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Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

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Since the start of April, Group PSA’s vehicles equipped with level 3 autonomous driving functions have been operating on open roads in France as part of the European L3Pilot project.

Six to eight vehicles will undergo intensive driving tests to validate autonomous functions on dual carriageways.

The project is strengthening Groupe PSA’s expertise in the development of autonomous vehicles, thanks to a global ecosystem of partners, including European carmakers, research centres and roads authorities.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

Arrow Electronics to take part in Qualcomm’s Smart Cities Accelerator Program

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Arrow Electronics, Inc. will take part in the Smart Cities Accelerator Program of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for the global acceleration of edge compute, 5G appliances and NB-IoT distributed sensors.

Qualcomm Technologies is promoting a library of Smart City solutions that combine existing mobile broadband networks while re-imagining existing infrastructure in cities around the world.

This will help drive additional value and integrate solutions with secure interoperability, edge processing and an ecosystem to deploy at scale.

[Read more…] about Arrow Electronics to take part in Qualcomm’s Smart Cities Accelerator Program

Four key criteria for industrial drive specification

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Specifying the right industrial drives is crucial to machine and overall process performance, but with industrial automation shaping the landscape for drive selection, it is vital to keep abreast of defining specification criteria.

Paul Streatfield, strategic product manager for industrial drives specialist Bosch Rexroth, explores four of the most recent key criteria for industrial drive specification, which meet the challenges of today’s industrial requirements.

It can be challenging to continually update your specification choices in line with the rapidly evolving landscape of Industry 4.0 but in doing so, machinery manufacturers can offer their customers a wealth of financial benefits as well as better use of factory space, optimised machinery performance and improved safety standards. [Read more…] about Four key criteria for industrial drive specification

Sick demonstrates ‘smart logistics’ system for warehouse automation

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Sensors supplier Sick showcased a new “smart logistics” system at the recent ProMAT Show, one of the world’s largest material handling exhibitions.

Sick says its system demonstrates how to obtain greater efficiency throughout supply chain operations.

Sick presented its new innovations under the banner of “Logistics Gets Smart”, and says they are designed to provide “highly efficient solutions for intralogistics applications”. [Read more…] about Sick demonstrates ‘smart logistics’ system for warehouse automation

EU report – the digital future could be stressful

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In a new report, EU-OSHA publishes the findings of a major 2-year project to anticipate the effects of digitalisation on occupational safety and health (OSH) in the EU.

The final results of this foresight project highlight developments in ICT-enabled technologies, the potential impact of these technologies on the nature and organisation of work, and the challenges and opportunities to OSH that they may bring.

Increased monitoring of workers, 24/7 availability, frequent job changes and the management of work by algorithm can raise levels of workers’ stress.

[Read more…] about EU report – the digital future could be stressful

Automated driving hype is ‘dangerously confusing drivers’

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Research by Europe’s leading road safety organisation shows that 71 percent of drivers around the world believe they can purchase a self-driving car right now.

The astonishing finding is just one of many worrying perceptions uncovered by the study, which also showed that one in 10 drivers would be tempted to have a nap while using a so-called “Highway Assist” system, such as Adaptive Cruise Control.

The TestingAutomation study, commissioned by Thatcham Research, Euro NCAP and Global NCAP, has discovered potentially dangerous false impressions around the apparent self-driving capability of new cars and the safe usage of Highway Assist technologies.  [Read more…] about Automated driving hype is ‘dangerously confusing drivers’

General Motors outlines vision of self-driving vehicles of the future

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“Imagine a world with no car crashes,” says General Motors in a statement outlining the company’s vision of the driverless automotive culture of the future.

“Our self-driving vehicles aim to eliminate human driver error – the primary cause of 94 percent of crashes — leading to fewer injuries and fatalities.

“Imagine widespread use of electric-only vehicles, reducing vehicle emissions. Our self-driving vehicles will all be electric, contributing to a better environment.  [Read more…] about General Motors outlines vision of self-driving vehicles of the future

Safe positioning monitoring: Concepts for machine safety

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By Martina Schili, Leuze electronic

As one of the technology leaders in the area of optoelectronic safety sensors for industrial automation, Leuze electronic offers effective personnel protection devices in accordance with international safety standards.

Machine safety is growing in importance and is, thus, becoming an integral part of machine design.

In addition to the moral obligation to protect and preserve the health of their employees, the topic of machine safety is also a matter of economic efficiency for employers and operating companies.  [Read more…] about Safe positioning monitoring: Concepts for machine safety

RIA partners with OSHA and NIOSH to create unpronounceable robot group

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The Robotics Industries Association is partnering with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to create a new standards body for robotics and other relevant industries. 

RIA is the main industrial robotics association in the US and was established in 1974.

OSHA and NIOSH are both government agencies – OSHA is under the Department of Labour, and NIOSH is under the Department of Health and Human Services.  [Read more…] about RIA partners with OSHA and NIOSH to create unpronounceable robot group

TUV Rheinland outlines cyber security threats to industrial robotics and automation systems

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TUV Rheinland was invited to attend Shanghai International Industrial Automation & Robot Exhibition 2017 earlier this month, and held thematic lectures on the “New Engine of Smart Society – Robots and Inspection & Certification Services for Robot Systems” during the exhibition.

Shu Xu, unit general manager of commercial products of TUV Rheinland Greater China, officially released in the lecture a white paper on industrial robotics and cyber security, drawing considerable interest of many exhibitors, media and professionals in the world of robotics.

The white paper provides a detailed picture of various cyber security risks faced by industrial robots, as well as latest developments on technological trends, standards and product testing in the cyber security industry.  [Read more…] about TUV Rheinland outlines cyber security threats to industrial robotics and automation systems