Robotics & Automation News

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ROEQ launches cart and other components for MiR250 mobile robot

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Denmark-based robotics company ROEQ has launched three new products simultaneously with the reveal of Mobile Industrial Robots’ new MiR250 mobile robot at one of the world’s largest logistics expos, MODEX 2020.

ROEQ’s new cart, adapter and top module work seamlessly with the MiR250, providing a fully automated workplace flow.

ROEQ says that when MiR launches a new robot, it’s “imperative” that accessories for the robot are immediately available as well. [Read more…] about ROEQ launches cart and other components for MiR250 mobile robot

Farewell to the old assembly line: Automation is changing manufacturing processes in the automotive industry

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The world’s leading trade fair for intelligent automation and robotics, automatica, will take place in Munich from June 16 to 19.

One main focus of the event will be on making automobile production more flexible.

Numerous exhibitors will present alternatives to conventional assembly line production with stationary conveyor technology, for example driverless transport systems and, of course, cobots for human-robot collaboration applications. [Read more…] about Farewell to the old assembly line: Automation is changing manufacturing processes in the automotive industry

Techman Robot opens new office in the Netherlands

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Techman Robot, a global leader of the collaborative robot has opened its first office in Europe, dedicated to providing instant services, training courses, and also as an inventory hub.

The new office is located in the Netherlands, which allows Techman Robot to respond effectively to the growing needs of their partners and customers in Europe, and also supports more local businesses that are interested in implementing robotic solutions.

Judy Chang, global sales director of Techman Robot, says: “From here we are not only close to our partners in the Benelux, but also closer to other European countries, which is an ideal location for us.” [Read more…] about Techman Robot opens new office in the Netherlands

Kassow Robots begins production of two new 7-axis collaborative robots

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Danish startup Kassow Robots has started production of two new collaborative robots which the company recently added to its product portfolio.

The two new cobots are the KR 1410 and the KR 1805.

Kassow says the KR 1805 has an 1.80-metre robot arm, which gives it an “unrivalled reach in the cobot market”, and opens up completely new applications for customers in industry.   [Read more…] about Kassow Robots begins production of two new 7-axis collaborative robots

Opinion: The incredible potential of soft robotics

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Alternatives to hard components hold potential for applications from surgery to space exploration

In January of 2019, Assistant Professor Ellen Mazumdar arrived in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering with the intention of building a robotic actuator without using a single hard component or material – a feat that, to her knowledge, had never been done before.

“We’re really interested in trying to build fully soft robots,” said Mazumdar. “In many current systems, soft components are hooked up to hard pumps or electronics. We want to move towards robots with soft actuators, soft sensors, soft electronics, and soft energy storage.”

In Mazumdar’s Sensing Technologies Laboratory, she is working with PhD student Noah Kohls to develop a biologically-inspired soft actuator that mimics the form and functionality of Xenia soft corals. [Read more…] about Opinion: The incredible potential of soft robotics

Boston Dynamics partners with Otto Motors to co-ordinate mobile robots in the warehouse

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Boston Dynamics, a developer of mobile manipulation robots, and OTTO Motors, a maker of industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), have unveiled what they describe as “a demo of the future of warehouse automation”.

In a video (see below), Boston Dynamics’s logistics robot, Handle, can be seen picking boxes and building pallets on top of OTTO AMRs in a distribution center testbed.

Last year, Boston Dynamics announced its efforts to add flexible, highly mobile automation technology to the warehouse with its Handle robot and Pick computer vision system. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics partners with Otto Motors to co-ordinate mobile robots in the warehouse

6 River Systems introduces ‘major enhancements’ to its mobile fulfillment robots

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6 River Systems (6RS), part of global commerce platform Shopify, has unveiled what it describes as “major enhancements” to its “wall-to-wall” fulfillment solution, including upgrades to its collaborative mobile robot, Chuck.

6RS says it provides warehouse operators the opportunity to “transform the entire fulfillment workflow from putaway, to picking, sorting and packing”.

Improvements to the solution’s order allocation algorithm and optimizations to batch, zone and other picking methodologies continue to reduce associate walking in the warehouse, says the company. [Read more…] about 6 River Systems introduces ‘major enhancements’ to its mobile fulfillment robots

SoftBank Robotics launches educational IDE for Pepper robot

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SoftBank Robotics Americas has launched an integrated development environment for its humanoid Pepper robot.

SoftBank calls the IDE “Tethys”, and says it has been created to teach students how to code.

The standalone visual programming software can connect to their humanoid robot, Pepper, to program full functionality of the robot in real time.

SBRA’s first commercially available software tool is the latest milestone in their longstanding education initiative spanning Nao, Pepper, and their partnership with the SoftBank Group. [Read more…] about SoftBank Robotics launches educational IDE for Pepper robot

Zymergen installs ‘dozens’ of miniature industrial robots from Mecademic

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Zymergen, a science and materials innovation company based in California, has integrated “dozens” of Meca500 robots to automate experiments in their life sciences facility. (See video below.)

The Meca500 is a miniature industrial robot manufactured by startup company Mecademic. It has found a great number of applications in labs and industries such as watchmaking and medical technology.

Some predict that Mecademic has huge potential with its robot, especially in wtachmaking and medtech, especially as there is currently no other robot like it. [Read more…] about Zymergen installs ‘dozens’ of miniature industrial robots from Mecademic

RoboDK celebrates five years of robot virtualisation software

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Founded by Albert Nubiola and Lauren Ierullo in January 2015, RoboDK is a spin-off company from the CoRo laboratory at ETS University in Montreal, Canada, one of the most prestigious robotics labs in North America.

While working on his PhD at CoRo lab, RoboDK’s CEO Albert Nubiola was the main developer of RoKiSim, a multi-platform educational software tool for 3D simulation of serial six-axis robots.

RoboDK software is the extended commercial version of RoKiSim and is designed to bring powerful robotics simulation and programming capabilities to companies large and small and to coders and non-coders alike. [Read more…] about RoboDK celebrates five years of robot virtualisation software