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Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

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Musashi AI, a group company of Japanese Musashi Seimitsu Industry Company, has successfully completed a proof of concept for Autonomous Mobile Robots at Suzuyo, a Japanese third-party logistics company, in partnership with 634AI, a Musashi Group affiliated company and the developer of Maestro, an industrial automation and mobility management software.

Suzuyo, a Japanese logistics conglomerate with an annual turnover of circa $1.2 billion, successfully tested Musashi AI’s AMR powered by Maestro, a platform-agnostic control tower for logistics automation developed by Israeli company 634AI.

The AMR autonomously moved pallets in the facility from one location to another smoothly and efficiently. The proof of concept was performed in Suzuyo’s Shinshizuoka distribution center in Shizuoka prefecture. [Read more…] about Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

ANYbotics boosts autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne lidar sensors

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ANYbotics is equipping its autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne’s Puck lidar sensors. ANYbotics robots provide industrial operators with an automated robotic inspection solution to support efforts in monitoring and maintaining plants.

ANYbotics’ four-legged robot ANYmal performs inspection and monitoring tasks in challenging industrial terrains such as mining and minerals, oil and gas, chemicals, energy and construction.

ANYmal’s legs provide unparalleled mobility when moving up and down stairs, climbing over obstacles, steps and gaps, and crawling into tight spaces. ANYmal’s inspection payload provides visual, thermal and acoustic insights for condition monitoring of equipment and infrastructure. [Read more…] about ANYbotics boosts autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne lidar sensors

Sarcos Robotics and T-Mobile team up to integrate 5G into Guardian XT exoskeleton robot

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Sarcos Robotics, a developer of robotic exoskletons, and telecommunications company T-Mobile, have agreed a collaboration to integrate T-Mobile 5G into the Sarcos Guardian XT highly dexterous mobile industrial robot.

The Guardian XT robot is a remote-controlled robotic system designed to help humans safely work in hazardous conditions, performing tasks such as lifting heavy materials or using power tools at significant heights.

With T-Mobile 5G integration, the companies aim to improve performance and response time for remote operations, so the robots can perform tasks more quickly and more in tune with their operator’s movements. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics and T-Mobile team up to integrate 5G into Guardian XT exoskeleton robot

Third Wave Automation raises $40 million in new investment

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Third Wave Automation has closed its Series B financing, a $40 million round led by Norwest Venture Partners with participation from prior investors Innovation Endeavors and Eclipse, along with Toyota Ventures.

Third Wave is a startup company which says it has achieved a “breakthrough in machine learning, computer vision and robotic material manipulation”.

The additional funds will accelerate growth and commercialization efforts. As a part of the changes, Matt Howard, general partner at Norwest Venture Partners, will join Third Wave’s board of directors.

Howard says: “I’ve been tracking Arshan and the team at Third Wave for some time and have been consistently impressed. [Read more…] about Third Wave Automation raises $40 million in new investment

Kanglim invests in Ridecell and forms partnership to create IoT platform for industrial vehicles

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Kanglim, a South Korean builder of specialty industrial vehicles, has formed a strategic alliance with Ridecell, a provider of a platform for fleet-driven businesses.

Ridecell will collaborate with Kanglim to develop an IoT automation and mobility platform for specialty industrial vehicle fleets.

Kanglim’s vehicles include industrial cranes, fire trucks, electrical work vehicles, aerial platforms, military and police equipment, and pump vehicles. [Read more…] about Kanglim invests in Ridecell and forms partnership to create IoT platform for industrial vehicles

Koch Industries’ OnPoint Digital and AWS collaborate to develop industrial engineering platform

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OnPoint Digital Solutions, a subsidiary of Koch Engineered Solutions, has agreed a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to co-develop an intelligent process optimization platform (IPOP).

The platform – designed to enable OnPoint’s solutions – will utilize cloud and edge digital infrastructure to provide advanced machine learning and industrial computing capabilities for OnPoint’s connected ecosystem, enabling industrial operators and their preferred partners to integrate and act upon the best available knowledge anywhere, anytime, at scale.

Manufacturers worldwide are modifying operations to address the Industry 4.0 revolution and the associated infrastructure necessary to integrate smart technologies. This unique collaboration between OnPoint and AWS will leverage and complement AWS’s generally available infrastructure services, IoT, advanced analytics and machine learning. [Read more…] about Koch Industries’ OnPoint Digital and AWS collaborate to develop industrial engineering platform

Nvidia unveils Jetson AGX Xavier industrial module

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Chipmaker Nvidia has unveiled the Jetson AGX Xavier industrial module. The company says the new ruggedized module is engineered to bring artificial intelligence to harsh, safety-critical environments.

From factories and farms to refineries and construction sites, the world is full of places that are hot, dirty, noisy, potentially dangerous — and critical to keeping industry humming.

These places all need inspection and maintenance alongside their everyday operations, but, given safety concerns and working conditions, it’s not always best to send in humans. [Read more…] about Nvidia unveils Jetson AGX Xavier industrial module

Siemens makes first industrial 5G router available

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Siemens has released its first industrial 5G router – the Scalance MUM856-1. The device connects local industrial applications to public 5G, 4G (LTE), and 3G (UMTS) mobile wireless networks.

The router can be used to remotely monitor and service plants, machines, control elements, and other industrial devices via a public 5G network – flexibly and with high data rates.

Demand for this type of solution is growing in industry. In addition, the device can be integrated into private 5G networks. The Scalance MUM856-1 therefore supports future-oriented applications such as mobile robots in manufacturing, autonomous vehicles in logistics or augmented reality applications for service technicians. [Read more…] about Siemens makes first industrial 5G router available

Comau designs ‘highly automated, high-volume’ battery manufacturing line

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Comau, an industrial robotics and automation specialist, has designed and developed a “high-volume module manufacturing line” to produce new generation lithium-ion batteries for Leclanché, a provider of energy storage solutions for the heavy transportation, naval and railway industries.

Comau says the “state-of-the-art, highly automated line” is the result of a simultaneous engineering process and combines industrial robots, vision systems, laser welding, and the automated in-line validation of joints via artificial intelligence. Priority was given to ensuring multi-module configurability, full traceability and the highest level of safety.

The line includes the latest quality and process control technologies, thus setting the foundation for the transition towards Industry 4.0 principles. It will also allow Leclanché to produce up to six times the company’s current capacity, reaching an output of more than 60,000 modules per year. The solution is also expected to reduce costs by up to 20 percent, support 50 different product configurations and save Leclanché valuable time when introducing new formats into the manufacturing line.  [Read more…] about Comau designs ‘highly automated, high-volume’ battery manufacturing line

The Benefits of Cobots in Industrial Production

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Robots in industrial production can help human employees lighten their workload and – indirectly – even protect them. item America is exploring these and other benefits of human-robot collaboration.

Although it’s nearly impossible to imagine our modern everyday lives without technical equipment, humans and machines are still often seen as rivals; however, this ‘either/or’ mindset fails to consider the valuable third option of collaboration that has become ever more important in the face of digitalization and Industry 4.0.

We’re talking about human-robot collaboration. [Read more…] about The Benefits of Cobots in Industrial Production