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The Future of Robotics in Large-Scale Clearing Operations

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Remote-controlled garbage bins used to glide through America’s most beloved theme parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney World, encourage visitors to put trash inside of them, but the widespread usage of robotics in larger-scale cleaning operations, such as land clearance, is still on the horizon.

Large machinery, such as mulchers, backhoes, and bulldozers, is generally utilized to clear spaces for new developments, whether they are industrial, commercial, or residential.

The technology used in these large machines is evolving rapidly, so these big machines do provide impressive performance. However, when it comes to efficient, eco-conscious cleaning and clearing in the future, robotics will surely play a bigger role. [Read more…] about The Future of Robotics in Large-Scale Clearing Operations

SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

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SoftBank Robotics says it has sold 10,000 units of its industrial or commercial vacuum cleaning robot, Whiz, making it “the global number-one in autonomous professional cleaning robots by sales”, according to Grand View Research.

SoftBank Robotics says that, as of the end of June 2020, it recorded global cumulative sales of more than 10,000 units of Whiz, which is an AI-enabled vacuum-cleaning robot.

Following SoftBank Robotics’ launch of the humanoid robot Pepper, the company launched Whiz as its second robot in November 2018, and it began providing Whiz commercially from May 2019 in Japan. [Read more…] about SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

MIT adapts Ava Robotics platform to build robot to disinfect Greater Boston Food Bank

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A robot built by MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has disinfected the Greater Boston Food Bank. (See video below.)

The robot uses ultraviolet-C light to disinfect a warehouse floor “in half an hour”, and could one day be employed in grocery stores, schools, and other spaces.

CSAIL developed the robot in partnership with Ava Robotics and the GBFB, and says the system “powerfully disinfects surfaces and neutralizes aerosolized forms of the coronavirus”. [Read more…] about MIT adapts Ava Robotics platform to build robot to disinfect Greater Boston Food Bank

Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

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Robots provide opportunities for a restart of the economy after the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to industry leaders surveyed by Automatica, one of the largest industrial automation trade shows in the world.

Messe Munchen, which owns Automatica, says it did a survey and found the following:

  • 84 percent of decision-makers expect more robot automation in German SMEs;
  • 77 percent of decision-makers rely on mobile robotics to convert production quickly; and
  • 76 percent of employees in SMEs want robotics training.

Even before the corona pandemic, the manufacturing industry in Germany was highly automated according to figures from the International Federation of Robotics and ranked third in robot density worldwide behind Singapore and South Korea. [Read more…] about Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

How Robotics Work in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry

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Driven by the never-ending increasing demand for more flexible solutions, industrial robots are extensively used in today’s plastics industry in all areas of the production process, including injection molding related operations.

Industrial robots can be used to automate the injection molding process by using a pick-and-place robot to load plastic parts into the machine or to place the finished pieces onto a conveyor belt.

And as human-operated injection molding leaves room for variations, the use of robots in the process ensures the production of the highest quality, accurately cut, formed, and measured finished products every single time. [Read more…] about How Robotics Work in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry

Hyundai Robotics secures $42 million investment from KT

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Hyundai Robotics, a specialized robot company and subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, has secured an investment of 50 billion Korean won (approximately $42 million) from KT, formerly Korea Telecom.

Hyundai Robotics recently signed a pre-IPO investment contract for the investment with KT at KT Gwanghwamun Building East in Jongno, Seoul. [Read more…] about Hyundai Robotics secures $42 million investment from KT

Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

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The Australian government’s newly formed Australian Space Agency (ASA) has partnered with Fugro to design, build and operate the Australian Space Automation, Artificial intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Western Australia.

Benefitting from additional funding support from the WA State Government, the new complex will support start-ups, small businesses and researchers in controlling robotics activities in space, including servicing satellites in orbit.

The ASA selected Fugro in Australia on the basis of their track record in cutting-edge remote operations and robotics control in harsh marine environments, which demonstrates their robust robotics control capability via satellite communications. [Read more…] about Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform

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Chipmaking giant recently unveiled its RB5 robotics platform.

Commercial products based on the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform are expected to be available in 2020, but the company has been partnering with a number of companies in advance.

New partners can now start developing products based on the platform, and are invited to visit the Qualcomm Developer Network webpage and the Qualcomm Technologies’ product webpage to ask for more information. [Read more…] about Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform

Realtime Robotics partners with Siemens to simplify integration of robotic workcells

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Realtime Robotics is partnering with Siemens to simplify the integration of robotic workcells into industrial facilities. (See video below.)

Realtime Robotics, which specialises in autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, says the initiative is part of its strategic partnership with Siemens Digital Industries Software division.

Realtime’s technology is being seamlessly integrated into the Tecnomatix portfolio, simplifying robot programming and workcell coordination by automating motion programming. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics partners with Siemens to simplify integration of robotic workcells

Comau launches global support network for small businesses

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Comau has launched a global web-based networking platform designed to support general industrial small medium enterprise.

The company says the platform will help create a “win-win ecosystem” between verified systems integrators and companies exploring automation opportunities.

To help industries of all sizes reap the benefits of automation in an intelligent and cost-effective manner, the Comau Marketplace platform features real-world case studies, targeted solutions and industry-specific guidance on how automation can help increase productivity and lower overall costs. [Read more…] about Comau launches global support network for small businesses