inspection

Elementary Robotics raises $13 million for its machine learning and computer vision offerings to industry

July 1, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Elementary Robotics, a Los Angeles-based robotics startup, has raised $12.7 million in its Series A funding round led by Threshold Ventures, an early-stage investor in technology companies.

Founded in 2017, Elementary has built a hardware and software platform for applying machine learning and computer vision to the industrial world for intelligent automation of quality and traceability workflows.

The new capital, which also had participation from existing investors Fika Ventures, Fathom Capital and Toyota AI Ventures, is being used to allow Elementary Robotics to continue developing and installing its automation products at scale. [Read more…] about Elementary Robotics raises $13 million for its machine learning and computer vision offerings to industry

AnyBotics ships first Anymal robot units to customers

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

After a long time in stealth and development, startup company AnyBotics has shipped the first production batch of its Anymal C robots, which are four-legged, canine-type walking robots.

Although it doesn’t name its customers specifically, the company says the units have been delivered to “engineering partners and research customers worldwide”.

The company says the deliveries mark a “significant milestone” for AnyBotics as a mobile robot manufacturer as well as an “important step in revolutionizing the industrial inspection and maintenance workflow”. [Read more…] about AnyBotics ships first Anymal robot units to customers

Kuka to supply 50 robots for production lines for e-mobility provider

May 14, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Industrial automation specialist Kuka is to supply approximately 50 robots for the production lines of an e-mobility provider.

Kuka system partner SAR Elektronic is building five fully-automated production and inspection lines for a leading German automotive supplier.

The lines will be equipped with the 50 Kuka robots for “fully-automated handling, plasma cleaning and bonding processes, and an integrated functional inspection”, says the company. [Read more…] about Kuka to supply 50 robots for production lines for e-mobility provider

Machine builder Fill becomes first to upgrade to TTTech’s Nerve Blue IIoT edge network

May 8, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Machine and plant manufacturing company Fill is the first to upgrade to the latest version of TTTech Industrial’s Nerve Blue internet of things network, released in April 2020.

Nerve Blue software enables users to gain insights into industrial processes and make decisions based on data gathered from machines around the world.

With Nerve Blue, data is accessed directly from the machine, and then stored, processed and analyzed either at the device, on a local server or in the cloud. [Read more…] about Machine builder Fill becomes first to upgrade to TTTech’s Nerve Blue IIoT edge network

IDS releases cameras with ‘extremely high-resolution sensors’

May 8, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Imaging Development Systems has release camera systems with “extremely high-resolution sensors”.

IDS says its cameras perform well “when even finest details matter”.

The uEye SE cameras with 20 MP Sony sensor¤uEye SE camera variants now with 20 MP sensor available. [Read more…] about IDS releases cameras with ‘extremely high-resolution sensors’

Inspection and Diagnostic Robots: What they Mean for Society

May 8, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Seventy percent of robots in the United States are employed in just four industries: auto-making, electronics, plastic and chemicals, and metals manufacturing.

Inspection and diagnosing play an important part in all these industries, so a variety of robots have been programmed to inspect equipment and diagnose problems as they arise.

Of course, inspection and diagnosis are not limited to manufacturing; they are the safeguards of society. AI diagnostics and autonomous inspection are helping us in more ways than we can imagine. [Read more…] about Inspection and Diagnostic Robots: What they Mean for Society

RMUS partners with Sarcos Robotics Guardian S ‘snake’ robot

May 7, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems has partnered with Sarcos Robotics to distribute Sarcos’ Guardian S robotic crawler system.

The Guardian S robot is a compact, multi-purpose remote visual inspection tool ideal for industrial and public safety applications.

Its rugged design allows for deployment in challenging terrain and confined spaces while maintaining real-time situational awareness via wireless transmission from six high-resolution cameras and onboard audio sensors. [Read more…] about RMUS partners with Sarcos Robotics Guardian S ‘snake’ robot

Norfolk Southern introduces autonomous railtrack inspection system

April 14, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Norfolk Southern says it has achieved a breakthrough in track inspection technology that will “enhance railroad safety and operating efficiencies”. (See video below.)

The company claims that it is the first North American freight railroad to develop and deploy an autonomous track geometry measurement system that is mounted on a locomotive and combines “ingenuity and innovation”.

In contrast, says Norfolk Southern, autonomous track-inspection systems commercially available today are installed on converted freight or passenger rail cars, which require an external power source to operate and occupy space on a train that could be used to move revenue-producing freight. [Read more…] about Norfolk Southern introduces autonomous railtrack inspection system

RapidFit uses new horizontal arm device to measure components for automotive sector

April 13, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Materialise Group spin-off RapidFit has implemented a horizontal-arm co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) manufactured by LK Metrology in Derbyshire, UK to check the accuracy of bespoke gaging and holding fixtures produced for the automotive industry.

Based in Leuven, Belgium, RapidFit has reduced costs and lead-times by making use of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to produce workpiece locators that are added to standard fixture components.

The technology enables vehicle production to be streamlined, as innovative fixtures can be constructed with enhanced functionality and better repeatability. [Read more…] about RapidFit uses new horizontal arm device to measure components for automotive sector

Q-Span Workstation Kit becomes first UR+ Application Kit for quality inspection to be certified by Universal Robots

March 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

New Scale Robotics has launched its Q-Span Workstation Kit, the first application kit for quality inspection to be certified by Universal Robots and featured on the UR+ platform. (See video below.)

The Q-Span Workstation Kit allows quality teams to automate measurement inspection of small parts. Deployed on a UR3e collaborative robot (cobot), the Q-Span Workstation Kit increases measurement consistency and helps quality teams to achieve gage R&R targets.

David Henderson, CEO of New Scale Robotics, says: “New Scale Robotics is pleased to be in the vanguard of Universal Robots’ new UR+ application kits for quality inspection processes. [Read more…] about Q-Span Workstation Kit becomes first UR+ Application Kit for quality inspection to be certified by Universal Robots