Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

sensors

Anybotics upgrades its canine robot Anymal for industrial inspection

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Anybotics has upgraded its four-legged industrial inspection robot, Anymal, saying it is part of a new generation of machines. (See video below.)

Named “ANYmal C”, this robot is optimized for industrial inspection tasks where it can provide high availability, safety, and reliability for automated routine inspections with a wide range of sensors.

ANYmal C was presented for the first time at the World Robot Conference in Beijing recently. [Read more…] about Anybotics upgrades its canine robot Anymal for industrial inspection

Denso Hokkaido to expand semiconductor sensors production plant

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Denso says it will expand the plant of its semiconductor production plant which it operates under the name Denso Hokkaido, one of its group companies.

The measure is part of Denso’s efforts to increase production of semiconductor sensors, enhance its domestic production system and boost Denso group’s competitiveness.

Denso will invest about 11 billion yen ($103 million) by 2025 to complete the expansion and increase production. [Read more…] about Denso Hokkaido to expand semiconductor sensors production plant

Virginia Tech researchers aim to give robots bio-inspired gaits

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Two years ago, Kaveh Hamed saw his son Nikaan take his first steps on his own. He watched Nikaan’s one-year-old body teeter on wobbly legs as the baby walked forward.

And he saw Nikaan’s progress: he went from crawling on his belly to standing with a sway, to the first walks, to taking off across the floor on two sure feet.

These memories make Hamed think about math, as he does when he watches his dog Telli run. When he sees her bound toward him and switch to a trot, he starts to wonder again about the ways he might impart her agility to a robot. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech researchers aim to give robots bio-inspired gaits

SICK showcases new monitoring system for packaging operations

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SICK is showcasing a new monitoring system for packaging operations at Pack Expo.

The company describes it as “a revolutionary way to improve packaging processes”, and says it’s part of what it sees as a “smart moonitoring kit”.

Called “4.0 NOW Factory”, the sensor technology and dashboard represents how SICK can provide manufacturers greater visibility to their production processes, making it easier to implement improvements and new innovations. [Read more…] about SICK showcases new monitoring system for packaging operations

Septentrio and Artisense to demonstrate advanced localization technology for autonomous vehicles at Auto AI Show

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Septentrio, a manufacturer of GPS / GNSS technology for demanding applications, is providing positioning technology to Artisense, supplier of innovative computer vision solutions for automated vehicles.

Artisense incorporates Septentrio GPS / GNSS in their latest Visual Inertial Navigation System (VINS), which will be demonstrated live at Auto AI Show in Berlin, Germany on September 25-27, 2019.

VINS combines computer vision, inertial sensors and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) measurements to deliver highly accurate global 3D positioning and orientation information in any environment, even indoors. [Read more…] about Septentrio and Artisense to demonstrate advanced localization technology for autonomous vehicles at Auto AI Show

Omron says its optical sensors can better detect black surfaces

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Omron has launched an updated ranges of optical sensors that the company says can better detect black, mirrored and transparent surfaces.

Omron Electronic Components Europe says the new series of optical sensors, also feature a longer detection distance.

Omron B5W sensors are particularly effective at identifying black, transparent, reflective and other hard to detect services, and the new range also features enhanced performance in this area. [Read more…] about Omron says its optical sensors can better detect black surfaces

SICK to showcase indoor localization technology that lets you know where all your machines are at all times

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SICK is unveiling indoor localization technology which lets users know where all their machines are at all times.

The sensor supplier is planning to showcase the system at the Pack Expo Las Vegas later this month.

SICK says it has taken another step toward Industry 4.0 by offering a new, comprehensive indoor localization portfolio. [Read more…] about SICK to showcase indoor localization technology that lets you know where all your machines are at all times

Cornell scientists develop new material to give robots more sensitive touch

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A new synthetic material created by a scientist at Cornell University is said to give robots a “softer touch”.

Developed by PhD student Patricia Xu, at Cornell’s Organic Robotics Lab, the “sensory network” – also dubbed “optical lace” – is said to be similar to the human biological nervous system.

The lab’s paper, Optical Lace for Synthetic Afferent Neural Networks, was published in Science Robotics. [Read more…] about Cornell scientists develop new material to give robots more sensitive touch

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