Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

inspection

Robotic test facility opens in the Netherlands

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Unique testing facility accelerates progress of robotics for inspection and maintenance

Quasset Test Facility has opened in the Netherlands to facilitate the experimentation and validation of robotic solutions for inspection and maintenance.

The 600-square-meter testing facility offers a highly flexible and controlled environment, housing a range of decommissioned assets which serve to test crawling, flying and swimming robotic systems.

As an independent facility, QTF provides third-party assessments of technology for robotic and inspection systems. From start-ups to leading oil and gas companies, service providers have the opportunity to work in consultation with QTF’s specialist robotics staff. [Read more…] about Robotic test facility opens in the Netherlands

Inspection and maintenance robotics event to take place in the Netherlands

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The second edition of the World Conference for Inspection and Maintenance Robotics will take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The conference and exhibition are organized by the Sprint Robotics Collaborative, an end-user driven, not-for-profit foundation.

The initiative gathers a global community to share the innovative progress and rapid development of robotics techniques and solutions, focusing on the use of robotics for inspection, maintenance, repairs and cleaning. [Read more…] about Inspection and maintenance robotics event to take place in the Netherlands

Smart vision inspection system cuts stoppages in packaging

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A collaboration between SICK and AutoCoding Systems has resulted in the launch of the first fully-automatic smart vision inspection system for printed coding and marking on food, pharmaceutical and other consumer goods packaging. 

The 4Sight Automatic Print Inspection System achieves significant savings in day-to-day production stoppages for producers. 

A breakthrough innovation achieved in the AutoCoding 4Sight software, operating on SICK’s Inspector P smart vision camera, enables direct closed-loop communication of the printed message from any brand of printer using standard inkjet, laser or thermal transfer technologies.

[Read more…] about Smart vision inspection system cuts stoppages in packaging

RoadBotics secures $3.9 million capital for road inspection solution

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RoadBotics, developer of advanced computer vision technology for inspecting roads and infrastructure, has raised $3.9 million in its series seed round of financing, led by Boston-based Hyperplane Venture Capital.

The capital will help the company to change the way engineering firms, local governments and municipalities manage and maintain roadways and other infrastructure.

[Read more…] about RoadBotics secures $3.9 million capital for road inspection solution

Oceaneering joins study for offshore floating wind project

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Oceaneering International Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oceaneering International, Inc., has been selected as a contributor to the Carbon Trust-led Floating Wind Joint Industry Partnership (JIP) study supporting the monitoring and inspection requirements for commercial floating wind power projects.

Oceaneering will deliver a study to investigate monitoring and inspection requirements for floating wind farms, including programs associated with the components used in commercial deployments.

Floating wind farms require a large number of components, such as hulls, mooring lines, anchors, and cabling. The extensive list of required assets has the potential to create challenges for operators when developing cost-effective monitoring and inspection solutions.

[Read more…] about Oceaneering joins study for offshore floating wind project

Why automated parts inspection is important in manufacturing

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precision ball actuators

Inspection in manufacturing is a process that involves the testing, gauging, measuring, and examination of a material or specimen, with the express purpose of determining whether or not it is in proper condition.

Typically, specified standards are set, against which the results of the inspection are compared to establish if the material being inspected is able to pass this stage of quality control.

In the past, inspection used to be performed solely by human agents, a special workforce that was commonly equipped with the necessary paraphernalia, and sometimes, simply by their bare senses.  [Read more…] about Why automated parts inspection is important in manufacturing

Quality control of rubber seals on the basis of height measurements

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poscon hm

The measurement of object height is an important aspect in quality control applications. With the PosCon HM light-section sensor, Baumer says it offers a unique, compact measuring device for this kind of task.

The smart, pre-configured profile sensor offers five measurement modes for different measurement tasks. An exact positioning of the measured objects is not required.

The PosCon HM provides reliable measurements even on shiny and very dark surfaces. In conjunction with its high measuring accuracy of up to 2 μm, it is suitable for a large number of applications in at-line, off-line and in-line control.  [Read more…] about Quality control of rubber seals on the basis of height measurements

ABB buys digital inspection specialist Nub3D

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nub3d

ABB has acquired Spanish startup Nub3D, which specialises in 3D inspection and quality-control solutions.

The company says the acquisition expands the group’s portfolio of ABB Ability solutions that connect customers to the industrial Internet of Things.

ABB Ability builds on the intelligent cloud, using connected devices to generate actionable digital information for a broad range of customers.

The financial value of the transaction has not been disclosed.  [Read more…] about ABB buys digital inspection specialist Nub3D

Industrial Vision Systems relocates to ‘fulfil ambitious expansion plans’

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ivs harwell relocation

Company is expecting “year on year double digit growth” in machine vision, robotics and artificial intelligence over the next decade

Industrial Vision Systems, a supplier of machine vision solutions to industries including automotive, medical devices, electronics, food and drink, and packaging, has relocated into a new facility – custom designed to its own specification – in order to fulfil its ambitious expansion plans.

Having grown “significantly” over the course of the past 16 years, Industrial Vision Systems has now made the move to its brand new 10,000 sq ft premises at the prestigious Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire which will allow it to grow further and capitalise on new, emerging markets.

The relocation presents a new phase of business for IVS. The company is fully expecting year on year double digit growth in machine vision and robotics on the manufacturing floor over the next decade. [Read more…] about Industrial Vision Systems relocates to ‘fulfil ambitious expansion plans’

Zeiss opens car body and automated inspection center in Michigan

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zeiss car body inspection
Zeiss Car Body and Automated Inspection Center in Michigan. (PRNewsFoto/Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology)

Zeiss Industrial Metrology has opened a new facility in Wixom, Michigan, that the company says is dedicated to the latest developments for the process chain in car body metrology and automated inspection.

Bob Wasilesky, key account manager for automated inspection at Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, says: “This center helps us illustrate how to make production more efficient in line, in the measuring room, and in-between.

“This means production and quality can find solutions to problems anytime, from anywhere in the manufacturing facility. Zeiss also showcases solutions for robotic inspection, quality and process data mining, plus measurement planning and offline programming.”  [Read more…] about Zeiss opens car body and automated inspection center in Michigan