Robotics & Automation News

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ABB pilots automation solution for data centres

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A colocation data centre provider is piloting ABB‘s new data centre automation cloud solution, which aims to meet challenges faced by the rapid growth of data centres.

Optimisation of data centre performance, increased tenant retention, agile communications between operations and upper management, and reduced costs are some of the benefits claimed for the new ABB offering.

With a holistic data centre approach, the solution is said to provide a detailed insight into how multiple data centres and devices are performing.

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Apple unveils Mac Pro with new display

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Apple has introduced the all-new Mac Pro, a completely redesigned workstation and unveiled Apple Pro Display XDR.

Designed for maximum performance, expansion and configurability, the Mac Pro features workstation-class Xeon processors up to 28 cores, a high-performance memory system with a massive 1.5TB capacity, eight PCIe expansion slots and a graphics architecture featuring the world’s most powerful graphics card.

It also introduces Apple Afterburner, an accelerator card that enables playback of three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video simultaneously.

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Massive data centre: BMW launches ‘high-performance’ platform for development of autonomous driving systems

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BMW says its launch of the High Performance D3 platform represents ‘a key milestone’ on the automaker’s roadmap to highly and fully automated driving

It was back in 2000 when the BMW Group first started to conduct research into its vision of a car that people could drive themselves – but didn’t have to.

Six years later, in 2006, a BMW was following the racing line around the Hockenheim circuit without human assistance for the first time.

Since 2011, highly automated test vehicles from the BMW have been driving on the A9 motorway between Munich and Nuremberg. And as part of the CES in 2014, the BMW gave a demonstration of highly automated driving at the limits of performance on the Las Vegas Speedway. [Read more…] about Massive data centre: BMW launches ‘high-performance’ platform for development of autonomous driving systems

John Deere adds more automation to combine harvester range

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John Deere has announced updates for Model Year 2020 S700 Series Combines, which include upgrades to improve automation, data management and residue placement.

Combine Advisor and HarvestSmart have been updated to further automate these machines.

Combine Advisor uses ActiveVision cameras and sensors to identify changes in crop conditions and automatically adjust the combine to maintain the operator’s settings for optimal performance in varying conditions.

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Hitachi electric vehicle inverter adopted for the Audi e-tron

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Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.’s electric vehicle (EV) inverter has been adopted by Audi for its first mass production EV, the e-tron, which went on sale in Europe in March this year.

With tightened environmental regulations around the world, many countries are driving for greater adoption of electric vehicles.

This has led to the demand for more efficient and higher-output electric motors, inverters, and other electric powertrain systems that will contribute to high performance EVs.

[Read more…] about Hitachi electric vehicle inverter adopted for the Audi e-tron

General Motors names Kuka as ‘Supplier of the Year’

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Auto giant General Motors named industrial robotics and automation company Kuka its “Supplier of the Year” during its 27th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony held recently in Detroit.

This is the fourth time Kuka has received the award. In an interview with Robotics and Automation News, Joe Gemma, a senior executive at Kuka, provided some insights into the company. (See video below.)

During the event, GM recognized 133 of its best suppliers from 15 countries that have consistently exceeded GM’s expectations, created outstanding value or introduced innovations to the company. [Read more…] about General Motors names Kuka as ‘Supplier of the Year’

Intel acquires Omnitek to strengthen FPGA video and vision offering

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Intel Corporation has announced the acquisition of Omnitek, a leading provider of optimised video and vision FPGA IP solutions.

Omnitek’s technology enables customised high-performance vision and artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing capabilities on FPGAs in areas such as video conferencing, projection and display, medical vision systems, and more.

Based in Basingstoke, UK, Omnitek was founded in 1998 and has developed over 220 FPGA IP cores and accompanying software including performance-leading solutions for WARP, ISP processing and video connectivity.

[Read more…] about Intel acquires Omnitek to strengthen FPGA video and vision offering

Mitsubishi Electric takes a stake in Realtime Robotics

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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has taken an equity stake in Realtime Robotics, Inc. a U.S. technology startup that develops and commercialises motion-planning technologies.

Motion planning is the process of calculating and determining the optimised path that a robot should take to reach a goal without colliding with any obstacle. Realtime Robotics’ motion path planning solution performs the necessary calculations in real time.

Funding by Mitsubishi Electric is expected to accelerate the development of industrial robot systems offering enhanced safety and performance.

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Dow launches new electromagnetic interference shielding technologies

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Dow returns to The Battery Show Europe this year to showcase its broad and growing portfolio of conductive silicone technologies with the launch of DowSil EC-6601 Electrically Conductive Adhesive.

This next-generation material is engineered for reliable performance and electromagnetic compatibility in various transportation, communications and consumer electronics applications.

It combines strong shielding against electromagnetic interference across a wide range of frequencies with durable mechanical and conductive properties over time.

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Komatsu develops electric mini excavator

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Komatsu Ltd has unveiled its electric mini excavator, based on its accumulated technological expertise of hybrid construction equipment and electric forklift trucks.

Equipped with an in-house developed new charger, high-voltage converter and other devices, it offers excavation performance on a par with the internal combustion model of the same power output, while achieving zero exhaust gas emissions and a dynamic reduction in noise levels.

Komatsu expects a wider range of applications for this machine, including construction work near hospitals or schools or in residential areas, where contractors pay special attention to exhaust gas and noise during work, as well as inside tunnels or buildings.

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