Where Innovation Meets Imagination
A shortage of living space, rising prices and a lack of skilled workers are among the major challenges facing society.
Automated modular house con-struction offers a solution here, according to industrial robotics and automation giant Kuka.
During a visit to Kuka’s advanced facility, Klara Geywitz, the German Federal Minister for Building, was presented with more information about the innovative new concept.
[Read more…] about Kuka advising German government on automated constructionABB Robotics is collaborating with UK-based tech start-up Automated Architecture, or AUAR, to advance the use of robotic micro-factories to build affordable, sustainable low energy timber homes.
AUAR’s transformative approach to integrating robotic automation into the building process will tackle skills shortages, boost sustainability, and improve health and safety by deploying robots in a global network of local micro-factories.
These micro-factories will construct energy-efficient, affordable buildings from sheet timber. AUAR reports today that it has completed a £2.6 million seed round led by deep-tech and AI fund Miles Ahead, alongside ABB Robotics & Automation Ventures and several other investors. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics teams with innovative tech start-up to deliver sustainable and affordable housing
With pressure mounting for cities to address affordable housing needs, decarbonize buildings, and meet sustainability goals, housing technology company Intelligent City raised CAD 22 million ($17 million), bringing the total capital invested in the company to CAD 30 million ($23 million).
As one of the first companies in North America to apply automation and robotics to the design and manufacturing of prefabricated mass timber buildings, Intelligent City will use the funding to scale operations, commercialize its Platforms for Life (P4L) building solution, grow factory automation, and expand its footprint across and beyond Canada.
Earlier this year, the company completed testing of its building systems and is now verified to work within the new mass timber high-rise building codes in Canada and the US. [Read more…] about Intelligent City raises $30 million to bring robotics and automation to prefabricated construction sector
Plant Prefab, which says it is the first Certified B Corporation building technology company dedicated to sustainable design, materials, and operations, has signed a long-term lease to open America’s “first automated factory devoted to efficiently and sustainably building multifamily developments and custom single-family homes”.
The new 270,000-square-foot facility will be situated on 17 acres in the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center 25 miles south of Bakersfield, California, and will serve as Plant Prefab’s third factory.
Slated to break ground in January 2022, the facility will be purpose-built to efficiently manufacture custom-prefabricated panelized and modular building components. [Read more…] about Prefabricated construction startup to establish $30 million automated factory to build sustainable homes
From precise monitoring to picking and automation, there are countless applications that benefit from reliable image information. However, what can be done when there is only a tight budget for the realisation of such an application?
With the introduction of uEye XCP, uEye XLE and Ensenso S, camera specialist IDS proves that industrial-grade image processing technology does not have to be expensive.
For users who need a camera for particularly fast data transfer and also require high-resolution sensors, there will be the uEye Warp10 in future. The company also has big plans for IDS NXT. [Read more…] about IDS unveils the smallest housed camera with C-mount over 10GigE to AI
New entry-level 3D camera: The ultra-compact Ensenso S10 is universally applicable and cost-effective
Industrial camera manufacturer IDS Imaging Development Systems has introduced the Ensenso S, saying the new device shows that the use of industrial-grade 3D technology does not have to be expensive.
The 3D camera is particularly suitable for 3D applications that require budget-friendly, easy-to-integrate and industrial-grade camera technology.
The new Ensenso S10 has an ultra-compact, IP65/67-protected housing and generates 3D data using laser point triangulation, supported by artificial intelligence. This makes the camera suitable for a wide range of applications – and delivers robust 3D information even in low ambient light. [Read more…] about IDS expands Ensenso 3D camera portfolio in the lower price segment
Industrial automation company B&R, a subsidiary of ABB, is adding a new high-end computer to its mobile automation portfolio.
The company says the new computer offers significantly more processing power and memory, giving it plenty of resources to implement autonomous functions for agricultural and construction vehicles or self-driving transport systems.
The computer is specially designed to perform in harsh environments. The housing temperature can be between -40°C and +85°C. The computer is also highly resistant to shock and vibration. [Read more…] about B&R unveils ‘high-end’ computer for autonomous agricultural and construction vehicles
Encoder delivers hygienic, long-lasting reliability in demanding food and beverage environments, says SICK
Developed for long-lasting reliability despite frequent high-pressure chemical washdowns in demanding food and beverage applications, SICK’s DBS60I-W is the first IP69K incremental encoder with added ingress protection thanks to a new, patented deflector shield, according to the company.
The SICK DBS60I-W washdown encoder delivers all the high-resolution performance of SICK’s popular DBS60 incremental encoder but in a robust IP69K-rated, 316L (V4A) stainless steel housing.
The specially developed deflector shield is designed to protect the shaft seal from ingress of water and caustic chemicals during high-pressure washdown. As a result, the washdown encoder promises a long product life, protecting machine reliability and availability on food processing, bottling, and packaging lines. [Read more…] about SICK develops first IP69K incremental encoder with added ingress protection
Mighty Buildings, a startup providing automated solutions for modern home building, has launched out of stealth after graduating from Y Combinator in winter 2018 and raising a total of $30 million from Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, SV Angel, CoreVC, and others.
The company says it uses a combination of 3D printing and prefabrication techniques to create a production-as-a-service platform that will “automate up to 80 percent of the building process”.
Mighty Buildings says it has a unique approach that is both project- and design-agnostic, and can create “everything from small complex components to panels to full-size volumetric modules”. [Read more…] about Mighty Buildings aims to automate 80 percent of construction process
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
