Robotics & Automation News

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The Dark Side of Bad SaaS Design

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The development of digital technologies has radically changed approaches to business process organization. Cloud solutions and software as a service (SaaS) have become integral parts of the working ecosystems of companies of various sizes and profiles.

Interface quality is becoming a key factor of product success in the context of fierce competition and ever-increasing user expectations. Bad SaaS design can become a critical barrier between user and functionality, turning even the most innovative solutions into a source of constant stress and loss of productivity. 

User experience determines a product’s usability and overall perceived value. The slightest UX miscalculations can instantly reduce user loyalty and lead to customer churn.

[Read more…] about The Dark Side of Bad SaaS Design

Ensuring Mobile App Compatibility: Cross-Device Testing with Appium

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With a rising demand for improved compatibility, mobile devices are gaining a lot of fame in the current app development industry.

This is because, with the help of mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and even smartwatches, the developers would be able to achieve desktop-like performance in devices that can fit in their palm.

For properly implementing the mobile apps, the developers need to integrate advanced mobile app testing processes like Appium automation. Using these test cases, it is possible to ensure that the mobile apps are compatible with multiple popular platforms like Android, iOS, and even Windows. [Read more…] about Ensuring Mobile App Compatibility: Cross-Device Testing with Appium

Universal Robots launches new software platform to make machine tending automation ‘faster, simpler and more flexible ’

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Universal Robots, the Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), has unveiled a new brand-new, innovative software platform specifically developed for machine tending tasks.

The name is PolyScope X and through a new, customisable user interface, it will add new levels of flexibility to high mix, low volume machine tending automation.

With PolyScope X, machine shop operators can achieve changeover times of less than 10 minutes – far below what is possible today with any other software. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches new software platform to make machine tending automation ‘faster, simpler and more flexible ’

Bota Systems launches ‘highly sensitive’ robotics force-torque sensor

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Bota Systems, a pioneer in multi-axis force-torque sensors, is excited to announce the launch of the MiniONE Pro.

This advanced six-axis force-torque sensor offers exceptional sensitivity and compactness, empowering small robotic systems with enhanced feedback capabilities.

The MiniONE Pro acts as a crucial connector between robot arms and probes, providing highly sensitive feedback for improved performance. With a high sampling rate of up to 2000Hz and an ultra-low-noise signal delivering an accuracy of better than 2 per cent, the MiniONE Pro offers precise measurements.

Integrating this sensor is seamless, as it is already plug-and-play compatible with popular small-scale industrial robots such as the Yaskawa MotoMini and the Mecademic Meca500. [Read more…] about Bota Systems launches ‘highly sensitive’ robotics force-torque sensor

Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers

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Robotics hardware traditionally requires programmers to deploy it. Ready Robotics wants to change that with its “no code” software aimed at people working in manufacturing who haven’t got programming skills.

The Columbus, Ohio, startup is a spinout of robotics research from Johns Hopkins University. Kel Guerin was a PhD candidate there leading this research when he partnered with Benjamin Gibbs, who was at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, to land funding and pursue the company, now led by Gibbs as CEO.

Guerin, who’s now chief innovation officer at the startup, says: “There was this a-ha moment where we figured out that we could take these types of visual languages that are very easy to understand and use them for robotics.” [Read more…] about Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers

Coval adds communications interface to ‘new and improved’ robotic vacuum grippers

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Coval has integrated a communications interface to its “new and improved” robotic vacuum grippers.

Coval offers manufacturers a range of vacuum grippers suitable for handling of parts of various sizes, weights, and materials. This gripper range has been extended with the latest CMS HD series multistage vacuum pumps, developed by Coval.

Coval’s range of vacuum grippers is based on two complementary solutions. The CVGL is characterized by its lightness and great adaptability. It is available as standard in several lengths, power ratings, and gripping interfaces. [Read more…] about Coval adds communications interface to ‘new and improved’ robotic vacuum grippers

Clearpath Robotics launches outdoor autonomy software

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Clearpath Robotics, a manufacturer of mobile robotics platforms for research and development, today launched OutdoorNav – an autonomous navigation software platform designed for vehicle developers, OEMs, and robotics researchers.

Compatible with Clearpath’s outdoor mobile platforms as well as third-party industrial vehicles, OutdoorNav provides reliable GPS-based navigation for faster, more efficient autonomous vehicle development.

Bryan Webb, president of Clearpath Robotics, says: “Robotics product development can often be a difficult, sometimes harrowing experience. [Read more…] about Clearpath Robotics launches outdoor autonomy software

Methods Machine Tools releases its first end-to-end standard automation system for Nakamura turning centers

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Methods Machine Tools, the foremost supplier of high-quality, high-precision CNC machine tools and automation in North America, has released the Turn-Assist 200i and 270i from RoboJob as its first, end-to-end standard automation system for Nakamura-Tome turning centers.

A semi-collaborative system engineered for lathe automation, Turn-Assist is designed to be implemented and run by operators of any skill level. With a simple tablet-style HMI and standard Ethernet IP interface, shops can successfully change over from one part to another within minutes.

Zach Spencer, Methods’ automation manager, says: “By pairing the Turn-Assist from RoboJob with Nakamura-Tome, we have created a unique automation solution for high-mix/low-volume and/or mid-volume with frequent changeovers on round workpieces often associated with Nakamura lathes. [Read more…] about Methods Machine Tools releases its first end-to-end standard automation system for Nakamura turning centers

Ready Robotics to install its operating system into Kawasaki industrial robots

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Ready Robotics, creators of Forge/OS, the industrial operating system for robots and automation, is partnering with Kawasaki Robotics to bring Ready’s Forge/OS software to Kawasaki’s robot hardware.

Kawasaki is a leading supplier of industrial robots and automation technology, with robot payloads ranging from 3 to 1,500 kg. With over 50 years of experience and thousands of robots installed worldwide, Kawasaki is an automation partner you can trust.

Ready supports Kawasaki’s R series robots, with capacities from 3 kg to 80 kg. Support for more models will be added in future updates. Forge/OS adds another level of ease-of-use to Kawasaki robots with a user interface that is simple to learn, program, and manage. [Read more…] about Ready Robotics to install its operating system into Kawasaki industrial robots

Swiss university shows brain-computer interface for controlling robots

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A Swiss university called the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has showcased a new brain-computer interface that can be used to control robots. (See video below.)

Unlike previous BCI’s famously demonstrated to former US president, Barack Obama, the EPFL brain-computer interface does not require a hole to be drilled in the user’s head.

Two EPFL research groups teamed up to develop a machine-learning program that can be connected to a human brain and used to command a robot. [Read more…] about Swiss university shows brain-computer interface for controlling robots