Robotics & Automation News

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General Motors and Red Hat partner to develop software-defined vehicles

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Automotive giant General Motors and open source software provider Red Hat have formed a partnership to “help advance software-defined vehicles at the edge”.

The companies expect to expand an ecosystem of innovation around the Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System, which provides a functional-safety certified Linux operating system foundation intended for the ongoing evolution of GM’s Ultifi software platform.

The collaboration between Red Hat and GM is a significant moment in the convergence of the transportation and technology industries, with Red Hat’s cloud-native, enterprise-grade open source operating system accelerating the development of GM’s software-defined vehicle programs following Ultifi’s initial launch. [Read more…] about General Motors and Red Hat partner to develop software-defined vehicles

5 Benefits of Green Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Generators 

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Having a backup power source for your home during power outages or long road trips is essential for keeping you safe and connected.

And while generators have long relied on gas and fuel, there’s no reason to keep using generators that rely on harmful toxic fossil fuels.

That’s especially true when you get more from one that uses greener alternative energy sources. [Read more…] about 5 Benefits of Green Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Generators 

Airbus boss backs hydrogen airplanes as the ‘ultimate solution’

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The CEO of Airbus, currently the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, says he believes hydrogen-powered airplanes are the “ultimate solution” to the unfair criticism of the aerospace industry as a planet-polluting monster.

The World Wildlife Fund says the aviation industry is “one of the fastest-growing sources of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global climate change”, adding that air travel is “currently the most carbon intensive activity an individual can make”.

These things have been true for many decades, but with completely crazy extreme weather systems attacking different parts of the world on an almost weekly basis over the past couple of years, the search for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has taken on a new urgency. [Read more…] about Airbus boss backs hydrogen airplanes as the ‘ultimate solution’

Ubuntu could force itself to look at that creepy-looking canine robot CyberDog

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Canonical, the company which manages the Ubuntu open-source operating system, is reportedly planning to deepen its understanding of a creepy-looking canine robot called CyberDog – probably giving itself nightmares in the process.

CyberDog is a quadrupedal, experimental, open-source robot created by Chinese mobile phone giant Xiaomi. This canine robot is eerily similar to the other, more famous and even more terrifying robot dog produced by Boston Dynamics. That one – called Spot – is also open source.

Xiaomi says its aim in releaasing CyberDog is to “improve the robot development environment and promote the development of the robot industry”. Xiaomi says it has a clear vision for its product. [Read more…] about Ubuntu could force itself to look at that creepy-looking canine robot CyberDog

Panasonic Robot and Welding expands collaboration with Claas Saulgau

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Panasonic Robot and Welding System Solutions, a business unit of Panasonic Factory Solutions, and Claas Saulgau GmbH, a producer of agricultural machinery with over 100 years of experience, say they have “intensified” their existing collaboration.

Claas Saugau is extending its production facilities with three new welding systems with a total of five Panasonic welding robots of the latest generation and technology.

Frederik Kahlbau, key account manager for Claas Saulgau, says: “We delivered the first Panasonic welding system to Claas Saulgau GmbH in 2014. [Read more…] about Panasonic Robot and Welding expands collaboration with Claas Saulgau

Sole Source Capital raises $555 million for second fund

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Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, has closed its second fund, SSC Partners II or “Fund II”, with aggregate total commitments of $555 million.

Fund II was significantly oversubscribed with an initial target of $400 million and reached its hard cap. With the closing of Fund II, Sole Source Capital now manages in excess of $1 billion just three years after the launch of Fund I.

Since 2016, Sole Source has completed 24 transactions focusing on driving rapid value creation in lower middle market companies. [Read more…] about Sole Source Capital raises $555 million for second fund

InOrbit to support MassRobotics AMR Interoperability Standard

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InOrbit, a provider of a cloud-based robot operations platform, says its technology is now fully compatible with robots that implement the recently announced MassRobotics AMR Interoperability Standard.

The standard for autonomous mobile robots was developed recently by business accelerator MassRobotics and is helping robotics companies become standard-compliant.

The standard allows autonomous vehicles of different types to share information about their robots speed, location, direction, health, tasking and availability and other performance characteristics. [Read more…] about InOrbit to support MassRobotics AMR Interoperability Standard

Sole Source Capital portfolio company Supply Chain Services acquires ISG Technologies

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Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, says its portfolio company Supply Chain Services, a provider of automatic identification and data capture and factory automation solutions to customers across North America, has acquired ISG Technologies.

The acquisition of ISG Technologies adds to Supply Chain Service’s product line and expands its geographic reach into Texas.

This is the fourth add-on transaction supported by Sole Source Capital, following the purchases of Dasco Label, Miles Data and Coridian since Supply Chain Services was acquired in May 2020. Terms of the ISG Technologies transaction were not disclosed. [Read more…] about Sole Source Capital portfolio company Supply Chain Services acquires ISG Technologies

The Role of Robotics and Automation in Industry 4.0

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As the global manufacturing industry enters its fourth revolution, innovations such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to take over. (1)

The number of active industrial robots worldwide is increasing by approximately 14% year on year, and automation continues to create new types of robots with improved utility and function. [Read more…] about The Role of Robotics and Automation in Industry 4.0

Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion

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Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, has acquired Peak-Ryzex from Keystone Capital and Optical Phusion from its founders, two leading providers of automatic identification, data capture and factory automation solutions.

The companies will be merged and led by Peak-Ryzex CEO Juliann Larimer, CFO Michele Adams and Optical Phusion president Tony Rivers. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

The combination will yield significant technological and operational synergies as well as deliver enhanced cross-selling opportunities to a broad set of clients ranging from small and medium sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies – all seeking supply-chain logistical support. [Read more…] about Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion