Robotics & Automation News

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University students compete in SICK’s second annual TiM$10k Challenge

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For the second consecutive year, sensor manufacturer SICK invited students from universities around the country to participate in the company’s TiM$10K Challenge.

The challenge started in 2018 to support innovation and student achievement in automation and technology.

Teams were supplied with a 270° SICK LiDAR sensor (TiM) and accessories and challenged to solve a problem, create a solution, or bring a new application to any industry that utilizes the SICK LiDAR. [Read more…] about University students compete in SICK’s second annual TiM$10k Challenge

Toyota to offer rides in autonomous cars on public roads

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Toyota Research Institute plans to make its Platform 4 (P4) automated driving test vehicle available for public demonstration rides next summer in Tokyo.

Offered from July to September 2020, the P4 will demonstrate Toyota’s “Chauffeur” SAE Level-4 capabilities in a specific “mobility as a service” driving environment.

The P4 experience will take place in Tokyo’s Odaiba district, a busy and often congested waterfront subcenter. [Read more…] about Toyota to offer rides in autonomous cars on public roads

US manufacturing sector faces ‘workforce crisis’, says Manufacturing Institute

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The US is facing a “workforce crisis”, according to the Manufacturing Institute.

The Institute, and the education and workforce partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, kicked off a month-long celebration of modern manufacturing last week on Manufacturing Day – October 4th.

Held annually on the first Friday in October, MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers in an industry that is vital to our economy. [Read more…] about US manufacturing sector faces ‘workforce crisis’, says Manufacturing Institute

Corindus instrument used in ‘world’s first’ remote-control robotic heart surgery

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A surgical instrument developed by Corindus has been used in what is claimed to be the first remote-controlled heart operation using a robot.

Corindus published its “Telerobotic Intervention Study” in The Lancet, saying it is “the world’s first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures conducted from a remote location outside the catheterization lab using Corindus’ CorPath technology platform”.

The paper Corindus published, titled Long Distance Telerobotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: First-in-Human Experience, discusses five successful patient cases performed by internationally acclaimed physician Dr Tejas Patel, chairman and chief interventional cardiologist of the Apex Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. [Read more…] about Corindus instrument used in ‘world’s first’ remote-control robotic heart surgery

Wipro partners with university for advanced research and innovation in autonomous systems, robotics and 5G

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Wipro, widely known as an IT company, has formed a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India’s premier public establishment for research and higher education in science and engineering, to conduct advanced applied research in autonomous systems, robotics and 5G space.

The two organizations have jointly set up the Wipro IISc Research and Innovation Network (WIRIN), a hybrid industry-academia collaboration unit, which will drive idea discovery, research and innovation in technology and product design.

A group of senior professors and research staff from IISc and engineers, developers, architects and researchers from the autonomous systems, robotics and 5G domains at Wipro will constitute the team at WIRIN. [Read more…] about Wipro partners with university for advanced research and innovation in autonomous systems, robotics and 5G

AT&T joins US Digital Manufacturing Institute to ‘boost 5G innovation’

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US national telecommunications carrier AT&T has become a member of MxD, a national association for manufacturers also known as the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute.

AT&T says it plans to install 5G and edge computing technologies at the MxD Institute in order to “develop and test applications with US manufacturing companies”.

MxD is like a support organisation for manufacturers and is affiliated to a government-backed public-private partnership program called Manufacturing USA. [Read more…] about AT&T joins US Digital Manufacturing Institute to ‘boost 5G innovation’

Honda and CiNet begin joint neuroscientific research in Japan

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Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a research and development subsidiary of Honda, has begun a collaboration with the Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), Japan, in neuroscientific research of humans in the areas of mobility and robotics.

CiNet is a flagship research institute that focuses on the brain and artificial intelligence within the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).

Honda has recently established the Innovative Research Excellence within Honda R&D, a new centre of excellence which will be responsible for the pursuit of revolutionary advancement and the creation of values for mobility and people’s daily lives.

[Read more…] about Honda and CiNet begin joint neuroscientific research in Japan

Xyrec painting robot to bring a world of colour to aircraft

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Dutch robot manufacturer Xyrec has successfully demonstrated a breakthrough in aircraft painting technology by printing a large digital image on an Airbus A320 fuselage. The demonstration took place in Hamburg, Germany.

This new and unique solution for decorating aircraft uses inkjet technology for digital printing and ink instead of paint.

The printer will be introduced in Xyrec’s Automated Paint Robot for aircraft, and will be the largest robot in the world, says the company.

[Read more…] about Xyrec painting robot to bring a world of colour to aircraft

Toyota shows off futuristic Concept-i vehicle featuring AI that learns from driver

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toyota concept-i
The Toyota Concept-i features AI which anticipates the driver’s needs, says the company

Toyota has demonstrated a concept vehicle which features artificial intelligence that “grows with the driver”. 

The appropriately named Concept-i is said to offer an “immersive” AI system which anticipates drivers’ requirements and “inspires their imaginations and improves their lives”.

The AI system is nicknamed “Yui” and is likely to feature in Toyota’s other cars going forward.  [Read more…] about Toyota shows off futuristic Concept-i vehicle featuring AI that learns from driver

Industrial robot sales in China increase 20 per cent

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Sales of industrial robots in China have grown 20 per cent this year, according to research by two industry associations in the country. The automotive and electronics sectors were the two biggest buyers. 

As reported in the South China Morning Post, the GG Robotics Research Institute and the China Artificial Intelligence Robot Industry Alliance expects approximately 80,000 industrial robots to be sold on the mainland this year.

But Zhang Xiaofei, founder of the GG Robotics Research Institute, says growth is slowing.  [Read more…] about Industrial robot sales in China increase 20 per cent