Robotics & Automation News

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RoboDK celebrates first decade of its pioneering robot simulation software

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Celebrating its 10th anniversary, robot programming software company RoboDK reflects on a decade of improving robot implementation. With support for over 1,000 robots and an extensive range of products and features, CEO Albert Nubiola and his team look ahead to continue their mission of making robotics accessible to all.

RoboDK, founded in January 2015, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since its inception, the company has grown from an academic spin-off into a global leader in robotic simulation and programming software.

RoboDK now supports over 1,000 robots from 90 manufacturers and remains committed to making robotics accessible, affordable, and efficient for industries and educational institutions worldwide.

Flore Cachera, marketing manager, says: “RoboDK has significantly evolved over the past decade to become a leading software solution in the world of robotic simulation and offline programming. [Read more…] about RoboDK celebrates first decade of its pioneering robot simulation software

Virtual reality robotics solution joins Universal Robot’s UR+ Ecosystem

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Virtual reality tech startup Extend Robotics has had its virtual reality robotics solution certified by Universal Robots on its UR+ programme.

Extend Robotics was founded in 2019 by Dr Chang Liu. The tech startup uses consumer Virtual Reality (VR) technology to make it easier for individuals to control robotics hardware remotely.

Dr Liu aims to enable humans and machines to work together in perfect harmony, to ensure no one is left behind in the shift to automation happening across the working world today. [Read more…] about Virtual reality robotics solution joins Universal Robot’s UR+ Ecosystem

Hexagon unveils automated platform to accelerate autonomous robotic quality assurance

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Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, which supplies smart manufacturing technologies to giants from Volkswagen to Boeing, has unveiled its HxGN Robotic Automation, which it describes as a “pioneering robotic programming and control software” that enables non-specialist quality professionals to program industrial robots to perform fully automated quality inspection.

The platform enables manufacturers to equip greenfield factories or retrofit existing production lines with state-of-the-art autonomous optical inspection cells, accelerating time to market by eliminating historic bottlenecks while providing more complete data direct from the production line as products are made.

HxGN says its robotic automation enables manufacturers to accelerate adoption of Industry 4.0 by intelligently devising optimal inspection routines in a single step; a task that would typically demand significant time and attention from both a metrology and robotics professional. [Read more…] about Hexagon unveils automated platform to accelerate autonomous robotic quality assurance

Fugro autonomous submarine completes geohazard site investigation activity off the coast of Suriname

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Fugro has finalised fieldwork on a site investigation programme for TotalEnergies off the north-west coast of Paramaribo in Block 58 of the Guyana-Suriname Basin, just off the coast of Suriname.

The company used its autonomous submarine for the task.

The project sits approximately 150 km offshore in water depths ranging from 60 m to 2100 m and involves acquisition and analysis of geophysical data and geotechnical soil samples. [Read more…] about Fugro autonomous submarine completes geohazard site investigation activity off the coast of Suriname

US military selects Parrot as new supplier of drones

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Parrot, a drone manufacturer, has been selected to take part in the Blue Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) programme by the US Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The DIU is a Department of Defense organisation that accelerates commercial technology for national defense.

The Blue sUAS programme is a spin-off of the Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) programme launched by the Army and DIU in April 2019. [Read more…] about US military selects Parrot as new supplier of drones

Airbus adds new satellite to its SpaceDataHighway constellation

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Aerospace company Airbus has added a new satellite to its SpaceDataHighway constellation.

The company says its EDRS-C satellite, the second node of Airbus’ SpaceDataHighway constellation, has completed its commissioning tests and is now ready to start operational services.

Following its successful launch in August 2019 and manoeuvring to its geostationary orbital slot at 31 degrees east, in-orbit testing has been executed and laser communication links have been established to the Copernicus programme’s Sentinel Earth observation satellites. [Read more…] about Airbus adds new satellite to its SpaceDataHighway constellation

Airbus unveils autonomous helicopter

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Aerospace giant Airbus has unveiled an autonomous helicopter.

The prototype of Airbus Helicopters’ VSR700 unmanned aerial system has performed its first free flight. The VSR700 performed a 10-minute flight at a drone test centre near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France.

The company says this is a “significant step” in the programme following the first flight in November 2019 when the prototype was tethered to comply with regulatory requirements. [Read more…] about Airbus unveils autonomous helicopter

Mirka launches project to develop robotic surface finish solution for industrial customers

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Surface finishing technology company Mirka has launched what it says is the world’s first patent pending Automated Industrial Programme to develop robotic orbital sanding systems.

The initiative is being launched globally by Mirka in April 2020, and is spearheaded by the Mirka Airos.

The aim is to build an “innovative, electric Automated Industrial Random Orbital Sander”, which integrates with manufacturers’ robotic systems to carry out intensive, high work load sanding, where precision and minimal maintenance is critical. [Read more…] about Mirka launches project to develop robotic surface finish solution for industrial customers

BMW establishes its ‘Startup Garage’ to gain early access to pioneering innovations

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The BMW Startup Garage – part of the company’s Research, New Technologies and Innovations unit – has been tracking down the most innovative startups in the business for four years now, allowing the BMW Group to tap into their potential quickly and directly.

So far, more than 50 up-and-coming technology companies have completed its startup programme.

The BMW Startup Garage talks with over 1,500 startups from all over the world every year.

[Read more…] about BMW establishes its ‘Startup Garage’ to gain early access to pioneering innovations

Airbus and Siemens collaborate on hybrid-electric propulsion

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Representatives of Airbus and Siemens attended the recent Bauhaus Luftfahrt Symposium “Ambition 2050”, bringing together science, industry, and politicians to tackle how to meet the EU Flightpath 2050 goals, aviation’s challenging environmental targets.

Topics explored included operations, alternative fuels, as well as energy technologies and power systems, which are at the heart of the work being carried out within the Airbus E-Aircraft Systems Programme in Taufkirchen/Ottobrunn near Munich.

While no single technology will allow the industry to become emission free, as Glenn Llewellyn, Electrification General Manager at Airbus highlighted on day one of the symposium, electric and hybrid electric propulsion technologies are some of the most promising.

[Read more…] about Airbus and Siemens collaborate on hybrid-electric propulsion