Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Soft robot can help a heart to pump

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harvard soft robot for heart

An innovative soft robotic sleeve which can help a heart to beat has been developed by researchers including Dr Ellen Roche of National University of Ireland Galway.

The soft robotic sleeve wraps around the organ, twisting and compressing in synch with the beating heart, potentially opening new treatment options for people suffering from heart failure.

Dr Roche is the paper’s first author and former PhD student at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and The Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. The research took place at Harvard and at Boston Children’s Hospital. [Read more…] about Soft robot can help a heart to pump

Thinking about the future? Top tips for a career in robotics

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Precision gearing specialist Harmonic Drive UK has released a one-page guide giving advice for those interested in a career in robotics.

The guide details the different routes that people can take to work in the sector, routes that depart from traditional robot manufacturing.

Given the engineering skills shortage, there are many jobs available in various areas of the robotics industry.  [Read more…] about Thinking about the future? Top tips for a career in robotics

Robotic suitcases: Who needs them?

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Whenever you have a good idea, you can be sure someone, somewhere has got the same idea, and has probably already built a prototype or even a business out of it. 

In the internet age, you’ve gotta move fast if you’re going to succeed in the making business. Or maybe try and think of an entirely original idea no one can steal.

So it was that we were thinking if we could find a robotic suitcase to take on our travels this year, to industry events and such. And sure enough there’s at least three we found on the market, and probably several others we don’t know about or haven’t got time to list.  [Read more…] about Robotic suitcases: Who needs them?

Industrial robot revenue will triple by 2025, says report

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industrial robots

ABI Research forecasts revenues will reach nearly $45 billion in 2025, fueled by Chinese demand

ABI Research forecasts that industrial robot shipments will exhibit an average year-over-year growth rate of 16 per cent by 2021.

As industrial robots continue to infiltrate the workforce to increase production efficiencies, this will result in annual revenue exceeding $30 billion in 2020 and nearly $45 billion in 2025.

The automotive sector will remain the leading acquirer of industrial systems, even as it loses share to other growing industry verticals, including the electrical and electronics, rubber, and plastics industries.  [Read more…] about Industrial robot revenue will triple by 2025, says report

Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

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DoBot Magician robot
The DoBot Magician robot from Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology

lockA Chinese startup company has demonstrated what it calls the “first industrial robotic arm for small business”, and has raised more than $400,000 on Kickstarter. 

The company describes the “DoBot M1” as a “professional SCARA based robotic arm” suitable for desktop use by small businesses, makers and hobbyists. Dobot was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas.

Manufactured by Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology, the Dobot M1 is a robotic arm with a number of extensions. The robots can also connected together to form a multi-arm system.  [Read more…] about Startup company launches DoBot ‘industrial’ robot at CES

Robotic concierge: Exclusive interview with Savioke boss

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Just ahead of appearing at the Consumer Electronics Show, Steve Cousins, CEO of Savioke gives Robotics and Automation News an exclusive interview

Some months ago, just after we started this website, we published a story about a new robotic concierge for hotels, launched by Savioke.

The company calls the robot “Relay”, although its buyers often give it nicknames – Dash, Botlr, and Wally are just some examples. 

Relay is not really a concierge – we just like that word… concierge… makes our website sound sophisticated. But anyway, the robot is smart enough to navigate its way within complex hotel interiors, with all their zig-zagging corridors and winding hallways, as well as their lifts with the slight gaps and uneven surfaces at the entrances.

These navigational challenges would of course not be a problem for most humans – we wouldn’t even think about them. Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to get around in hotels or in any other buildings quite easily – all the manoeuvring involved doesn’t present any difficulty, no matter how complex it may be.  [Read more…] about Robotic concierge: Exclusive interview with Savioke boss

Cleaning robots: Everybot ready for messy jobs

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There’s quite a few robotic floor cleaning devices already on the market, but there’s plenty of room for more. 

While the companies currently supplying robotic mops and vacuum cleaners have made a lot of money with them, the market is far from crowded.

The main reason for this is the price of robotic cleaning machines have actually been very high, especially if you go for the iRobot or Dyson models.  [Read more…] about Cleaning robots: Everybot ready for messy jobs

Robomotion and Sotec demonstrate cloud-connected Kuka industrial robot work cell

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kuka sotec robomotion
The first KR 3 Agilus is handed over to Dr Andreas Wolf, of Robomotion (second from left) and Florian Holz, of Sotec (third from left)

Industrial robotics and automation solutions provider Robomotion and software company Sotec have demonstrated a robotic work cell which they built around the Kuka KR Agilus robot.

The companies claim the cell is an example of “hands-on Industrie 4.0”.

The KR 3 Agilus is at the heart of the demo cell developed by Robomotion and Sotec, and the companies say the cell “demonstrates how the flow of data between robots and the cloud can work”.

Florian Holz, CEO of Sotec, says: “We want to give people an opportunity to experience the technology of Industrie 4.0 that we developed together at first hand.”  [Read more…] about Robomotion and Sotec demonstrate cloud-connected Kuka industrial robot work cell

Yaskawa showcases Neocortex robotic work cell for material handling

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Yaskawa has introduced a new robotic work cell developed in partnership with Motoman and Universal Robotics.

Yaskawa says the Neocortex Goods to Robot Cell is a “complete, pre-engineered adaptive picking solution”.

The system is the result of a collaboration between Yaskawa America, Motoman Robotics Division and Universal Robotics.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa showcases Neocortex robotic work cell for material handling

‘Believe it or not, automation may bring jobs back to the US’

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lincoln-electric-welding_with_viking_helmet_at_inside_west_coast_customs

One of the major concerns among blue collar workers is the fear that robotic automation will take jobs that are sorely needed by the average working Joe who simply wants to provide for his or her family.

While it is understandable to think this way since automation can do the work in less time and with more efficiency, it may not necessarily be true that automation is going to replace human jobs.

A study emanating from the UK’s prestigious Oxford University indicates that automation may actually be a very good thing in that it will not only bring factories back home, but it will stimulate the economy, creating more jobs in the process.  [Read more…] about ‘Believe it or not, automation may bring jobs back to the US’