Robotics & Automation News

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robotics and automation

Virginia Tech opens new center to ‘shape the future of advanced manufacturing’

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For years, Virginia Tech has forged its place as a powerhouse in advanced manufacturing research. With the launch of Virginia Tech Made: The Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the university welds its mission to shape the future of the field with its commitment to train the workforce to lead it.

Housed within the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech Made will cultivate cross-campus collaborations, expand partnerships with industry and government, and train manufacturing professionals based on the university’s expertise in advanced materials, manufacturing technologies, computational design, data analytics, and digital infrastructure.

As faculty affiliated with the center advance state-of-the-art technology, they’ll focus on workforce development and outreach as key components of the center’s mission. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech opens new center to ‘shape the future of advanced manufacturing’

Opinion: Mechanical engineers and robotics form the basis of competing with China

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By Shaun Edwards, CTO and co-founder, Plus One Robotics

As it falters in its reshoring efforts against China, the US faces a clear obstacle: mechanical engineers.

According to the New York Times, the data are apparent, with China graduating more than 350,000 mechanical engineers each year, while the US lags behind with a mere 45,000.

This puts the US at a structural disadvantage because its ability to innovate is hindered by a lack of a skilled workforce. [Read more…] about Opinion: Mechanical engineers and robotics form the basis of competing with China

New tax rules allow total and immediate deduction of costs of robotics and automation equipment

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New tax rules introduced by the US government would allow companies to immediately deduct all of the costs of investing in robotics and automation equipment, according to a report on Wall Street Journal. 

In fact, the tax break could extend to other types of equipment as well.

Previously, companies were only allowed to write down investments and not have to pay tax on them slowly over the course of a year.  [Read more…] about New tax rules allow total and immediate deduction of costs of robotics and automation equipment

Market research reports: A roundup of the latest surveys about the robotics and automation industry

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There seems to be an increasing number of reports about the robotics and automation market, each looking at different segments, often in a different way. 

It’s difficult to keep track of them all, let alone look too deeply into them and evaluate the data contained within.

So, it seems best to list all the reports currently making the headlines, and maybe readers can decide which ones are relevant and useful to them.  [Read more…] about Market research reports: A roundup of the latest surveys about the robotics and automation industry

German robotics and automation industry set to break records and grow faster than previously expected

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The German robotics and automation industry is growing at a faster rate than previously forecast, according to the VDMA, and will break records. 

The sector will reach €14 billion ($16.4 billion) annually for the first time, says the VDMA.

The VDMA is the German industrial association, said to be the largest in Europe, with more than 3,200 member companies from the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

The organisation has a section called VDMA Robotics + Automation, a specialist association with more than 270 members, which includes suppliers of components and systems from the areas of robotics, integrated assembly solutions, and industrial image processing.  [Read more…] about German robotics and automation industry set to break records and grow faster than previously expected