Market trends and business perspectives
Aubo Robotics, Asia-Pacific’s leader in the production and research & development of precision collaborative robots (Cobots), announced the grand opening of their Michigan based US office.
Conveniently located outside of Metro Airport in Romulus Michigan, it will serve as headquarters for Aubo’s newly launched dedicated United States branch: Aubo Robotics USA Inc. [Read more…] about Aubo Robotics opens US headquarters in Michigan
The state of Michigan has announced that three companies will receive $260,000 in total funding through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) to test and deploy mobility projects across the state.
With these grants, Michigan will enable new mobility solutions that help address challenges related to school bus emissions, decaying mobility infrastructure and last-mile deliveries, all while reducing on-road miles, emissions, traffic, accidents and noise.
Lt Governor Garlin Gilchrist II says: “Shaping the next generation of mobility solutions means developing more than just automobiles. It means future-proofing our roads and bridges, as well as ensuring that our alternate and last-mile mobility solutions can support the areas where we live, work, visit and play. [Read more…] about Michigan awards $260,000 in grants to mobility technology companies
Fanuc, the world’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots, has launched a West Campus expansion that will push its operational space in Oakland County, Michigan to nearly two million square feet.
The construction will include a 655,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility to house manufacturing, engineering and R&D projects.
This investment in Michigan’s growing manufacturing area includes the purchase of 67 acres of land as well as the site of the former Thomas M. Cooley Law School Campus, which will provide future growth in the education of the next generation of robotics and automation workers. [Read more…] about Fanuc plans to double Michigan campus to accommodate ‘automation demand’
General Motors says it will invest more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity.
This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.
Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO, says: “We are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the US, and our North American EV production capacity. [Read more…] about General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units
The US state of Michigan is reinventing itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility. From opening an air corridor for drones to building a stretch of road on which electric vehicles can charge themselves wirelessly as they move along, the state is creating an ecosystem which could become something of a template for the rest of America.
Michigan is, as most readers will know, the state in which Detroit is located. Detroit, the most populous city in the state, is the historic centre of the modern global automotive industry, or “Motor Town” as it was famously called many decades ago, inspiring the name “Motown” for the even more famous record label.
And while it may have lost some of its industrial status in recent decades, Detroit still provides homes and office space to some of the largest automotive companies in the world: Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz USA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and a whole range of automotive components, systems and parts manufacturers. [Read more…] about ‘We wrote the playbook’: Michigan reinvents itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the award of a contract to build a first in the United States public wireless in-road charging system allowing electric vehicles to charge while in motion and stationary.
A company called Electreon has been selected to build an electric road system in Detroit as part of the inductive vehicle charging pilot program.
Governor Whitmer says: “As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced that Michigan and Ontario are collaborating on a “first-of-its kind technology initiative” involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones.
This effort involves studying the feasibility of a commercial drone skyway in three proposed areas, including an international connection between Michigan and Ontario, southeast Michigan, and any other suitable location in the state.
Through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC), the State of Michigan, with support from the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Government of Ontario, through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), will explore whether small drones can be flown beyond the line of sight of a pilot and be used in operations like just-in-time delivery, medical transport, or other small-scale deployment of UAS. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches air corridor for drones in Michigan and Ontario
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was joined by state, local and university officials at Kettering University’s GM Mobility Research Center in Flint to announce the first round of Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants.
Five mobility companies – MUVE, Airspace Link, Kuhmute, GreenRoute and Michigan Flyer – received more than $444,000 in funding to deploy mobility pilots in Michigan that alleviate mobility barriers and help accelerate electric vehicle adoption.
Governor Whitmer said: “These grants are securing a foundation for mobility companies across the state that builds on our reputation as a global leader in testing and deployment of future mobility solutions, but also create a runway to future growth and jobs right here in Michigan. [Read more…] about Michigan Governor Whitmer awards substantial grants to accelerate mobility and electric vehicle investments in the state
CapStone Holdings, a business incubator and investment group, has made a $10 million equity investment in Perrone Robotics, a provider of fully autonomous vehicle systems.
Perrone delivers autonomous mobility through what it says is “the world’s first and only patented general purpose robotics operating system and autonomous vehicle retrofit kit” (TONY).
TONY embeds inside any vehicle for any job, to provide an “artificial driver” solution that brings full autonomy in a safety certifiable framework for the right vehicle platform. [Read more…] about CapStone invests $10 million in Perrone Robotics
Epson Robots has signed up Industrial Control, a provider of factory automation solutions, products, and training, as an official distributor of Epson Robots automation solutions in the state of Michigan.
Epson says Industrial Control’s wealth of knowledge and experience gained through long-standing relationships with machine builders, combined with Epson Robots’ technology, will help manufacturers “reach today’s challenging factory automation objectives”.
Mark Ermatinger, CEO of Industrial Control, says: “Customers are asking for smarter, pre-engineered, and turn-key solutions to help reduce risks and save time. [Read more…] about Epson signs up Industrial Control as distributor in Michigan
