Robotics & Automation News

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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

Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors partners with REE Automotive to develop autonomous mobility solutions

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Hino Motors, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, and REE Automotive, an innovator in e-mobility, have signed a strategic business alliance agreement to realize their shared vision of “providing new value to society through next-generation commercial mobility”.

With the backdrop of advancements in CASE – Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric – vehicles, the automotive industry is entering a major transformation phase.

Hino and REE envision beyond this transformation a future in which commercial vehicles that support the movement of people and goods will evolve into mobility that provides new value and opportunities for society. [Read more…] about Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors partners with REE Automotive to develop autonomous mobility solutions

IQ Motion Control launches new range of servo motors

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IQ Motion Control has launched a new range of servo motors.

IQ Motion Control designs and delivers high performance motor modules for robotic and industrial applications.

The company’s proprietary technology was born out of the University of Pennsylvania’s robotics lab and combines unique hardware designs with innovative calibration and control software to achieve high end motor performance at an affordable cost. [Read more…] about IQ Motion Control launches new range of servo motors

Lattice Semiconductor launches chips specially designed for industrial automation

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Lattice Semiconductor has extended its portfolio of comprehensive low power FPGA-based solution stacks with the introduction of Lattice Automate.

The stack includes software tools, industrial IP cores, modular hardware development boards, and software-programmable reference designs and demos that simplify and accelerate implementation of applications like robotics, scalable multi-channel motor control with predictive maintenance, and real-time industrial networking.

Intelligent industrial systems made possible by Automate will play a vital role in automating future smart factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings. [Read more…] about Lattice Semiconductor launches chips specially designed for industrial automation

New Suzuki factory in India starts operation

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Suzuki Motor Gujarat, a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor for the production of automobiles in India, has completed construction of the Plant C, and started production from April 2021.

Suzuki established SMG in March 2014, aiming to secure production ability in preparation for the automobile market growth in India, as well as for expansion of exports from India.

The Plant A started operating in February 2017, and the Plant B and Powertrain Plant in January 2019. [Read more…] about New Suzuki factory in India starts operation

Yaskawa achieves 30 million total shipments of AC drives

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Yaskawa, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robotics and automation technologies, says it has reached 30 million total shipments of alternating current drives.

An AC drive is a device that is used to control the speed of an electric motor, which are present in almost all robots and automated machines.

In a statement, Yaskawa, which shipped the world’s first transistor inverter in 1974, says: “We are pleased to announce that the cumulative shipments of AC Drives reached 30 million units in January 2021.” [Read more…] about Yaskawa achieves 30 million total shipments of AC drives

Trees and power lines

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Trees are an important part of our lives; they add aesthetic value to the surrounding environment, improve air and water quality, reduce soil erosion, and provide shade during the scorching summer months.

Likewise, power lines serve the machinery and equipment we interact with every day, adding luxury and efficacy to our lives.

While these two provide amazing benefits, when trees and power lines are in close proximity to roads, they become a potential hazard to motorists and can cause extreme vehicle damages and bodily injuries if they fall over or motorists accidentally run into them.

Read on to find out how to stay safe while driving on roads with trees and power lines. [Read more…] about Trees and power lines

Hyundai to acquire controlling stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank

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Hyundai Motor Group and SoftBank Group have agreed on the main terms of a transaction through which Hyundai Motor Group will acquire a controlling interest in Boston Dynamics in a deal that values the world’s leading creator of creepy robots at $1.1 billion. 

The deal came as Hyundai Motor Group envisions the transformation of human life by combining world-leading robotics technologies with its mobility expertise. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group will hold an approximately 80 percent stake in Boston Dynamics and SoftBank, through one of its affiliates, will retain an approximately 20 percent stake in Boston Dynamics after the closing of the transaction. [Read more…] about Hyundai to acquire controlling stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank

Yaskawa reaches 20 million AC servo motor sales

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Yaskawa Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots and automation technologies, has sold 20 million AC servo motor sales to date, according to a press release on the company’s website.

The company has offered AC servo motors and controllers to a wide range of customers in Japan and overseas since 1983.

Yaskawa, which coined the term “mechatronics”, says “cumulative AC servo motor shipments reached 20 million units in August 2020”. [Read more…] about Yaskawa reaches 20 million AC servo motor sales

Motor Controllers Used in Autonomous Mobile Robots

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Internal logistics is an indispensable part of the supply chain, especially in large manufacturing enterprises.

However, the tasks involved can also be quite repetitive. Humans can easily do such tasks, but that’s neither cost-effective nor efficient.

Why waste employee resources doing mundane and repetitive tasks when they can be automated? [Read more…] about Motor Controllers Used in Autonomous Mobile Robots