Robotics & Automation News

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Walmart begins to scale local fulfillment centers

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Walmart, the world’s largest supermarket chain, has started to scale its local fulfillment centers in the apparent belief that highly automated micro-warehouses are the way to go. 

The company has been working with a range of robotics companies on changing many aspects of its operation, and Alphabot (main picture) is one of the robots it has been testing.

Brian Roth, senior manager of pickup automation and digital operations for Walmart US, says: “With Alphabot, our associates should be able to put even more focus on helping the customer.” [Read more…] about Walmart begins to scale local fulfillment centers

Siemens launches new version of Simcenter 3D

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Siemens Digital Industries Software announces the availability of the latest release of Simcenter 3D software, part of the Simcenter portfolio of simulation and test solutions.

Simcenter 3D and the Simcenter portfolio are part of the Xcelerator portfolio, Siemens’ integrated portfolio of software, services and application development platform.

In the 2021 release, Simcenter 3D continues to further improve its powerful unified and shared engineering platform for all simulation disciplines to help users gain full value of the benefits that simulation provides in terms of cost, speed and impact to innovation. [Read more…] about Siemens launches new version of Simcenter 3D

SICK launches new product for contactless measurement of speed and length

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SICK Sensor Intelligence has launched a new system for contactless measurement of speed and length.

With the SPEETEC sensor solution, SICK says it is expanding its product range for speed and length measurement of objects moving in a linear path to include technology that measures directly on the material surface.

The non-contact sensor is able to measure a wide range of web and continuous materials, as well as blanks with an accuracy of just 4 µm. [Read more…] about SICK launches new product for contactless measurement of speed and length

SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

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A Japanese startup company called SkyDrive has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest flying car. (See video below.)

Designed to carry one person, the vehicle could be said to be the aerial equivalent of a motorcycle.

SkyDrive says it can put the what we’ll call the “airbike” into mass production in just two years’ time, by which time there should be more regulations about aerial vehicles. [Read more…] about SkyDrive launches ‘world’s smallest flying car’

Fanuc showcases its robotic technologies at CES for the first time

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Fanuc, the world’s leading supplier of robotics, CNCs, Robomachines and industrial internet-of-things solutions, has been showcasing its technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show for the first time.

After nearly 40 years of providing robots and automation for manufacturing, Fanuc says it is experiencing “rapid growth in consumer-oriented and service markets including e-commerce and warehousing, food preparation, agriculture and entertainment”.

At CES, Fanuc offered visitors the opportunity to interact with its robots in a wide range of demonstrations and contests including a selfie station, a voice-activated gift selection, hand-guided robot programming, and speed and dexterity challenges. [Read more…] about Fanuc showcases its robotic technologies at CES for the first time

Grote demonstrates robotic sandwich-making system

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A company called Grote has demonstrated a robotic sandwich-making system which it developed in partnership with Stäubli Robotics. (See video below.)

Grote is a manufacturer of food processing equipment and the system it showcased at the International Baking Industry Exposition is said to be feature “robotic food contact for the first time in America”.

Grote’s systems shows how it utilizes Stäubli’s TX2-60 HE robotic arms to assemble sandwiches, cut them, and place them on trays. [Read more…] about Grote demonstrates robotic sandwich-making system

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

Veo Robotics launches new solution that aims to make all industrial robots collaborative

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Startup company Veo Robotics has launched its first commercially available product – FreeMove, a hardware-and-software solution which is said to be able to transform standard or traditional industrial robots into collaborative robots. 

Traditionally, industrial robotic arms have been treated with some trepidation, and are still always caged off or otherwise kept separate from human workers.

Their size, weight and speed make industrial robotic arms potentially very dangerous, and without any programming about human workers and how to avoid endangering them, they can be lethal. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics launches new solution that aims to make all industrial robots collaborative

Material advancements allow creation of ‘perfect products’

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Since the turn of the 17th century, the planet has undergone a huge period of industrialization. Although the manufacturing companies operating today bear little resemblance to the factories of decades past, many of the processes we use today can trace their lineage to those earlier times.

Stated by polyurethane manufacturers, as many industries have increased the demand for manufactured goods, the market has needed to constantly adapt and improve. Material advancements have allowed us to create complex processes that were impossible just a few decades ago.

One material that has become indispensable in manufacturing in recent years is polyurethane. Let’s dive into how urethane has been able to meet these ever-changing demands in the manufacturing industry. [Read more…] about Material advancements allow creation of ‘perfect products’

Hitachi delivers ‘world’s fastest’ elevator to skyscraper

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Hitachi has delivered its elevator system to Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, a skyscraper complex building in Guangzhou, China.

The building has the Guinness World Records title as having the world’s fastest elevator. The presentation ceremony for the award of the official certificate was held recently.

This elevator travels with a rated speed of 1,260 metres per minute and connects the ground floor to the hotel lobby on the 95th floor in approximately 42 seconds, over a distance of 440 metres. [Read more…] about Hitachi delivers ‘world’s fastest’ elevator to skyscraper