Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Scientists develop new method of teaching surgery to a robot

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A team of scientists has developed a new way of teaching surgery to a robot that they say is far more efficient than other methods.

In a paper entitled Semi-Supervised Representation Learning from Surgical Videos, the team at Cornell University calls its algorithm Motion2Vec.

The team – which is backed by Intel’s AI Labs, Google Brain, and UC Berkeley – says Motion2Vec learns from video observations “by minimizing a metric learning loss”. [Read more…] about Scientists develop new method of teaching surgery to a robot

Top 10 robotic video camera systems: Shenyang supplies robotic camera operator to Chinese TV station

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Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation has built and supplied a robotic camera operator to a Chinese television station.

The robotic system, which appears to integrate a mobile robot with an industrial robotic arm, was used to film a stage performance in Shenyang Radio and TV Station studios.

Both the robotic arm and the mobile robot seem to have been supplied by Siasun, also known as Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation, one of the leading industrial robot makers in China. [Read more…] about Top 10 robotic video camera systems: Shenyang supplies robotic camera operator to Chinese TV station

Alio says its Hybrid Hexapod addresses ‘critical weaknesses’ of traditional motion systems

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Alio Industries says its patented Hybrid Hexapod was developed by Alio to address the critical weaknesses of conventional legacy hexapod designs, as well as the weaknesses of stacked serial stages, and to achieve nanometer-level accuracy, repeatability, and high-integrity flatness and straightness during motion.

It utilizes a tripod parallel kinematics structure to deliver Z plane and tip/tilt motion, integrated with a monolithic serial kinematic structure for XY motion.

A rotary stage integrated into the top of the tripod (or underneath it, depending on application needs) provides 360-degree continuous Theta Z rotation. [Read more…] about Alio says its Hybrid Hexapod addresses ‘critical weaknesses’ of traditional motion systems

Realtime Robotics unveils new robot controller computer

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Realtime Robotics, which specialises in motion planning for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, has launched what a robot controller solution it calls “Realtime Controller”.

The solution dramatically reduces and simplifies the programming required to safely integrate robotic workcells, speeding up the time to deployment.

As the pressure intensifies to improve margins it will accelerate the adoption of robotic automation. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics unveils new robot controller computer

How to simplify the control architecture of cartesian coordinate robots

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By Barry Weller, product manager at Mitsubishi Electric

In order to remain competitive, it is generally accepted that industries should adopt lean manufacturing strategies to improve process efficiency.

A key action can be to reduce part count, that is to say the number of components in an assembly or system. This is particularly challenging when it comes to highly accurate cartesian coordinate (linear) motion applications.

In these cases, machine builders would often need to use both PLCs and computer numerical controllers (CNCs) in order to fully manage movement within the machine – until now. [Read more…] about How to simplify the control architecture of cartesian coordinate robots

Universal Robots launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending

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Universal Robots has launched what it says is “the world’s first” autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending applications.

“ActiNav” is a new UR+ application kit for companies of all sizes that, Universal says, simplifies the integration of autonomous bin picking of parts and accurate placement in machines using UR cobots.

ActiNav synchronously handles vision processing, collision-free motion planning and autonomous real-time robot control, eliminating the complexity and risk usually associated with bin picking applications. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending

Kuka launches new industrial robot range

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Industrial automation giant Kuka is launching a new industrial robot range, the KR IonTec, which the company says is “a robot for any task in the 30 to 70 kg payload category”.

Kuka is market-launching the new product series, which it says is the successor to the KR 60-3.

Kuka says the KR IonTec “sets standards in terms of flexibility in the medium payload category”. [Read more…] about Kuka launches new industrial robot range

Xsens unveils new motion tracking technology

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Xsens, a provider of 3D motion tracking technology, has today announced the launch of Xsens DOT, a new precision motion tracking solution.

Xsens DOT is a wearable sensor development platform that enables innovators to develop and prototype new applications faster, especially in sports and healthcare.

The platform captures the most reliable and accurate data currently available and is backed by community support from Xsens product experts. [Read more…] about Xsens unveils new motion tracking technology

Realtime Robotics extends technology relationship with Mitsubishi Electric

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Realtime Robotics, a developer of responsive motion planning software for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, is expanding its partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.

The company is to develop a “custom integrated solution” that pairs Realtime Robotics’ smart motion planning technology with Mitsubishi Electric’s industrial and collaborative robot product lines.

The intelligent robots will be on display at iREX later this month and there will be a series of demonstrations showcasing the motion-planning technology in action. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics extends technology relationship with Mitsubishi Electric

Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

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As the internet-connected world continues to transform the manufacturing and logistics industry, Technische Universität Dortmund is leading the way in research into human-robot interaction.

With the help of Vicon’s cutting-edge motion capture and VR solutions, the University is developing innovative ways to approach the coexistence of drones and robots with people in warehouse environments.

The manufacturing and logistics sector faces a major challenge: how best to serve the ever-growing e-commerce market – with increasingly small-scale shipments and shorter delivery deadlines – in a cost-effective and sustainable way. [Read more…] about Helping robots and humans work hand in hand