Robotics & Automation News

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Fanuc launches new ‘heavyweight’ industrial robot

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Fanuc, a world leader in industrial robotics and factory automation, has introduced the M-950iA “heavyweight industrial robot”, capable of lifting 500 kg – including automotive components, construction materials and EV battery packs.

Fitting perfectly between Fanuc’s M-900iB and M-1000iA families, the serial-link structured M-950iA/500 offers a much wider range of motion than standard parallel-link robots, offering flexibility that easily adapts to tight workspaces and variable layouts.

A high-rigidity design makes it suited for payloads up to 500 kg and its reach of 2,830 mm is paired with an impressive range of motion on the robot’s J3 axis, allowing it to flip over backwards. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new ‘heavyweight’ industrial robot

Universal Robots unveils its AI Accelerator

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Universal Robots, the Danish collaborative robot (cobot) company, has presented for the first time the UR AI Accelerator – a ready-to-use hardware and software toolkit created to further enable the development of AI-powered cobot applications.

Designed for commercial and research applications, the UR AI Accelerator provides developers with an extensible platform to build applications, accelerate research and reduce time to market of AI products.

The toolkit brings AI acceleration to Universal Robots’ (UR) next-generation software platform PolyScope X and is powered by Nvidia Isaac accelerated libraries and AI models, running on the Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin system-on-module. [Read more…] about Universal Robots unveils its AI Accelerator

Omron unveils latest version of its table tennis playing robot

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Omron, one of the world’s largest industrial automation companies, says it plans to participate in Semicon Japan 2024, which will be held on at Tokyo Big Sight, early next month.

At Semicon Stadium, where an interactive experience is offered by the event organizer SEMI Japan, the 9th generation of Omron’s table tennis robot, Forpheus, the symbol of Omron’s core technology, will make its global debut.

A feature exhibit at the Omron booth will be the CT-type X-ray automatic inspection system, which examines the soldering quality inside semiconductor packages and on mounting boards used in electric vehicles and data centers for generative AI applications. [Read more…] about Omron unveils latest version of its table tennis playing robot

WFL integrates articulated robot into machining center

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WFL Millturn Technologies has integrated an articulated robot into its newly developed machining center.

The company says that an automated cell containing an articulated robot paired with a M35-G Millturn “offers numerous benefits that boost efficiency and quality in the manufacturing industry”.

Modern production technology calls for increasingly flexible and efficient solutions in order to meet market requirements – solutions such as an automated cell that connects an articulated robot to a M35-G Millturn.

[Read more…] about WFL integrates articulated robot into machining center

MiR to unveil new ‘mobile collaborative robot’ at Madrid trade show

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Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) has unveiled its new innovation – the MC600 mobile collaborative robot (cobot), the latest addition to its growing list of MiR Go Approved products.

The new machine probably fits the new and distinct category of “industrial mobile robot”, or IMR, as defined in the relevant ANSI/RIA standard.

Capable of handling payloads up to 600 kg (1322 lbs), the MC600 combines the MiR600 mobile robot base with the UR20/UR30 collaborative robot arms from Universal Robots (UR) to automate complex workflows in industrial environments.

[Read more…] about MiR to unveil new ‘mobile collaborative robot’ at Madrid trade show

Flexiv unveils ‘smarter solution’ for robotic programming

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Flexiv, a developer of general-purpose robotics solutions, has launched “Elements Series 3”, the latest evolution of the adaptive robot control system that the company says “makes programming faster, easier, and more capable than ever before”.

Designed to simplify the complex, Flexiv’s engineers have reimagined the user experience from the ground up, focusing on human-centered design and advanced, semi-automated features.

With a new rugged teach pendant, and intuitive easy to use software, be they in the office or the production line floor, robotic programmers of any skill level can easily create and manage robotic applications. [Read more…] about Flexiv unveils ‘smarter solution’ for robotic programming

Delta Electronics unveils new collaborative robot integrating Nvidia simulation technology

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Delta Electronics, a Taiwanese provider of robotics and power management solutions, has unveiled what it describes as “a major advancement” in robotics simulation.

Its flagship product, the D-Bot Series Collaborative Robots (cobots), now integrates with Nvidia Omniverse – a platform of application programming interfaces (APIs), software development kits, and services that enable developers to harness Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) for physical AI – and Nvidia Isaac Sim, a reference simulation platform built on Omniverse for designing and testing robots.

This integration empowers developers to achieve real-time, high-fidelity, physically accurate simulations that dramatically enhance the development, testing, and deployment of advanced robotic solutions. [Read more…] about Delta Electronics unveils new collaborative robot integrating Nvidia simulation technology

Kiwibot modifies its robot for ads, delivery and cargo needs

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Kiwibot, a developer of autonomous sidewalk robots, has launched what it describes as a “first-of-its-kind rent-a-robot” service to support companies in their cargo, advertising, and delivery needs.

Kiwibot Automation helps clients improve their operational costs by providing end-to-end automation solutions, particularly in industries with labor-intensive operations.

This service is already available through the company’s webpage. The company officially unveiled the new multi-service robot during the ongoing Web Summit. [Read more…] about Kiwibot modifies its robot for ads, delivery and cargo needs

Beam unveils new underwater robot for wind farm operations

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Beam, a provider of high-technology offshore wind services, has launched a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Scout, a concept expected to enter the market in 2025, will put the power of subsea inspection directly in the hands of wind farm operators.

The company says this is “an important step” in Beam’s journey to develop cutting-edge underwater technologies that transform the viability and scalability of offshore wind. [Read more…] about Beam unveils new underwater robot for wind farm operations

Sotheby’s auctions painting by a robot for $1.124 million

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The New York branch of Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses when it comes to fine art and artefacts, has just sold a painting by a robot for more than $1.124 million.

The painting, called “AI God – Portrait of Alan Turing”, was produced by the humanoid robot Ai-Da, which readers of this website will probably know from our previous coverage, and which has its own website.

The estimated sale price of the mixed-media work was listed as being between $120,000 to $180,000 by Sotheby’s, which clearly did not accurately predict how much revenue the work would generate.

[Read more…] about Sotheby’s auctions painting by a robot for $1.124 million