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IDS launches training software for its industrial vision systems

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Imaging Development Systems, or IDS, a specialist supplier of industrial cameras, has launched new training software for its industrial vision systems.

The company says the software’s ease of use lowers entry barrier for users without prior knowledge.

IDS NXT lighthouse is described as “intuitive AI training software”, and does not require programming knowledge. Camera hardware and training software are available via IDS NXT ocean Design-In Kit. [Read more…] about IDS launches training software for its industrial vision systems

Honeywell forms business units for unmanned aerial systems

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Honeywell has formed a new business unit dedicated to the growing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industries.

The UAS business unit will continue Honeywell’s momentum and leadership in these emerging markets, utilizing Honeywell’s technology, software, services and certification expertise to meet customers’ needs in these markets.

Mike Madsen, president and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace, says: “Urban Air Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems will play an increasing role in the future of aerospace, with potential applications in all-electric urban air taxi vehicles, hybrid-electric unmanned cargo drones, optionally piloted airplanes, delivery drones and everything in between. [Read more…] about Honeywell forms business units for unmanned aerial systems

Universal Robots adopts industry standard protocol OPC UA

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Universal Robots, the largest manufacturer of collaborative robots, is now supporting the OPC UA data communication standard to its robots. (See video below.)

Norwegian software company Rocketfarm has developed the application that enables UR robots to support OPC UA, and is available through its developer network UR+.

Egil Mundal, CEO of Rocketfarm, says: “We initially developed the software for a local factory but thought it would be great if this functionality could be available for anyone who wants to connect UR robots with OPC UA. [Read more…] about Universal Robots adopts industry standard protocol OPC UA

Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

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Intralogistics technology provider Dematic says that its parent company, Kion Group, has completed the acquisition of Digital Applications International, a UK-based software company specializing in logistics automation solutions, on its behalf.

Valued at around €120 million, the transaction is Kion’s largest investment since acquiring Dematic in 2016.

The addition of DAI significantly expands Dematic’s intralogistics software offerings to support the movement, storage and distribution of goods through the entire supply chain. [Read more…] about Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution

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Autonomous Solutions Inc has launched an unmanned yard truck solution. The system is basically an industrial robotic arm on the back of a driverless truck. (See video below.)

The technology combines the expertise of four companies:

  • Autonomous Solutions Inc, which specialises in vehicle automation;
  • Phantom Auto, a provider of remote communication software for unmanned vehicles;
  • Fanuc America, a manufacturer of industrial robots, CNC systems, and factory automation products and services; and
  • Terberg, a truck manufacturer.

ASI’s Mobis software gives operators real-time awareness and control of a fleet of unmanned trucks, each of which is driven by ASI’s proven autonomous vehicle technology. [Read more…] about Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution

Present times require clever solutions, digitalisation, and process automation: How Y Soft has implemented robots in its offices

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By Ondřej Krajíček, chief technology strategist at Y Soft

Since the world was turned on its head as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, organisations in all sectors have been forced to transform the way they work, speed up their digital transformation projects and rapidly innovate their processes in a way they’ve never had to previously.

So far, we’ve seen organisations completely repurposing their offering to help in the fight against coronavirus, such as manufacturers producing PPE; we’ve seen staff rapidly reskilled, or even being offered from one industry to another; and we’ve seen organisations using technologies to create innovations in both software and hardware.

At Y Soft, we’ve been using our fleet of 3D Printers to contribute face shields to hospitals around the world, but we’ve also been implementing various innovations internally, to ensure our operations continue seamlessly while we’re not physically in the office. [Read more…] about Present times require clever solutions, digitalisation, and process automation: How Y Soft has implemented robots in its offices

Siemens acquires provider of virtual training for industrial companies Vizendo

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Siemens has acquired Swedish service and software company Vizendo, a provider of virtual operator training for automotive manufacturing.

Virtual training enables industrial companies to reduce their training times and launch new products faster and in higher quality.

Karen Florschütz, CEO of the customer services business unit at Siemens, says: “Virtual training has huge growth potential. Vizendo’s service and software range ideally complements our digital services and thus our Digital Enterprise portfolio. [Read more…] about Siemens acquires provider of virtual training for industrial companies Vizendo

Delta acquires industrial automation software company Trihedral

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Delta Electronics is to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Trihedral Engineering, a Canadian SCADA and IIoT software company, for more than $33 million.

The acquisition will unite Delta’s hardware and Trihedral’s software in the rapidly growing field of automation, AI, and data analytics.

Delta says the initiative will further strengthen its sales expansion in various fields such as industrial automation for smart manufacturing. [Read more…] about Delta acquires industrial automation software company Trihedral

Tech giants and driverless cars: Racing against the automakers

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Modern tech conglomerate Amazon – whose interests range from online shopping, through computing devices such as the Kindle and Amazon Echo, to cloud computing and even space exploration – is in advanced talks to acquire self-driving startup Zoox, according to a report on the Financial Times website. 

It’s not the first time Amazon has shown interest in the automotive sector. The company was the lead investor in Aurora Innovation’s $530 million funding round last year.

Aurora is seen as a rival to Waymo, the driverless car company set up by Google, another tech giant. [Read more…] about Tech giants and driverless cars: Racing against the automakers

NXP expands partnership with Microsoft Azure RTOS

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NXP Semiconductors has expanded its partnership with Microsoft to bring Microsoft Azure real-time operating system (RTOS) to a broader range of processing solutions from its EdgeVerse portfolio.

The collaborative efforts will give NXP’s developer community using MCUXpresso Software and Tools seamless access to the capabilities of Azure RTOS, including fully integrated middleware and tools for file management, graphical user interface, security, networking, and wired/wireless connectivity.

Currently, Azure RTOS support is available for many of NXP’s low-power, secure 32-bit LPC and i.MX RT crossover microcontrollers (MCUs). [Read more…] about NXP expands partnership with Microsoft Azure RTOS