Robotics & Automation News

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Silicon Sensing to provide navigation technology for Mayflower autonomous ship

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Two Silicon Sensing Systems ultra-precise AMU30 inertial measurement units (IMUs) will provide critical navigation data to the autopilot capability for the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) throughout her milestone trans-Atlantic voyage this autumn.

Setting sail this September, the 15 meter-long, 5-ton MAS400 will repeat the Mayflower’s original epic voyage 400 years ago. Led by marine research organization ProMare and powered by IBM, she will sail from Plymouth, England to Plymouth Massachusetts, USA.

Instead of a captain and crew, she will use computer vision, machine learning, edge technologies and sensors to navigate and detect hazards.  [Read more…] about Silicon Sensing to provide navigation technology for Mayflower autonomous ship

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

NXP launches new chip with ‘10 times more processing power’ to support autonomous cars

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NXP Semiconductors has launched a new processor with “10 times more processing power” to support autonomous driving functions.

NXP is believed to be the world’s largest supplier of automotive semiconductors.

The company says the new S32G vehicle network processors mark a “significant turning point” in the way vehicle architectures are designed and implemented.

As the latest offering from NXP’s S32 family of processors, the S32G processors enable the automotive industry shift to high performance domain-based vehicle architectures and provide reduced software complexity and enhanced security and safety. [Read more…] about NXP launches new chip with ‘10 times more processing power’ to support autonomous cars

New ITU case study shines spotlight on ‘smart city’ journey

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The City of Pully, Switzerland, reports experience with ‘Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities’

A new ITU case study offers an evaluation of the Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities developed by the United for Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative (U4SSC), an initiative supported 16 United Nations bodies.

U4SSC develops practical tools to support cities’ application of digital technologies to become smarter and more sustainable, with the aim of achieving SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

Pully, a Swiss municipality home to some 18,000 residents, has reported its experience applying the U4SSC Key Performance Indicators to help meet the objectives of its “smart city” strategy. [Read more…] about New ITU case study shines spotlight on ‘smart city’ journey

GM launches new version of OnStar for fleets

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General Motors says its new fleet telematics solution, OnStar Vehicle Insights, provides fleet managers and drivers the tools and data they need to make the most of their daily operations.

Launched recently, OnStar Vehicle Insights relays real-time vehicle data like vehicle location, driver performance information and more to fleet employees.

Ed Peper, US vice president, General Motors Fleet, says: “We listened to our fleet customers’ feedback and have created a turnkey telematics solution. [Read more…] about GM launches new version of OnStar for fleets

Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

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Lenovo and Intel are providing critical components for Harvard University’s first liquid-cooled supercomputer, while Lenovo is creating a ‘Visionary Council’ to drive broad adoption of exascale technology

The new supercomputing infrastructure will enable discoveries in earthquake forecasting, predictions on the spread of disease, and star formation.

Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research Computing’s newest supercomputing cluster performs three to four times faster with the upgrade. [Read more…] about Lenovo and Intel provide advanced supercomputing infrastructure to Harvard University

Mitsubishi Electric introduces range of ‘high-performance’ delta robots

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Mitsubishi Electric has extended its MELFA articulated arm and SCARA robot offering to include a range of delta robots.

Mitsubishi says the new robots combine its “award-winning servo technology” with the latest mechanicals from e-F@ctory Alliance partner Codian Robotics.

With Mitsubishi Electric already one of the world’s largest suppliers of light payload industrial robots and Codian a market leader in delta mechanics it’s a combination that enables the user to achieve reliable performance in higher speed pick and place operations, with the advantage of simple set-up and programming from one the markets main automation brands. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric introduces range of ‘high-performance’ delta robots

NXP launches GHz microcontroller

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NXP Semiconductors has launched the i.MX RT1170 range of crossover MCUs that that it says will open the GHz microcontroller era.

The chipmaker says the new chip “combines unprecedented performance, reliability, and high levels of integration to propel industrial, IoT and automotive applications”.

The NXP i.MX RT1170 family reinforces NXP’s commitment to advance edge computing with its EdgeVerse portfolio of solutions and marks a technology breakthrough with MCUs that run up to 1GHz while maintaining low-power efficiency. [Read more…] about NXP launches GHz microcontroller

RightHand Robotics and Element Logic launch integrated robotic piece-picking solution

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RightHand Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation technology, and Element Logic, an AutoStore partner, have launched an integrated robotic piece-picking solution that combines the technologies of both companies. 

The announcement was made in conjunction with IMHX in Birmingham, UK, September 24-27.

The robotic piece-picking solution combines award-winning technology from RightHand Robotics with Element Logic software and AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval system. [Read more…] about RightHand Robotics and Element Logic launch integrated robotic piece-picking solution

Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support

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Universal Robots has launched Service360, a new support service offering which the company says “enhances performance, increases uptime and mitigates risk through seamless collaboration”.

Chris Wilson, vice president of service, Universal Robots, says: “Our customers are at the center of everything. Now, we’re empowering them to proactively monitor, optimize and safeguard cobot performance with enhanced support and preventative maintenance.

“Service360 protects production lines, maximizes uptime, reduces risk and enables success by ensuring manufactures are prepared for the unexpected.” [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support