Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

japan

Skyports partners with Park24 to develop vertiport infrastructure

by

Air taxi vertiport developer and operator, Skyports, and Japan’s largest parking lot and car sharing operator, Park24, have signed an agreement to explore the development and integration of vertiport infrastructure of “advanced air mobility” (AAM) into Park24’s parking and car sharing network.

The agreement also involves partners including Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, a Japanese general insurance company, and Kanematsu Corporation.

Aioi Nissay Dowa provides and arranges insurance for ground infrastructure and related air mobility services and aim to develop a mobility as a service that seamlessly integrates air and land. [Read more…] about Skyports partners with Park24 to develop vertiport infrastructure

Industrial robotics market set to grow more than 10 percent a year, says report

by

The global market for industrial robots is set to grow by more than 10 percent a year, according to a new study by Market Research Future.

MRF’s report, Industrial Robotics Market information by Type, by End-Users, by Application and Region – forecast to 2027, says the sector will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.32 percent by 2026.

Industrial robotics are robotic systems designed to work mainly on assembly lines. The report covers trends in manufacturing and opportunities for the industry for the forecast period (2020-2027). [Read more…] about Industrial robotics market set to grow more than 10 percent a year, says report

Realtime Robotics opens Japan office

by

Realtime Robotics, a developer of autonomous motion planning systems for industrial robots, has opened a new office in Japan to meet the growing demand it has experienced in the region. The new office, located in Tokyo, in the Shinagawa area, will be publicly opening on October 1.

Manufacturing, logistics and automotive companies throughout the region have been looking to accelerate their adoption of industrial robotics to enhance productivity and answer labor shortages. Many have turned to Realtime Robotics to help them remove engineering complexity, reduce cycle time, lower expenses and establish greater operational efficiency.

With the opening of the new office’s lab and demonstration space, these companies will be able to directly collaborate with Realtime Robotics’ team and better understand how the company’s technology works. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics opens Japan office

Norway prime minister officially opens AutoStore Innovation Hub

by

AutoStore, the leading robotic technology company, has created a pioneering test facility that can allow for faster fitting of automated systems for its clients to keep up with order demand.

Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg (pictured below cutting ribbon), was said to be “deeply impressed” by AutoStore’s success when she officially opened the new test center and had it demonstrated.

As she officially opened the Innovation Hub, Solberg said: “AutoStore is a guiding star showing the way towards growth for the Norwegian private sector.” [Read more…] about Norway prime minister officially opens AutoStore Innovation Hub

China has more industrial robots than next four countries combined

by

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

SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

by

A Japanese startup company called SkyDrive has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest flying car. (See video below.)

Designed to carry one person, the vehicle could be said to be the aerial equivalent of a motorcycle.

SkyDrive says it can put the what we’ll call the “airbike” into mass production in just two years’ time, by which time there should be more regulations about aerial vehicles. [Read more…] about SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

Japanese government urged to establish industrial espionage unit

by

The Japanese government is being urged to establish an industrial espionage unit to try and stop spies stealing secrets relating to advanced technologies being developed by successful companies in the country. 

According to a report on the Nikkei Asian Review website, the Liberal Democratic Party, led by current Japanese President Shinzō Abe, is formulating a list of recommendations aimed at preventing industrial espionage against Japanese companies.

As quoted by Nikkei, Akira Amari, one of the LDP’s leading members, says: “The need for intelligence capabilities is broadening beyond sensitive military-related information to a wide range of private-sector data.” [Read more…] about Japanese government urged to establish industrial espionage unit

Japanese infrastructure company selects ABB’s Terra 184 electric vehicle chargers

by

ABB’s newly launched Terra 184 electric vehicle chargers have been selected by Japan’s e-Mobility Power (eMP) to modernize the infrastructure for the country’s electric vehicle market and accelerate the nation’s shift towards sustainable mobility.

Financial details of the order were not disclosed.

The project is part of a broader push in Japan to increase the share of electric and plug-in hybrids to between 20-30 percent by 2030, from just 1 percent in 2018. [Read more…] about Japanese infrastructure company selects ABB’s Terra 184 electric vehicle chargers

Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

by

Logistics and snail-mail delivery giant Japan Post is partnering with Yamato, one of Japan’s largest door-to-door delivery service companies, to test delivery robots on the streets of Tokyo, according to Nikkei.

The robot the two companies are using was built by a local company called ZMP, which appears to specialise in autonomous mobile vehicles, be they delivery robots or cars.

This particular one is called “DeliRo” (main picture), probably short for “delivery robot”. [Read more…] about Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

Japanese government to develop common standards for robots in workplaces

by

The Japanese government is planning to develop common standards for robots in workplaces such as offices, shops and other environments where they would be working with humans, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

The country’s industry ministry will lead the initiative and will establish a public-private partnership under the working name Robot Revolution & Industrial IoT Initiative, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

The group will define common telecommunications standards as well as produce guidelines on creating object shapes that are easier for robots to grip, pick up, hold, move and so on. [Read more…] about Japanese government to develop common standards for robots in workplaces