Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

sensors

Bosch and Daimler to pilot automated driving in California

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Bosch and Daimler have chosen in a city located in the San Francisco Bay in Silicon Valley, California, as the pilot location for a first test fleet developing fully-automated and driverless driving.

Bosch and Daimler will offer customers a shuttle service with automated vehicles on selected routes. Daimler Mobility Services is envisaged as the operator of this test fleet and the app-based mobility service.

The pilot project will demonstrate how mobility services such as car sharing (car2go), ride-hailing (mytaxi) and multi-modal platforms (moovel) can be intelligently connected to shape the future of mobility.

[Read more…] about Bosch and Daimler to pilot automated driving in California

Columbia university develops robotic neck brace that ‘dramatically improves’ movement

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Columbia university has developed a robotic neck brace that it says “dramatically improves functions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. (See video below.)

The brace incorporates both sensors and actuators to “restore roughly 70 percent of the active range of motion”.

The novel neck brace, which supports the neck during its natural motion, was designed by Columbia university engineers. [Read more…] about Columbia university develops robotic neck brace that ‘dramatically improves’ movement

Continental launches series production of technologies for robo-taxis

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Continental’s technology for driverless vehicles will be in production for the first time in French company EasyMile’s EZ10 autonomous shuttle. Continental has held a stake in this driverless vehicle manufacturer since 2017.

Driverless robo-taxis will become an important part of mobility in urban centers, helping to reduce traffic congestion and increase efficiency, says the company.

Driverless transport systems of this kind are still rare. Small autonomous shuttle buses with room for several passengers – which also qualify as robo-taxis – have driven on short, straightforward public routes during pilot projects and in designated areas at airports, hospitals, universities, and exhibition grounds.

[Read more…] about Continental launches series production of technologies for robo-taxis

Toposens launches ultrasonic sensor for close-range perception

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Toposens has launched what it describes as its “current flag-ship product”, the TS3, a 3D ultrasonic sensor.

The company says the TS3 us suitable for a wide range of applications in the autonomous systems market that require a strong need for reliable object detection and situational awareness.

In comparison to common ultrasonic sensors, which usually measure the distance only to the closest reflecting surface, Toposens’ new 3D sensors achieve “a wide field of view of up to 160° and provide simultaneous 3D measurements for multiple objects within the scanning area”, says the company. [Read more…] about Toposens launches ultrasonic sensor for close-range perception

Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

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Omron Corporation has launched the E2EW Series of Full Metal Proximity Sensors, which have the world’s longest sensing distances, the company claims.

The automotive industry needs lighter automobiles, for electric vehicles and low fuel consumption, encouraging the material change in automotive components from iron to aluminium.

This will increase mixed production lines containing iron and aluminium. Full metal proximity sensors are mainly used in welding processes. However, previous full metal proximity sensors have short sensing distances.

[Read more…] about Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

Isorg and Sumitomo Chemical partner to develop organic photodetectors

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Isorg, a developer of organic photodetectors and large-area image sensors, and Sumitomo Chemical, a provider of OPD materials production and other fields, have agreed a partnership to develop new OPD products for use as smartphone fingerprint sensors and hybrid organic CMOS image sensors.

This agreement expands the existing collaboration between Sumitomo Chemical and Isorg that began in 2013.

Isorg will license its technology processes to its OEMs, while Sumitomo Chemical will manufacture the dedicated organic semiconductor material, as well as support Isorg in terms of production technology and marketing. [Read more…] about Isorg and Sumitomo Chemical partner to develop organic photodetectors

Fanuc demonstrates cobots at Amazon’s re:MARS Conference

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Fanuc America, supplier of robotics, CNCs and Robomachines, has expanded its line of collaborative robots to include six models, on display at  re:MARS Tech Showcase 4-7 June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

The series of power and force limiting collaborative robots can handle 4-35 kg payloads and a 550-1813 mm reach.

The cobots are equipped with Fanuc’s iHMI touch screen user interface. The Hand Guidance feature allows operators to teach a collaborative robot by leading it through paths, and/or use it to lift heavy objects manually.

[Read more…] about Fanuc demonstrates cobots at Amazon’s re:MARS Conference

Sick launches Free Flow Profiler for moving traffic scanning

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SICK has launched the Free Flow Profiler vehicle measurement system that enables accurate 3D profiling of vehicles across multiple lanes in free-flow traffic.

The SICK Free Flow Profiler is a versatile and adaptable all-weather system for vehicle tolling and classification uses, especially useful in operations such as optimal weight loading of ferries or trains and for verifying vehicle dimensions to maximise revenue recovery.

During multi-lane, free road movement, SICK 2D LiDAR sensors are set up to scan traffic at a high frequency and measure vehicle length, width and height automatically.

[Read more…] about Sick launches Free Flow Profiler for moving traffic scanning

Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots

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Robotics and Automation News is hosting a webinar about collaborative robot safety presented by SICK, on June 24th, at 11 am EST.

SICK is one of the leading providers of sensors for robots. The company’s sensors are in the majority of the new generation of robots in the market today.

In this webinar, Mark Nehrkorn, SICK’s director of safety, will present an update in the safety standards in the field of collaborative and autonomous mobile robots. [Read more…] about Webinar: Safety Standards Update – Collaborative and Autonomous Mobile Robots

Endress+Hauser expands sensor technology plant

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Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG, part of the Endress+Hauser Group, has expanded its plant in Ebnat-Kappel in eastern Switzerland.

The expansion of the site is in response to growing demand for its sensors. The facility, built at a cost of nearly 15 million euros, now offers double the floor space.

The 13,500-square-metre plant includes roughly 3,700 square metres of production space, 1,500 of which is set aside for clean rooms.

[Read more…] about Endress+Hauser expands sensor technology plant