Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

simulations

Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

by Leave a Comment

Nvidia researchers show how training in simulation enables the transfer of complex manipulation skills to a robot hand with project DeXtreme

The human hand is one of the most remarkable outcomes of millions of years of evolution. The ability to pick up all sorts of objects and use them as tools is a crucial differentiator allowing us to shape the world around us.

For robots to work in the everyday human world, the ability to deftly interact with our tools and the environment around them is critical. Without that capability, they will continue to be useful only in specialized domains such as factories or warehouses.

While it has been possible to teach robots with legs how to walk for some time, robots with hands have generally proven to be much trickier to control. A hand with fingers has more joints, and they must move in specific coordinated ways to accomplish a given task. [Read more…] about Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

NCKU researchers develop ‘first’ dual-mode piezotronics-based force sensor

by Leave a Comment

With the rise of Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, piezoelectrics, or materials that generate electric charge when a strain is applied to them, are becoming extremely useful as compact and energy-efficient force sensors.

Accordingly, piezotronics has emerged as a new technological frontier with applications in structural health monitoring in civil engineering and human-machine interface devices.

Piezotronic force sensors are typically governed by either a strain-induced “Schottky barrier height (SBH) modulation” or by a “piezo-gating effect” that redistributes the charge carriers in an induced piezoelectric field. [Read more…] about NCKU researchers develop ‘first’ dual-mode piezotronics-based force sensor

Miso Robotics partners with Amazon to test robots at scale

by Leave a Comment

Miso Robotics, which builds robotic solutions for the restaurant industry, is working with Amazon Web Services to begin testing the software powering its Flippy 2 and Flippy Lite robots using AWS RoboMaker.

The move to AWS RoboMaker is projected to allow Miso to run up to fifty simulations at once and will help the company turn future prototypes into functional products at a much quicker rate.

Chris Kruger, CTO of Miso Robotics, says: “Integrating into AWS RoboMaker has been a gamechanger for us to scale our products and make sure the software and its updates are ready to deploy with units in the field. [Read more…] about Miso Robotics partners with Amazon to test robots at scale

Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

by Leave a Comment

Omron is making available its Sysmac Studio 3D simulation software available to industrial companies. (See video below.)

The company says it will be the first in the industry to provide such a system, which “can integrate and verify the movements of robots and peripheral devices that make up facilities”.

Omron says its “extensive knowledge and technology of control equipment”, including robots, helped in its development of the software. [Read more…] about Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

Iowa scientists create nanoscale sensors to ‘better see how high pressure affects materials’

by Leave a Comment

Scientists at Iowa State University have developed new nanoscale technology to image and measure more of the stresses and strains on materials under high pressures.

As the researchers reported in the journal Science, that matters because, “Pressure alters the physical, chemical and electronic properties of matter.”

Understanding those changes could lead to new materials or new phases of matter for use in all kinds of technologies and applications, said Valery Levitas, a paper co-author and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering at Iowa State University, the Vance Coffman Faculty Chair and professor in aerospace engineering. [Read more…] about Iowa scientists create nanoscale sensors to ‘better see how high pressure affects materials’

Microsoft developing new robotics platform

by

Microsoft is developing what it describes as “an end-to-end toolchain to help make it easier for every developer and every organization to create autonomous systems for their own scenarios”.

The tech giant offered a glimpse into one of the components of the new robotics platform at the company’s recent Build conference for developers.

The “limited preview” talks about autonomous systems, motion control, machine teaching, and smart buildings and homes, among other things.

[Read more…] about Microsoft developing new robotics platform