Robotics & Automation News

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ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

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Industrial automation company ABB and China’s leading automotive parts supplier, HASCO, have agreed to create a joint venture to drive the next generation of smart manufacturing in China’s automotive industry.

The joint venture will build on the existing successful relationship between the two companies, leading to the crucial development of highly flexible and sustainable auto parts manufacturing within HASCO’s China-based operations.

As the automotive industry’s transition towards electric vehicles gathers pace, parts manufacturers must increasingly invest in flexible facilities that can respond to rapidly changing demands and trends. [Read more…] about ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

Inov8 Orthopedics performs first surgery using Think Surgical robot

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Healthcare facility Inov8 Surgical has performed its first surgery using Think Surgical’s next-generation robot technology for knee replacement.

Think Surgical, an innovator in the field of orthopedic active robot surgery, says Inov8 Surgical is the first healthcare facility to utilize the second-generation TSolution One Total Knee Application (TKA) for total knee arthroplasty.

Stefan Kreuzer, MD, orthopedic surgeon, and the founder of Inov8 Orthopedics, performed the first procedure with the new system on August 24th at Inov8 Surgical Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) in Houston, Texas. [Read more…] about Inov8 Orthopedics performs first surgery using Think Surgical robot

Nidec to establish joint venture with Hon Hai and Foxtron

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Nidec Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of drives, has agreed to start discussions on establishing a joint venture with Hon Hai Technology Group and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies.

The Hon Hai Technology Group in Taiwan has been the main manufacturer for Apple products in the past two decades.

Nidec signed a memorandum of understanding with Foxtron regarding its strategic alliance in the development of electric vehicle drive systems. [Read more…] about Nidec to establish joint venture with Hon Hai and Foxtron

Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny robot

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Mecademic has released the latest version of the firmware – 8.4 – for its tiny Meca500 industrial robotic arm.

The company says this update “prioritizes the features most requested by our user community and is provided free of charge”.

The update enables the robot with multi-rotation with cartesian moves. [Read more…] about Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny robot

Monogram Orthopedics attracts 5,000 investors on way to raising $30 million

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Monogram Orthopedics, the startup advancing the future of joint replacement surgery, has attracted 5,000 Series B investors – and almost $1 million – on crowdfunding platform StartEngine.

Aiming to personalize the $19.6 billion joint replacement market through artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing, Monogram Orthopedics is targeting a $34 million raise to scale and bring their technology to market.

The company expects to kick off its unmatched personalized approach with its first Total Knee Arthroplasty implant FDA submission planned for later this year. [Read more…] about Monogram Orthopedics attracts 5,000 investors on way to raising $30 million

RoboCup Federation and UBTech Robotics team up to improve robots’ football skills

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The RoboCup Federation, famous for organising football matches between teams of tiny Nao humanoid robots, and UBTech Robotics have formed a strategic partnership.

The two companies say they are aiming to achieve “the highest-quality artificial intelligence and robotic research and education as well as respective worldwide visibility”.

Both organizations share the goal of intelligent robots serving and supporting humans in various challenging tasks both at home and at work. [Read more…] about RoboCup Federation and UBTech Robotics team up to improve robots’ football skills

Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

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Comau’s wearable exoskeleton with its news model, the MATE-XT, aims to satisfy the special needs of those working in harsh conditions in industry, other sectors and even outdoors.

Comau’s MATE exoskeleton is the first and still the only exoskeleton in the world to be EAWS (Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet) certified. This confirms its effectiveness in reducing the risk of biomechanical upper limb strain in workers whose daily activities involve repetitive flexion and extension of the arms.

MATE has become an indispensable aid for some of the operators at Pintarelli, who perform repetitive manual movements involving continuous use of the upper limbs and shoulders. Pintarelli Verniciature is based in Lavis in the province of Trento and employs around 30 people. [Read more…] about Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

Ambarella, Lumentum and ON Semiconductor collaborate on AI processing based 3D sensing for next-gen AIoT devices

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Ambarella, an AI vision silicon company, Lumentum, a designer and manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products, and ON Semiconductor, a provider of CMOS image sensor solutions, have partnered to produce two new joint reference designs that they say will “accelerate artificial intelligence of things device deployment across verticals”.

The designs build on the companies’ previous joint solution for contactless access systems.

By combining the data from Lumentum’s high-performance VCSEL array illuminators and an ON Semiconductor image sensor using Ambarella’s AI SoC, higher levels of accuracy and more intelligent decision-making can be achieved in next-generation AIoT devices for biometric access control, 3D electronic locks and other intelligent sensing applications. [Read more…] about Ambarella, Lumentum and ON Semiconductor collaborate on AI processing based 3D sensing for next-gen AIoT devices

Indian hospital launches ‘world’s first’ fully active robotic knee replacement system

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Sakra World Hospital, one of the leading healthcare providers in Bengaluru and India’s first FDI (foreign direct investment) hospital, now boasts of the country’s first, one of a kind healthcare breakthrough – advanced robotic knee replacement technology that is set to empower the orthopaedic surgeons to plan the knee replacement days before they enter the operation theatre to actually conduct the procedure.

The “Cuvis Joint” is claimed to be “the world’s first fully active robotic knee replacement system” which is now making knee replacement surgeries “more accurate, transparent and hassle-free” in Sakra World Hospital and comes as a “bliss” for those suffering from severe arthritis, says Sakra.

Manufactured by Curexo, a South Korean firm and marketed and sold by Meril Healthcare in India and known for its unique and autonomous nature of functioning, Cuvis Joint was launched by BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka and Dr Shivaraj Kumar, popular Kannada film actor. [Read more…] about Indian hospital launches ‘world’s first’ fully active robotic knee replacement system

Daimler and Volvo launch €1.2 billion venture to develop hydrogen fuel-cell technology for trucks

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Volvo Group and Daimler Trucks have entered into a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize hydrogen fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty trucks as the primary focus, as well as other applications.

The ambition of both partners is to make the new company a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells, and thus help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050.

Volvo will acquire 50 percent of the partnership interests in Daimler Truck Fuel Cell for approximately €600 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Closing of the transaction is expected during the first half of 2021. [Read more…] about Daimler and Volvo launch €1.2 billion venture to develop hydrogen fuel-cell technology for trucks