Robotics & Automation News

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Toyota and Daimler partner to advance autonomous truck technologies in Japan

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Following the news that Daimler Truck and Toyota have entered into a partnership to combine their truck businesses in Japan, Varshini Shetty, automotive analyst at GlobalData, offers her view.

Shetty says: “To accelerate the development and manufacture of CASE (Connected / Autonomous & Automated / Shared / Electric) technology and hydrogen vehicles, many businesses are forming alliances with other automakers, start-ups, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

“Aligning with this trend is the deal between Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd. and Daimler-owned Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. to combine their truck businesses in Japan. [Read more…] about Toyota and Daimler partner to advance autonomous truck technologies in Japan

Apex.AI launches ‘full-scale’ business expansion in the Japanese market

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Apex.AI, a company developing safety-certified software for mobility and automotive applications, has expanded operations to Japan in response to “the growing demand” for software-defined vehicles and to better support businesses in the country.

With a well-established presence in the United States and Europe, Apex.AI is now focusing its international expansion efforts in Asia by launching in Japan as it is home to three of the world’s biggest automakers.

The Japanese entity, Apex.AI Japan GK, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apex.AI. [Read more…] about Apex.AI launches ‘full-scale’ business expansion in the Japanese market

Use of Chinese Electric Cars In Japan

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Japan is known as a hub of automotive markets. The big giants in the automotive industry like Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan are from Japan. In developing countries, there is a great demand for Japanese as well as Chinese cars because they are fuel efficient.

The main challenge that people face in developing countries is that they don’t find sphere parts of the car and if they find them, they are very expensive. To make cars available in another country, you must translate the user manual of the car into a language that the customer understands.

Professional translation services can be of great help to automotive companies that want to tap into new foreign markets. [Read more…] about Use of Chinese Electric Cars In Japan

Dexterity and Sumitomo partner to bring ‘next generation robotics’ to Japanese warehouses

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Dexterity, a provider of robotic solutions for a variety of industries, has agreed a strategic partnership with the Sumitomo Corporation to install 1,500 Dexterity-powered robots in warehouses across Japan.

Sumitomo Corporation, a Japan-based Fortune 500 multinational, signed an exclusive distributorship agreement in Japan with Dexterity to push into the Robots as a Service (RaaS) business in Japanese warehouses.

Prior to signing this distribution agreement, Sumitomo invested in Dexterity in 2020 through Presidio Ventures, Sumitomo’s US-based corporate venture capital arm. [Read more…] about Dexterity and Sumitomo partner to bring ‘next generation robotics’ to Japanese warehouses

SafeAI and Obayashi demonstrate autonomous vehicle on a construction site in Japan

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SafeAI, a developer of autonomous solutions for heavy equipment, in partnership with Japanese construction giant Obayashi, has hosted nearly 150 visitors to view its retrofitted autonomous Caterpillar 725, operating on a construction site in Japan for the first time ever.

The demos, which took place over a two week period, brought together delegates from nearly 50 organizations across the construction industry ecosystem, including leading OEM, general contractors, technology companies, universities and research groups and Japanese government entities responsible for regulation.

In addition to winning buy-in from key stakeholders, the demos mark a critical first step toward securing approval from the government and industry organizations to bring autonomous construction to Japan. [Read more…] about SafeAI and Obayashi demonstrate autonomous vehicle on a construction site in Japan

Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

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Musashi AI, a group company of Japanese Musashi Seimitsu Industry Company, has successfully completed a proof of concept for Autonomous Mobile Robots at Suzuyo, a Japanese third-party logistics company, in partnership with 634AI, a Musashi Group affiliated company and the developer of Maestro, an industrial automation and mobility management software.

Suzuyo, a Japanese logistics conglomerate with an annual turnover of circa $1.2 billion, successfully tested Musashi AI’s AMR powered by Maestro, a platform-agnostic control tower for logistics automation developed by Israeli company 634AI.

The AMR autonomously moved pallets in the facility from one location to another smoothly and efficiently. The proof of concept was performed in Suzuyo’s Shinshizuoka distribution center in Shizuoka prefecture. [Read more…] about Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

Mitsubishi Electric to establish factory automation products service center in Malaysia

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Mitsubishi Electric says it will establish the Malaysia Factory Automation Center on the premises of its subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Sales Malaysia, which is located in Selangor state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The new facility, which is scheduled to start operating on March 1, will strengthen servicing and support for Mitsubishi Electric factory automation products in Malaysia and thereby facilitate expansion of the company’s local business in factory automation systems.

The Malaysian factory automation market largely comprises an expanding base of local and Japanese enterprises. These firms span numerous industries, including electrical, electronic, automotive, food and beverage, and more, each of which requires various services for the factory automation products they use. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to establish factory automation products service center in Malaysia

Major European and Japanese car manufacturers integrate Techman Robot into supply chains

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Major European and Japanese car manufacturers are integrating Techman Robot collaborative robots into their supply chains.

Collaborative robots that can be flexibly applied to a small-volume but large-variety production line, focus on human-robot collaboration and facilitate smart manufacturing are emerging.

Compared to other industries, the level of automation in the automotive industry is much higher. The latest report from Kenneth Research predicts that the shipment and sales revenue brought by collaborative robots in the automotive industry will increase by 43 percent every year by 2022. [Read more…] about Major European and Japanese car manufacturers integrate Techman Robot into supply chains

Japanese government urged to establish industrial espionage unit

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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 government to develop common standards for robots in workplaces

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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