application is a crucial decision.

The truth is, not all robotic welding types are equal even though they produce outcomes that are similar.

Two types that are most common of this type of welding are metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG). [Read more…] about Robotic MIG vs TIG Welding: Picking the Right Option

ExRobotics and Yokogawa to develop robotics for inspection of hazardous environments

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ExRobotics and Yokogawa Electric have signed a licensing agreement that will enable Yokogawa to sell and deploy ExRobotics’ inspection robot hardware and software platforms worldwide.

ExRobotics is a Netherlands-based developer of robotics technology for hazardous environments, and Yokogawa Electric Corporation is a global provider of industrial automation, control, and measurement technology.

ExRobotics was established in 2017 to commercialise robotics technology for use in the potentially explosive atmospheres found at oil and gas production and processing facilities, which are often in remote locations with harsh environments. [Read more…] about ExRobotics and Yokogawa to develop robotics for inspection of hazardous environments

Kia car to feature ‘first’ CVVD engine technology

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Hyundai Motor Group, Kia Motors‘ parent company, has developed the world’s first Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology to feature in future Kia vehicles.

The innovation was revealed at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang alongside the Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi, the first engine to feature the technology.

CVVD is claimed to optimise both engine performance and fuel efficiency while also being eco-friendly.

[Read more…] about Kia car to feature ‘first’ CVVD engine technology