Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

potential

NXP and Volkswagen explore ultra-wideband technologies

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NXP Semiconductors and Volkswagen have shared early glimpses into Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology and its future applications.

In a Volkswagen concept car, the companies showed the capabilities of Ultra-Wideband for advancing security, safety and convenience in vehicles.

Lars Reger, CTO of NXP Semiconductors, and Maik Rohde, head of body electronics and car access systems, Volkswagen, discussed the pioneering collaboration as part of a broader, cross-industry push to leverage the unique capabilities of UWB: accurate localization and fine ranging at maximum security levels. [Read more…] about NXP and Volkswagen explore ultra-wideband technologies

Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany

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Mobile Industrial Robots, a supplier of warehouse automation technologies, has opened a new office in Frankfurt, Germany. 

The company says Germany and the Benelux countries are “very important markets with a huge potential for MiR”, so the opening of its Frankfurt office today is also important.

Distributors from the DACH region – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – came to celebrate opening of MiR’s Frankfurt office. [Read more…] about Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany

Additive manufacturing to generate $100 billion in Asean by 2025, says ThyssenKrupp

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ThyssenKrupp has presented a white paper on additive manufacturing (AM) potential in the ASEAN region, titled Additive Manufacturing: Adding Up Growth Opportunities for ASEAN.

The white paper provides deep insights and perspectives on the state of additive manufacturing in the ten member countries of ASEAN. There is huge potential for the ASEAN market given its contribution to global manufacturing output.

The paper was developed by ThyssenKrupp with the support and contribution of a multidisciplinary team of experts and partners in Singapore including the global industrial 3D printing leader EOS and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC).

[Read more…] about Additive manufacturing to generate $100 billion in Asean by 2025, says ThyssenKrupp

StoreDot and BP fully charge an electric vehicle in five minutes

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StoreDot and BP have demonstrated a live, full-charge of a two-wheel electric vehicle (EV) in just five minutes.

An electric scooter equipped with StoreDot’s charging battery demonstrated that this technology can charge an electric vehicle in only five minutes.

This proof-of-concept is a major milestone for ultra-fast charging battery technology and its game-changing potential to accelerate the adoption of EVs.

[Read more…] about StoreDot and BP fully charge an electric vehicle in five minutes

Danish robot industry makes 5 recommendations for continued growth

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For the last 20 years, Denmark has succeeded in becoming one of the world’s leading robot nations. New figures show great potential for future growth, exports and employment within the Danish robot industry.

The Danish robot industry wants to realise this potential and has launched five recommendations for the newly elected Danish Parliament.

By 2025, up to 25,000 may be directly employed in the robot industry – from a current level of 8,500 employees – and total revenue has the potential to reach DKK 52 billion.

If one counts the derived revenue and employment (growth that is dependent on activities in the robot industry), then the total potential is DKK 80 billion in turnover and 55,000 employees in 2025.

[Read more…] about Danish robot industry makes 5 recommendations for continued growth

GM confirms discussions to sell Lordstown Complex to Workhorse

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General Motors has confirmed that it is in discussions with Workhorse Group and an affiliated, newly formed entity to sell the company’s Lordstown Complex in Lordstown, Ohio.

The move – which was informally announced by US President Donald Trump earlier –  has the potential to bring significant production and electric vehicle assembly jobs to the plant, says GM.

Upon final agreement, the entity, led by Workhorse founder Steve Burns, would acquire the facility. Workhorse would hold a minority interest in the new entity. [Read more…] about GM confirms discussions to sell Lordstown Complex to Workhorse

Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

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Agricultural innovations are essential for feeding our ever-growing global population.

Especially these days, as industrialisation and global warming continue to negatively affect soil fertility and reduce the amount of arable land.

According to the United Nations, the world’s population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.

[Read more…] about Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

B&R software better utilises the potential of robots

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B&R Automation has added new functions to its mapp Motion software package. It is now possible to represent the structure of a complex machine intuitively in the configuration.

The various subsystems of a machine can be linked together. The movements of robots can be easily synchronised with gantry systems or workpiece tables with no additional programming.

The “Frame hierarchy” function can be used to represent the actual structure of a machine. Coordinate systems can be positioned at key points, such as the tool mounting flange.

[Read more…] about B&R software better utilises the potential of robots

Infographic: How AI is streamlining the supply chain

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Noodle AI has produced an infographic to show how artificial intelligence is changing commerce

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. In fact, you may have interacted with it today and you didn’t even know it.

AI can streamline a lot of our daily business operations, freeing us up to tackle more difficult tasks.

Within the world of e-commerce, AI may be the key to streamlining the supply chain. [Read more…] about Infographic: How AI is streamlining the supply chain

Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

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By David Shepardson, Reuters

Apple is wading in to the debate over regulation of self-driving cars, declaring it is excited about the potential for automated transportation and calling on US regulators not to restrict testing of such vehicles.

A five-page letter from Steve Kenner, Apple’s director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the company’s most comprehensive statement yet about its interest in self-driving vehicle technology.

The November 22 letter followed more than a year of industry speculation about the computer and iPhone maker’s plans for expanding into transportation.  [Read more…] about Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government