Robotics & Automation News

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Kuka develops mobile robot for semiconductor production

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Kuka has developed a mobile robot for semiconductor production. The system integrates a robotic arm with an autonomous wheeled platform.

Kuka says it developed the system because the production of semiconductors is particularly complex.

Until now there was no mobile, automated semiconductor production system that enabled component transfer from one step to the next. That has now changed with the Kuka wafer handling solution. [Read more…] about Kuka develops mobile robot for semiconductor production

Columbia university demonstrates robotic cane to ‘improve stability in walking’

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Columbia University has demonstrated a robotic cane which it claims can “improve stability in walking”.

The developers say the device acts as a cane-like mobile assistant to provide “light-touch” operation to help the elderly and others with impaired mobility.

By adding electronics and computation technology to a simple cane that has been around since ancient times, a team of researchers at Columbia Engineering have transformed it into a 21st-century robotic device that can provide light-touch assistance in walking to the aged and others with impaired mobility. [Read more…] about Columbia university demonstrates robotic cane to ‘improve stability in walking’

Verizon launches mobile 5G nationwide and ultra-wideband 5G in Minneapolis

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Verizon has debuted its fifth 5G-enabled device with the launch of the Inseego MiFi M1000.

When connected to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, the device, exclusively available to Verizon customers, provides the large bandwidth and fast download speeds required for applications like 4K/8K video streaming, virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR), mobile workforce, industrial IoT and more.

Verizon also launched 5G Ultra Wideband mobility service in St Paul, Minnesota, joining Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis and Providence as the fifth of more than 30 Verizon 5G mobility cities Verizon plans to launch in 2019. [Read more…] about Verizon launches mobile 5G nationwide and ultra-wideband 5G in Minneapolis

Webinar: Safety requirements and technologies for mobile robots

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Join us for this important webinar, explaining how new innovations in 2D safety LiDAR are opening up new possibilities for Autonomous Mobile Robots, or AMRs. 

Register now

Webinar: Navigating Mobile Robotics with 2D Safety LiDAR
Date: August 19, 2019
Time: 11:00 am in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tkn4I_L7TQ6WvD70Yg4rFw

Presented by Tyler Glieden, product manager at SICK, one of the world’s leading sensor suppliers, this presentation will explore some of those innovations and how they can enable more intelligent and productive AMRs.  [Read more…] about Webinar: Safety requirements and technologies for mobile robots

More than $4 billion invested in robotics companies

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Robotics continues to attract more and more attention within the world of venture capital and private finance, with over $4 billion invested in robotics companies in 2018 alone.

But some companies are standing out more than others in innovation that will advance the entire robotics industry. Global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research, has released a report highlighting the 15 key hot tech innovators currently leading in their respective markets through novel technology solutions.

Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research, says: “Not only are these Hot Tech Innovators propelling the robotics industry forward but also, by looking at their innovations, we can deduce several trends that will have a ripple effect across the board.” [Read more…] about More than $4 billion invested in robotics companies

MiR releases new hardware versions of MiR100 and MiR200

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MiR has upgraded its MiR100 and MiR200 robots, to improve quality. The most visible change is that the front camera is replaced with two dual front cameras that increase the field of view.

Motor improvements and other minor improvements have also been implemented in these new models.

The company has introduced two new safety features: overspeed detection and cross speed check. These safety upgrades include full compliance with safety standards EN 1525:1997 and B56.5-2012.

[Read more…] about MiR releases new hardware versions of MiR100 and MiR200

Autonomous forklifts ‘raise the bar on safety’, says Seegrid

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Thousands of injuries related to manually driven forklifts are reported to US health and safety authority OSHA each year, and a fatal accident involving a manual forklift occurred approximately once per week in the US in 2018.

Many companies are adopting Seegrid vision-guided vehicles (VGVs) as a safe, efficient form of transport in their facilities.

There is no comparison between human industrial vehicle drivers and their Seegrid autonomous driving counterparts – the company claims that injury and fatality statistics prove that its technology is safer.

[Read more…] about Autonomous forklifts ‘raise the bar on safety’, says Seegrid

Mercedes inaugurates new testing facility for EMC and antenna systems

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Daimler-Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated a new testing facility for electromagnetic compatibility and antenna systems in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart, southern Germany.

The auto giant says electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a key prerequisite for the future of connectivity, autonomous driving, shared, and electric drivetrain.

With the new test facility, Mercedes-Benz takes an important step as a pioneer in the digitisation of the automotive industry. [Read more…] about Mercedes inaugurates new testing facility for EMC and antenna systems

Locus Robotics and Manhattan team up for retail and 3PL customers

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Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment warehouses, has announced a strategic integration partnership with Manhattan Associates, a supply chain and omnichannel solutions provider.

The partnership makes Manhattan a licensed reseller of Locus’s autonomous, multi-robot solution for warehouse fulfillment and will facilitate the development of integration tools to improve productivity and efficiency for shared retail and third-party logistics (3PL) customers.

“The sustained massive growth in e-commerce has left the supply chain industry at a turning point. Retailers and 3PLs are seeking autonomous mobile robots to solve their productivity, efficiency and labour challenges,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics.

[Read more…] about Locus Robotics and Manhattan team up for retail and 3PL customers

Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots

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Robotics and Automation News is hosting a webinar about collaborative robot safety presented by SICK, on June 24th, at 11 am EST.

SICK is one of the leading providers of sensors for robots. The company’s sensors are in the majority of the new generation of robots in the market today.

In this webinar, Mark Nehrkorn, SICK’s director of safety, will present an update in the safety standards in the field of collaborative and autonomous mobile robots. [Read more…] about Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots