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Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

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By Thomas Knudsen, general manager Northern Europe, OnRobot

Within a diverse and innovative sector like the manufacturing industry, flexibility is key.

Robotics, a key enabler of this, has already taken this industry by storm, allowing factories worldwide to automate more and more tasks, cutting costs and increasing productivity.

However, simple automation is no longer enough. Manufacturers now require unique automation solutions for each specific production environment, to tackle the talent shortage they are facing, but can’t redesign facilities for every different process and application.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

Foxconn boss Terry Gou considers automating the entire population of Taiwan

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Foxconn boss Terry Gou has confirmed that he is considering running for president in Taiwan’s general election next year, according to the South China Morning Post.

“I will decide in the next two days whether to run for president,” Gou told reporters at a seminar in Taipei earlier today. “I hardly slept last night thinking of the future of Taiwan and its security issues.”

He added that the 2020 presidential election will be “extremely critical in determining Taiwan’s future in the next 20 years in the political, defense and economic sectors”.  [Read more…] about Foxconn boss Terry Gou considers automating the entire population of Taiwan

Doosan Robotics signs up RG Group as first US distributor and integrator

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RG Group has become the first US company to agree on a distribution and integration partnership for Doosan’s collaborative robots.

Doosan Robotics says its collaborative robots can be useful in different industries and processes ranging from assembly and inspection to gluing and packaging.

The company claims to have “the world’s most diversified lineup of collaborative robots” which boast high-performance torque sensors and the industry-leading collision detection technology.  [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics signs up RG Group as first US distributor and integrator

Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

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Traditional industrial robots tend to be very large and potentially dangerous, which is why they tend to be caged off and kept separate from human workers.

But a new company called Veo Robotics says it has the technology to transform traditional industrial robotic arms into safe machines that humans can work alongside, within close proximity.

Veo’s solution could make every industrial robot a collaborative robot. The term “collaborative” is recognized by international standards organizations and usually applies to much smaller, newer types of robots which are specifically designed to safe for humans to work with.  [Read more…] about Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

NextShift Robotics receives patent for vertical lift capability in robotic picking

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NextShift Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robot solutions for automated order fulfilment and warehouse materials management, has been granted a second patent, US10214354B2, “Method and System for Automated Transport of Items”.

The patent pertains to operating a robotic picking system in which the containers to be picked are positioned on the shelves and within picking stations.

The patent covers the ability of the robot to raise itself vertically to access shelving of different heights in order to pick the appropriate container from a range of shelf heights and storage system configurations.

[Read more…] about NextShift Robotics receives patent for vertical lift capability in robotic picking

Spinning in infinity: Exclusive insight into industrial technology giant Nidec

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Nidec Corporation is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial components, with annual revenues typically in the region of $11 billion.

The Japanese company’s technology can be found in products ranging from robots to computers, from cars to washing machines, and beyond.

There probably isn’t a machine builder on Earth who has not used or has at least considered using Nidec components at concept or production stage. In the computing sector, for example, Nidec is said to have the largest global market share for the tiny spindle motors that power hard-disk drives. Which means that the computer you’re reading this on is likely to have a Nidec component inside it.  [Read more…] about Spinning in infinity: Exclusive insight into industrial technology giant Nidec

Record number of robots shipped in North America in 2018

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Robots shipped to North American companies in record numbers last year, with more non-automotive companies installing robots than ever before, according to statistics from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA).

35,880 units were shipped in 2018, a 7 percent increase over 2017, with 16,702 shipments to non-automotive companies, up 41 percent.

Notable growth came in areas like food and consumer goods (48 percent), plastics and rubber (37 percent), life sciences (31 percent), and electronics (22 percent).

[Read more…] about Record number of robots shipped in North America in 2018

Global warehouse robotics market worth $6 billion by 2025: Hexa Research

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The global warehouse robotics market is expected to reach USD 6.00 billion by 2025, according to a report by Hexa Research.

The increasing importance of automation in the manufacturing sector is driving the market for robotics across the globe.

The products find utility as material handling equipment in various industries including automotive, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronics, oil & gas, construction, and e-commerce.

[Read more…] about Global warehouse robotics market worth $6 billion by 2025: Hexa Research

How The Field Of Robotics Is Benefiting From Advancements Made In Artificial Intelligence

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Promoted

Artificial intelligence and robotics result in a powerful combination when it comes to automating tasks both inside and outside the factory setting.

Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more present in recent years in robotic solutions, thus introducing learning capabilities and flexibility in what were consider rigid applications.

Despite the fact that artificial intelligence is still in its early stages and many have not yet felt the impact that artificial intelligence has, it has been a transformative technology when it comes to certain applications within the manufacturing sector.  [Read more…] about How The Field Of Robotics Is Benefiting From Advancements Made In Artificial Intelligence

Opinion: Robots are what we make them

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By Malene Grouleff

At a Belgian factory, the following sign stands next to a gigantic industrial robot: “This machine has no brain. Use your own.”

People are people. Robots are just robots.

When we say that we have a mission to raise awareness of new robot inventions, we encounter a wide range of different ideas about what robots actually are and what they are capable of. Until just a few years ago, robots were mostly found in the realm of science fiction or on the assembly lines of the automobile industry.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robots are what we make them