Robotics & Automation News

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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

Comau unveils new software for ‘easy programming of complex robotic applications’

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Comau has unveiled what it describes as a “powerful software program” based on artificial intelligence algorithms that makes man-machine communication easier while optimizing industrial operations.

The industrial automation company says its MI.RA/Dexter reflects Comau’s “commitment to simplified automation”.

MI.RA/Dexter is a metalanguage that makes aims to make robotics more accessible for companies of all sizes by translating human language syntax into robot syntax. [Read more…] about Comau unveils new software for ‘easy programming of complex robotic applications’

Robot-assisted assembly of high-voltage connectors for electric vehicles

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Assembling high-voltage connectors for electric and hybrid vehicles at a rate of 5 million per year calls for sophisticated automation solutions. Especially when regular retooling for new models and variants is the norm. Against this background, a pioneering system with six Stäubli robots, 13 image processing systems and inline quality control at every stage is now ensuring highly flexible production.

Electro-mobility is the buzzword of our times, and the market for vehicles with electric drives is steadily gaining momentum worldwide. For some time now, this trend has also been spurring demand for the type of assembly solutions for electric components offered by specialized machine builders such as Eberhard. The company, based in Schlierbach near Stuttgart, Germany, was recently asked by a multinational automotive supplier to implement a complex project.

Specifically, it involved the planning and realization of an assembly line for high-voltage connectors. The system would have to not only perform the actual assembly work, but also the visual inspection at each stage, the testing of every single connector for leak-proofing, and finally the packing of the finished high-voltage connectors in trays. [Read more…] about Robot-assisted assembly of high-voltage connectors for electric vehicles

Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

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Universal Robots, the world’s leading collaborative robot provider, says Stanley Engineered Fastening has successfully introduced robotic quality inspection using its collaborative robots.

15 UR3e cobots act as key components in its brand-new cells for Breakstem autonomous manufacture which have reduced product costs by approximately 10 percent and shortened lead times by up to 70 percent.

They are producing approximately 350 million fasteners per annum from across the company’s product range. [Read more…] about Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

Micropsi Industries automates ‘fridge sniffing’ with AI-supported robot control system

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Micropsi Industries’ artificial intelligence-supported robot control system MIRAI now automates previously manual leak detection for leading global household appliance manufacturers such as BSH Hausgeräte GmbH.

In conjunction with Atec GmbH Automatisierungssoftware, Micropsi offers this leak testing as a complete solution that provides a “quick, reliable, and cost-effective” remedy to manual leak detection tasks and other complex industrial processes, lowering ongoing operating costs and reducing maintenance.

Ronnie Vuine, CEO, Micropsi Industries, says: “AI-driven systems such as MIRAI independently derive solutions in the event of variances such as changing lighting conditions or workpieces whose position or composition deviates. [Read more…] about Micropsi Industries automates ‘fridge sniffing’ with AI-supported robot control system

Medical robotics startup Clarapath raises $32 million in additional funding

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Clarapath, a robotics startup aimed at catalyzing change in the way pathology laboratories process human and animal tissues, has undertaken follow-on financing, extending its Series B round with an additional $15.5 million in funding, following the previous close of $16 million in Series B funding.

The round included The 4100 Group (the investment arm of Delta Dental), East Post Road Ventures (the investment arm of White Plains Hospital), Epiphron Capital, Northwell Ventures, P5 Health Ventures, and participation from other strategic organizations.

This brings the total raised to date by Clarapath to more than $38 million. [Read more…] about Medical robotics startup Clarapath raises $32 million in additional funding

Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

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The hunger for transformation among industry players is at an all-time high. But at the same time, organizations want lower risk options to digitalize the shop floor.

To reduce the number of isolated, inflexible solutions, manufacturers will want to seek a connected, scalable and sustainable platform approach that enables them to simultaneously maintain high levels of throughput, quality and customer service – while creating opportunities for sustainable innovation.

This is where a Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution comes into play. The experts at 3DS Delmia, part of the Dassault Systèmes Group, take a closer look at MOM and how it can be so impactful for your business. [Read more…] about Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

Festo and MassRobotics select companies for healthcare robotics startup program

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Festo and MassRobotics have selected companies for the inaugural Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program.

The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst is a new program for the global robotics startup community to advance healthcare developments by providing promising companies with investor and customer introductions, access to subject-matter experts, and a range of technical and marketing support resources.

The robotics companies selected include Assistive Technology, an American startup dedicated to at-home physical therapy solutions that are operable at a low cost and always accessible to rural patients and those who need closer monitoring for recovery. [Read more…] about Festo and MassRobotics select companies for healthcare robotics startup program

Aim Robotics becomes part of Kassow Robots’ ecosystem

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Aim Robotics, a Danish company with headquarters in Copenhagen and an R&D centre in Odense, and Kassow Robots, also a Danish company with its headquarters in Copenhagen, have entered into a partnership.

The two companies have developed an “innovative dispensing solution” for collaborative robot use, and Aim is now part of the Kassow Robots ecosystem.

Dieter Pletscher, sales manager at Kassow Robots, says: “Innovation is crucial to us, also when it comes to our network. This electronically based robotic dispenser by Aim Robotics offers great advantages to our customers. High repeatability and quality control help companies automate their dispensing application very efficiently and effectively.” [Read more…] about Aim Robotics becomes part of Kassow Robots’ ecosystem

ABB Robotics offers South Africa’s food and beverage industry ‘a taste of the future’

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By Linda Eales, robotics division manager at ABB South Africa

The future has never looked more unpredictable for South Africa’s food and beverage (F&B) sector, as it battles a perfect storm of pressure brought on by Covid-19, changing consumer and retail consumption patterns, disrupted supply chains and ongoing scrutiny around food safety.

The food and beverage sector has been battered by a couple of high-profile food safety scares in recent years, and is scrambling to keep up with mega-trends like digitalisation and shifting consumption patterns. The good news is that this could be the perfect opportunity for the local F&B industry to reposition itself for the present and future.

F&B manufacturers increasingly need more flexibility on their production lines to enable them to adapt to changing consumer tastes and demands. At the same time, they require higher levels of productivity and efficiency, while maintaining the highest levels of product quality. In many cases, the answer to these challenges is to install a robotics solution, which makes F&B operations safer and more productive. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics offers South Africa’s food and beverage industry ‘a taste of the future’