Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

robotics

Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

by

Andrew Watts, CEO Newtecnic, discusses the construction industry’s move towards robotics and mass-customization that brings designers and makers together for positive disruption within and beyond the industry

Digitalization, robotics and automation, have produced significant quality and productivity benefits in manufacturing over several decades.

In construction, however, while digitalization has very successfully automated design, the disconnect between designing and making is ripe for an industrial revolution.

And while innovative product manufacturers use technology to move from mass-production to mass-customization, the construction industry is only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production of standardized components.

This use of what can be considered an outmoded idea seems to be a retrograde step because the opportunity now exists for construction to deploy the very latest technology and thereby take the lead in manufacturing.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

China accelerating toward robot-dominated future with $2.1 artificial intelligence technology park idea

by

The Chinese government has unveiled plans to build a massive technology park through which the country’s leaders probably want to see the development of world-leading robotics and artificial intelligence technologies of the future.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is demanding that scientists and other boffins in the world’s most populous nation achieve a “major breakthrough” in AI technology by 2025.

Jinping says he dreams of China becoming a global leader in advanced technologies and has ordered his politburo to prioritise computing and the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about China accelerating toward robot-dominated future with $2.1 artificial intelligence technology park idea

Business forecasts for robotics and automation industries

by

Prediction is a tricky business, but with good-quality historical data, one should be able to make reasonably accurate forecasts about what the next few years have in store. 

Here are a few of the reports which analyse the robotics and automation market as well as related markets to provide insights which may help you plan your business.

Global Industrial Robot Vision Systems Market 2017-2021
A newly emerging market which currently probably does not offer a whole lot of statistics, but it’s certainly set for growth judging by the increasing demand for robotic vision systems.
Researcher: Technavio
Report price: $2,500

Global Robotic Tool Changers Market 2017 – Production, Sales, Supply, Demand, Analysis & Forecast to 2021
An overview of the global market for robotic tool changers, this report also takes a close look at the leading companies in the market as well as some of the key technologies.
Researcher: MRS Research Group
Report price: $2,900

Industrial Robot Servo Motor Market 2017-2022 Share, Growth, Market Dynamics, Key Manufacturers, Economic Impact and Forecast
The entire industrial robotics sector grew out of the servo motor, apparently, so this is a key market and technology. This report looks at the opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are, and will be, driving future growth.
Researcher: Absolute Reports
Report price: $3,000

Automotive Robotics Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-2025
The global market for automotive robots is continuing to grow, even though the automotive trade is already the largest buyer of industrial robots. This report looks at the type of robots the automotive industry uses and looks at the leading robot suppliers.
Researcher: Transparency Market Research
Report price: $5,200

Industrial Automation Market Research Report – Forecast 2022
Industrial automation is a large area set for tremendous growth going forward, with many more smart factories using industrial internet of things networks. This report looks at a variety of markets and technologies.
Researcher: Market Research Future
Report price: $4,450

 

Book preview: New academic study on the subject of robots with legs

by

Bioinspired Legged Locomotion: Models, Concepts, Control and Applications
By Maziar Sharbafi and André Seyfarth

Elsevier has released a book which may be of interest to roboticists. Here’s a preview.

The book explores the universe of legged robots, bringing in perspectives from engineering, biology, motion science, and medicine to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.

With comprehensive coverage, each chapter brings outlines, and an abstract, introduction, new developments, and a summary.  [Read more…] about Book preview: New academic study on the subject of robots with legs

Rewired appoints Gleb Chuvpilo as managing partner as it opens new Switzerland office

by

Rewired, the $100 million robotics-focused venture studio and fund, has appointed Silicon Valley technology investment veteran Gleb Chuvpilo as managing partner. 

Chuvpilo had previously served as a venture partner with Rewired, helping identify, validate, and collaborate with the firm’s growing list of portfolio companies working with applied science technologies to develop what Rewired calls “the next generation of robotics”.

Chuvpilo brings both venture experience and deep technical expertise, with a master’s degree from the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  [Read more…] about Rewired appoints Gleb Chuvpilo as managing partner as it opens new Switzerland office

Commercial and industrial robotics market to see ‘rapid growth’ over the next eight years, says report

by

The commercial and industrial robotics market is expected to see rapid growth over the next eight years, according to the latest forecasts from ABI Research.

Different research companies segment the robotics and automation industry in different ways, so it’s up to readers to decide how to piece together the various reports to build up a complete picture.

But according to ABI Research, what it calls the “commercial and industrial robotics market” will see revenues increase from $15 million in 2017 to over $48 million in 2025.  [Read more…] about Commercial and industrial robotics market to see ‘rapid growth’ over the next eight years, says report

Humanoid robot market to grow to $4 billion in five years

by

The market for humanoid robots is forecast to grow to $4 billion in about five years, according to a new report by ReportsnReports. 

The researcher values the current market at approximately $320 million in 2017. So that would mean annual growth of more than 50 per cent.

Humanoids include such robots as Pepper and Nao, which are owned by SoftBank Robotics, as well as Emiew, produced by Hitachi, and Honda’s famous Asimo, although that one is more of an exhibition robot.

The others, like Nao and Pepper, for example, are already finding many buyers. SoftBank says it has sold 10,000 units of Nao, and it releases batches of 1,000 at a time of the Pepper robot, and it sells out online within minutes.  [Read more…] about Humanoid robot market to grow to $4 billion in five years

Yaskawa Electric reports stunning 150 per cent more profits with robotics and automation leading the way

by

Yaskawa Electric says it has achieved a staggering 150 per cent growth in net profit for the period from April to September, compared with the same period last year, according to a report on Nikkei. 

Nikkei says Yaskawa’s profits for the period were $184 million, beating its own previous records.

Yaskawa, which also owns the Motoman brand of industrial robot, says most of the growth was due to increased orders for automation equipment from China, Japan and the US.  [Read more…] about Yaskawa Electric reports stunning 150 per cent more profits with robotics and automation leading the way

Japanese companies prepare to bring forward new generation of humanoid collaborative robots capable of a variety of industrial work

by

 

There was a time when Japanese electronics companies were the Apples and Googles of the world, with everyone buying their products and talking about them in the media.

Many of those same formerly pre-eminent names today play second fiddle to the Silicon Valley tech giants.

But while they may not be discussed as much as they were in the past – and their products not as ubiquitous in the consumer market – Japanese companies still loom large in the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about Japanese companies prepare to bring forward new generation of humanoid collaborative robots capable of a variety of industrial work