Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Wanted: Robot to load dishwasher. Must be careful

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Chris Roberts, head of industrial robotics at Cambridge Consultants, provides an overview of the jobs robots could potentially do in future

Cambridge Consultants recently announced a new technology for automating one of the most unloved jobs in a commercial kitchen – loading the dishwasher.

This technology combines innovative robotics with cutting edge AI to achieve something hitherto impossible – detecting and handling a wide variety of dirty crockery haphazardly arranged on a tray.

However, the fundamental techniques used in this product can be applied to a wider range of situations and problems. There are many different tasks that it is only now possible to automate.

[Read more…] about Wanted: Robot to load dishwasher. Must be careful

New solder paste enables further miniaturisation in automotive electronics

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For the production of miniaturised electrical systems, such as those used in the automotive industry, solder material must meet extremely high requirements.

In response, Heraeus Electronics has developed its new solder paste Microbond SMT650, which it says guarantees consistently high surface resistance.

The combination of the new F650 flux system with the Innolot metal alloy increases reliability and prevents electrochemical migration even under the most extreme environmental conditions.

[Read more…] about New solder paste enables further miniaturisation in automotive electronics

B&R software better utilises the potential of robots

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B&R Automation has added new functions to its mapp Motion software package. It is now possible to represent the structure of a complex machine intuitively in the configuration.

The various subsystems of a machine can be linked together. The movements of robots can be easily synchronised with gantry systems or workpiece tables with no additional programming.

The “Frame hierarchy” function can be used to represent the actual structure of a machine. Coordinate systems can be positioned at key points, such as the tool mounting flange.

[Read more…] about B&R software better utilises the potential of robots

Video: Siemens predicts small number of companies will dominate industrial internet

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Only a small number of companies will dominate the industrial internet, according to a business development executive at Siemens, who was speaking to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com at Hannover Messe. (See video below.) 

The German engineering giant recently launched its MindScape IoT platform and more than 50 individual apps for a variety of scenarios in industry.

Matthias Lutz, business development manager, digital factory division, Siemens, says: “I personally do see a couple of platforms co-existing in future, and maybe a couple of very specialised ones.

“But in the end, in my opinion, I think it’s a matter of two to three large platforms.”  [Read more…] about Video: Siemens predicts small number of companies will dominate industrial internet

The big data world: Interview with Professor Alexander Rossnagel at Daimler Foundation about data privacy

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In 1905, Carl and Bertha Benz purchased this villa. Here the inventor of the car lived until his death in 1929. It has since been purchased by Daimler-Benz Foundation, which uses it as its headquarters. © Daimler and Benz Foundation / Oestergard
In 1905, Carl and Bertha Benz purchased this villa. Here the inventor of the car lived until his death in 1929. It has since been purchased by Daimler-Benz Foundation, which uses it as its headquarters. © Daimler and Benz Foundation / Oestergard

A Daimler-Benz symposium about science in the modern world, due to be attended by a number of experts at the historic building originally owned by Carl and Bertha Benz, will discuss the issue of privacy in a data-hungry world 

In today’s digital world, it is possible to produce a complete data profile of any individual in a very short time. 

Virtual and real information mix, so that the behaviour of individuals and of society in every aspect is observable, and theoretically predictable and controllable.

It could be said that today’s man is a “data man” – which is a term some people are using. But what does this mean?

At the 20th Berlin Colloquium of the Daimler and Benz Foundation, distinguished experts discussed the importance of these developments for the individual and society.

Moreover, the scientific director of the event, legal scholar Professor Dr Alexander Rossnagel, gave a interview in which he elaborated on some of the most important issues in our big data world. [Read more…] about The big data world: Interview with Professor Alexander Rossnagel at Daimler Foundation about data privacy