Robotics & Automation News

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Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

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Mitsubishi Electric has released the company’s smallest and most powerful compact programmable logic controller to date – the FX5UC series Premium Micro PLC.

The company says the new PLC’s diminutive size is set to help machine builders and manufacturers pack “ever more functionality into a smaller space”, while also providing the web access and network connectivity demanded by the latest smart factory applications.

Mitsubishi Electric launched its first range of micro controllers, the FX family of PLCs, over 35 years ago as part of the MELSEC-F series. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

Doosan Robotics introduces new collaborative robot to Korea

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Doosan Robotics showed its new Cobot A series for the first time at the 2019 Korea Machinery Fair (KOMAF) held from October 22 to 25 at KINTEX in Ilsan.

2019 Korea Machinery Fair, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI), was held on the largest scale ever.

Doosan Robotics has four models (A0509, A0509s, A0912, and A0912s) in the A series, and they are characterized by the industry’s fastest speed and acceleration. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics introduces new collaborative robot to Korea

TRAPO’s new transport shuttle brings ‘new flexibility’ to palletising

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Logistics technology provider TRAPO says its new transport shuttle brings “new flexibility” to the palletising zone and warehouse.

The TRAPO Transport Shuttle, part of the company’s TTS series, transports loads of up to 2,000 kilograms, with higher load capacity available on request.

TRAPO says the TTS is based on a modular principle and can be flexibly configured: size, energy transmission and storage, drive and navigation. [Read more…] about TRAPO’s new transport shuttle brings ‘new flexibility’ to palletising

Nachi-Fujikoshi having a big impact with its small robot

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Nachi-Fujikoshi is having a big impact with its small robot since its launch at the start of this year, and is likely to beat its annual sales targets going forward.

Nachi says the new MZ01 Ultracompact Robot is the “world’s smallest vertically articulated robot with a payload of 1 kg”.

The company is likely to beat its sales target of 3,000 units a year. [Read more…] about Nachi-Fujikoshi having a big impact with its small robot

Mitsubishi launches new range of industrial computers

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation has released a new range of its MELIPC Series industrial-use computers for data computing, edge computing, remote monitoring, and the integration of hardware and software technologies.

The MELIPC Series is targeted towards original equipment manufacturers and end users running general manufacturing applications, and especially those who require a computing and data monitoring solution that takes up a limited amount of space with a small footprint.

Most importantly, MELIPC is designed to enable internet of things on factory floors that have not been introduced to it yet, or improve it where it is already enabled. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi launches new range of industrial computers

Autonomous vehicles simulator Applied Intuition raises $40 million in funding

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Applied Intuition, a provider of a simulation platform for autonomous vehicle development, has raised $40 million in Series B financing.

The funding round was led by General Catalyst with participation from Kleiner Perkins, M12 (Microsoft), Sozo Ventures, and La Famiglia.

Previous investors, Andreessen Horowitz, Lux Capital, and Floodgate, also participated in this round. [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicles simulator Applied Intuition raises $40 million in funding

Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

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Takeoff Technologies has closed its Series C fundraising with an additional $25 million in investment for 5 percent of the company, with a valuation of $500 million, bringing the total funds raised to $86 million.

The Series C funding was led by Forrestal Capital. This funding is set to propel a rollout scale across North America, Europe and Australia.

Takeoff is at the forefront of microfulfillment as the first and only solution provider with several operating sites in partnership with major grocery retail chains. [Read more…] about Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

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Yamaha is using part of its $100 million investment fund to buy a stake in Advanced Farm Technologies.

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley led the Series A funding round for the startup.

Yamaha says this latest investment reflects the company’s “core interest in businesses driving innovation in the agricultural sector. [Read more…] about Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

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

Mercedes and BMW launch long-term development partnership for automated driving

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Daimler-Mercedes-Benz and BMW have entered into a “co-operation” agreement on the development of autonomous cars, or “automated driving”, as the two companies call it.

Representatives from the two companies have signed an agreement for a long-term strategic cooperation, which will focus on joint development of next-generation technologies for driver assistance systems, automated driving on highways and automated parking.

The developments are intended to vehicles that are classed as “Level 4” – or “full autonomy with human” – on the SAE’s categorisation. SAE is a global engineering association which has published a “levels of driving automation” table which goes from Level 0 for no autonomy to Level 5 for full autonomy. [Read more…] about Mercedes and BMW launch long-term development partnership for automated driving