Robotics & Automation News

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Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants

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Bill Gates-backed company Heliogen, a provider of concentrated solar power, has unveiled a new robot which it describes as a “technological breakthrough” in the production of low-cost renewable energy.

In field tests at Heliogen’s Lancaster, California facility, the company successfully completed the first technical demonstration of an autonomous field maintenance system, Heliogen’s Installation & Cleaning Autonomous Robot & Utility Solution, or “ICARUS”. (See video below.)

By bringing the same advanced technologies that enable its AI-enabled concentrated solar power systems to the task of installing and maintaining those systems, the company’s latest innovation is expected to significantly reduce the time to implement its concentrated solar facilities, as well as the costs associated with construction and ongoing maintenance. [Read more…] about Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants

Yaskawa launches new Motoman industrial robot for small component processing

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Yaskawa has launched a new industrial robot for small component processing, called the Motoman GP4.

The company says the new robot is “extremely fast” to enable maximum throughput, and is “highly precise”.

The GP4 robot is equipped with a 4 kg payload for high-volume small component processing. Axis speeds up to 1,000 degrees/s and incredibly fast acceleration/deceleration control for all robot positions optimize overall productivity. [Read more…] about Yaskawa launches new Motoman industrial robot for small component processing

Omron releases new 3D vision sensor for robot arms

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Omron has released its new FH-SMD Series 3D Vision Sensor, which can be mounted on a robot to recognize randomly placed bulk automotive parts in three dimensions, enabling space-saving assembly, inspection, and pick and place, which are difficult with conventional robots, and improving productivity.

Production workers are hard to come by these days, and labor costs have risen sharply, says Omron. Manufacturers are now facing intense pressure to automate processes that rely on the senses of experienced human workers.

Moreover, production workers now need to work harmoniously with machines to raise productivity amid the Covid-19 crisis. In particular, the automotive industry requires vision sensors as the eyes of robots that are indispensable for automation because it is difficult for machines to recognize positions and postures of various complex shaped parts. [Read more…] about Omron releases new 3D vision sensor for robot arms

China has more industrial robots than next four countries combined

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China has more industrial robots than next four countries put together, according to a new report. 

Data presented by Buy Shares indicates that China, Japan, and the United States cumulatively control about 58.71 percent of the global industrial robot installations.

As of September 2020, there were 381,000 units of industrial robots globally. [Read more…] about China has more industrial robots than next four countries combined

ABB offers augmented reality on a smartphone to simplify robot installations

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ABB has launched its new RobotStudio Augmented Reality viewer to provide a “quick and convenient way of visualizing where and how robotic automation can fit into your process using a smartphone or tablet”.

Discovering whether a robot is right for your application has never been easier following the launch of ABB’s new Augmented Reality viewer, which has been added to ABB’s powerful PC-based RobotStudio offline programming software.

The RobotStudio AR Viewer app can be used to test any model created in RobotStudio, enabling users to get an idea of the size and scale of a robot or robot cell and how it can be deployed on a factory floor to fit around any existing production equipment. [Read more…] about ABB offers augmented reality on a smartphone to simplify robot installations

Hitachi awarded its ‘largest order’ to install 300 lifts at Singapore apartments

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Hitachi Elevator Asia has been awarded the contract for the supply and installation of 300 lifts by the Housing & Development Board of Singapore.

This is the largest single order for the Hitachi group’s lifts and escalators business in Singapore.

Hitachi Elevator Asia will see the supply, delivery and installation of the 300 lifts at HDB blocks. [Read more…] about Hitachi awarded its ‘largest order’ to install 300 lifts at Singapore apartments

ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

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ABB says it has “simplified” the use of its popular SCARA robots by giving users the ability to commission and control the robots from their PC through RobotStudio, ABB’s simulation and offline programming software.

Robot Control Mate is an add-on to RobotStudio, enabling users to jog, teach and calibrate robots from their computer, making it easier than ever to control a SCARA robot’s movements.

For the first time, ABB’s offline programming software can be used to control the physical movements of a robot in real-time. Robot Control Mate also makes robot programming possible when a FlexPendant is not in place. [Read more…] about ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry

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Fearless of the difficult applications – dust and bad weather – the Danfoss VLT AutomationDrive FC 302 was chosen to ensure efficient production of 800,000 tons of hard limestone at the Roussas quarry (main picture).

With an annual cement production capacity of 60 million tons and 42 cement plants across four continents, Italcementi Group is a leading global supplier of construction materials.

The group is a major player in the French building-material market; in the cement business through Ciments Calsia, in the ready-mix concrete sector through Unibéton and in aggregates production and supply with GSM. [Read more…] about Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry

Element Logic to deliver ‘world’s largest’ AutoStore installation at Prime Cargo warehouse

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Element Logic, a warehouse automation provider which has developed a robotic piece-picking system, is to deliver what is claimed to be “the world’s largest AutoStore installation within third-party logistics” for Prime Cargo.

E-logistics company Prime Cargo says investing in the huge robot warehouse from AutoStore will “ensure faster deliveries”.

As the first provider of e-commerce logistics in Denmark, Prime Cargo now completely automates the product picking process. [Read more…] about Element Logic to deliver ‘world’s largest’ AutoStore installation at Prime Cargo warehouse

KB Components develops its logistics with automation specialist Swisslog

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KB Components, one of Scandinavia’s leading manufacturers of plastic components, has chosen Swisslog as its partner for automation and logistics development.

The two companies started collaborating back in 1986 with the installation of automated pallet cranes and now, more than 30 years later, they have chosen Swisslog as their partner again for the replacement of this market leading technology.

Kent Brickling, logistics manager at KB Components, says: “Over the years, we have had a great cooperation with Swisslog for the service and system support of our pallet cranes at our facility in Örkelljunga, Sweden. [Read more…] about KB Components develops its logistics with automation specialist Swisslog