Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

industrial

Yaskawa Motoman adds new model to high-speed GP industrial robot series

by

Yaskawa Motoman has added a new robot model to its GP series of industrial robots.

Yaskawa says the “efficient, high-speed” Motoman GP25 robot is a new, compact robot that is ideal for assembly, dispensing, handling, material removal and packaging applications.

All axis speeds have been increased, says the company, some by more than 40 per cent, surpassing other robots in its class and delivering increased productivity.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa Motoman adds new model to high-speed GP industrial robot series

Kawasaki gloating over appearance of its robots in latest Transformers film

by

 

Kawasaki is clearly very pleased with the appearance of not one but two of its industrial robots in the new Hollywood blockbuster film, Transformers 5: The Last Knight. 

The company has been crowing about its fame on its website.

The two Kawasaki RS010L robots make an appearance in the Transformers film.  [Read more…] about Kawasaki gloating over appearance of its robots in latest Transformers film

Industrial internet technical standards groups form alliance

by

Two of the leading industrial internet technical standards groups have formed an alliance which is likely to accelerate the development of technologies in the sector.

The Industrial Internet Consortium and the Edge Computing Consortium have signed a partnership agreement – technically a memorandum of understanding – to advance the industrial Internet and edge computing.

Under the agreement, the consortia say they will work together to “maximize interoperability and portability for the industrial Internet”.  [Read more…] about Industrial internet technical standards groups form alliance

Automotive and industrial companies ‘could unlock billions in revenue’ through new growth strategies

by

Accenture using a “new way” of measuring corporate competitiveness

Industrial companies, such as automotive manufacturers, could unlock billions of dollars in revenue by adopting a more “holistic strategy”, according to a new report by Accenture.

The business management consultant conducted a survey into competitiveness in industry and found that the best approach is one that places equal emphasis on growth, profitability, sustainability and trust.

This “inter-dependent” strategy “yields massive growth potential”, says Accenture, which bases its conclusions on analysis of 47 automotive and industrial companies’ performances.

[Read more…] about Automotive and industrial companies ‘could unlock billions in revenue’ through new growth strategies

B+B SmartWorx launches first USB 3.0 Hub to provide ‘isolation and super speed’

by

B+B SmartWorx has launched its newest USB Hub – the USH304, its first isolated USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Hub offering both isolation and super high speeds, according to the company.

The device adds to B+B SmartWorx’s expanding line of USB products, and the is powered by Advantech, which is one of the leading computing technology suppliers ti industry.

USH304 – an ultra-rugged 4-port isolated USB – offers 2,500 VDC voltage isolation for upstream ports and 4 x downstream USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports.  [Read more…] about B+B SmartWorx launches first USB 3.0 Hub to provide ‘isolation and super speed’

Robotics and automation news is good for ABB, says CEO

by

Industrial giant ABB is reporting a 3 per cent growth in total orders across its operation, but most of it seems to be coming from robotics. 

Net income was $525 million – for the second quarter ending July 6. Gross profit, however, was down 5 per cent, and was only $1 billion. Total revenues were up 1 per cent at almost $8.5 billion.

ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer says: “In Q2, ABB continued to build its growth momentum as our targeted initiatives are delivering. Order growth was broad-based and across all regions.

“Our industry-leading digital offering, ABB Ability, is taking off and starting to contribute to growth.

“Operational performance in the power grids and industrial automation divisions was solid in the quarter. Electrification products and robotics and motion improved margins sequentially, but were not able to fully compensate commodity price headwinds and overcapacity during the quarter.  [Read more…] about Robotics and automation news is good for ABB, says CEO

Manufacturing and construction driving growth in Vietnamese automation and control systems market, says report

by

Despite slowdowns in certain industries, Vietnam’s automation and control systems market is witnessing stable growth, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.

Robust expansion in the manufacturing and construction sectors plus increased foreign direct investment, growing end-user need to optimize processes and improve efficiency, and development of special economic zones are factors fuelling growth.

Nonetheless, barriers to market entry are high. To succeed in a fiercely competitive ecosystem, automation vendors must embrace new technologies, such as Internet of Things, collaborate with developers of machine-to-machine technologies, and become one-stop integrated solution providers.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing and construction driving growth in Vietnamese automation and control systems market, says report

Interview: Robotic Vision Technologies boss eyes growth of global collaborative robotics market

by

Interview with Rick Weidinger, CEO of Robotic Vision Technologies

A human eye transmits data to the brain at a rate of approximately 10 million bits a second, which is about the equivalent of the capacity of some Ethernet connections. 

This was the finding of a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and while that may be debatable, and perhaps doesn’t tell the whole story of the complexity of the human eye, it’s probably a widely accepted idea that our eyes collect and transmit more data than do our other “sensors”, if they can be called that – the ones for sound, touch, smell and taste – which, with sight, make up our five human senses.

Robots, of course, only have senses because their makers want to integrate sensors into them.  [Read more…] about Interview: Robotic Vision Technologies boss eyes growth of global collaborative robotics market

Bharati Robotics shows off autonomous industrial cleaning robot

by

bharati agv crop
The Bharati autonomous guided vehicle for materials transport

Bharati Robotics Systems has been showing off its new autonomous industrial floor cleaning robots. 

The company says the small vehicle saves labour costs and increases productivity by up to 200 per cent, and cleans the floor better than humans, or the “highest quality of cleaning”.

The robot’s battery lasts up to four hours on one charge and it has a smartphone interface through which it can be monitored and controlled.  [Read more…] about Bharati Robotics shows off autonomous industrial cleaning robot

Effects of artificial intelligence will surpass the industrial revolution, says SoftBank CEO

by

The chief executive of telecommunications giant SoftBank says the effects of artificial intelligence will take the world much further and have a more profound effect than even the industrial revolution. 

Masayoshi_Son
An old picture of Masayoshi Son, courtesy of Wikipedia

In an article accompanying a special edition of the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was quoted as saying the new “information revolution” is being partly driven by data collected through billions of sensors.

SoftBank has been buying up a variety of AI and robotics startups, most recently a company called Nauto, which is developing systems for driverless cars.

At the root of the technology, Son says, are microprocessors and microcontrollers. “Those who rule chips will rule the entire world,” he said. “Those who rule data will rule the entire world. That’s what people of the future will say.”