Robotics & Automation News

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ABB offering digital services free of charge

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ABB is making its digital services available free of charge.

During this unprecedented crisis, ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business says it is working to “help customers and partners keep production lines going and to enable businesses to continue to function while many are working from home”.

ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business is making “key software services” available free of charge to our customers until the end of 2020. [Read more…] about ABB offering digital services free of charge

STMicroelectronics unveils new vibration-monitoring solution for industrial applications

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STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor manufacturer, has launched a new vibration-sensing solution optimized to enable smart maintenance of factory equipment.

ST’s IIS3DWB vibration sensor and supporting STEVAL-STWINKT1 multi-sensor evaluation kit accelerate development of condition-monitoring systems that boost productivity by inferring equipment maintenance needs.

Analyzing the sensed vibration data locally or in the cloud helps owners create strategies that maximize uptime, minimize servicing costs, and avoid emergency repairs. [Read more…] about STMicroelectronics unveils new vibration-monitoring solution for industrial applications

Omron launches new software for its mobile robots

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Industrial automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas has released a new software package designed to simplify integration, maximize reliability and support flexibility in mobile robot applications.

Omron says its Fleet Operations Workspace Core – shortened to “Flow Core” – is aimed at increasing the robots’ performance and ease of use while laying the foundation for future service-focused capabilities.

Among the primary advantages that Flow Core provides are a user-focused design that simplifies integration, charge management functionality that maximizes uptime, and intelligent fleet management capabilities that increase flexibility and efficiency. [Read more…] about Omron launches new software for its mobile robots

NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

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NXP Semiconductors has agreed a lead partnership role with Arm for Ethos-U55 microNPU (Neural Processing Unit), a machine learning accelerator targeted at resource-constrained industrial and IoT edge devices.

As an industry-leading innovator of microcontrollers (MCUs), NXP intends to implement Ethos U-55 in its Cortex-M based microcontrollers, crossover MCUs and real-time sub-systems in applications processors.

The expansion builds on the company’s growing ML offerings including the recently announced i.MX 8M Plus applications processors with a dedicated NPU. [Read more…] about NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

Visteon shows off new dashboard technology

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Visteon, an automotive cockpit electronics technology company, has launched what it describes as its “breakthrough” microZone display technology.

The virtual dashboard element is said to offer offers “significantly higher graphics performance” than traditional LCD displays.

This new, patent-pending high-dynamic range display technology offers high contrast and brightness and wide color gamut that enables automotive displays to achieve parity with consumer mobile devices with life-like imaging capability. [Read more…] about Visteon shows off new dashboard technology

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