Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

stage

Baidu wins ‘first’ driverless permits in China for autonomous ride hailing on public roads

by Leave a Comment

Baidu Apollo Go has received what it says is the “first ever permits in China” that authorize the company to provide driverless ride-hailing services to the public on open road in Beijing.

This regulatory approval marks a significant milestone for the autonomous ride-hailing industry in China, indicating a regulatory openness to taking a further step toward a fully driverless mobility future.

With these permits issued by the head office of the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), ten autonomous vehicles without drivers behind the steering wheel will offer rides to passengers in a designated area of 60 square kilometers in Beijing. [Read more…] about Baidu wins ‘first’ driverless permits in China for autonomous ride hailing on public roads

Discovery Phase of a Software Project: The Purpose and Steps

by Leave a Comment

Discovery or scoping phase refers to the initial stage of software development whereby the chief focus is on getting to know the end-user, clarifying project vision, scope, and goals, and identifying risks.

As such, during the discovery phase of a software project, the project team researches, collects, and assesses project details to plan the complete product development cycle. [Read more…] about Discovery Phase of a Software Project: The Purpose and Steps

Autonomous vehicles ranked among top 10 innovations attracting investment

by Leave a Comment

The convergence of automotive and technology industries is accelerating the pace of innovation in the mobility and transportation sectors, leading to a surge in patent grants relevant to autonomous vehicles while also attracting venture capital investors’ interest in the area.

GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has ranked autonomous vehicles among the top 10 innovation-led technologies.

GlobalData’s Technology Innovation Intensity framework is a proprietary data-driven model that incorporates key innovation drivers from alternative datasets such as patents and deals to track a technology’s pace of innovation as well as its lifecycle stage. [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicles ranked among top 10 innovations attracting investment

US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

by Leave a Comment

Stratom, a developer of autonomous ground vehicles and robotic systems for logistics and operational applications, has been selected as part of an exclusive team to deliver the US Department of Defense’s Stage II of the Modular Autonomy and Robotic Software program, which involves the collaborative migration of Robotic Technology Kernel software modules from the first version of the Robot Operating System to ROS 2. 

For nearly a decade, the US government has been developing ROS-M (Robotic Operating System-Military), an ecosystem of software architectures, reusable components and supporting infrastructure to enable rapid development and fielding of robotic and autonomous systems.

Built on ROS 1, ROS-M enables the DoD to benefit from open-source development practices while maintaining tight control over the community-developed code. However, ROS 1’s current revision, Noetic, is set to be the last version, with support ending in 2025. [Read more…] about US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

Volkswagen expands production of battery systems

by Leave a Comment

The Volkswagen Group Components plant in Braunschweig is significantly expanding its production of battery systems for the latest electric vehicle generation. Following the first expansion stage with a maximum capacity of 250,000 battery systems, the second expansion stage has started up with the same capacity.

This means that once the site is fully ramped up it will now be able to fit up to 500,000 batteries a year for models based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) – in this case for the fully electric Volkswagen ID.31 and ID.42, as well as the Škoda Enyaq iV3, which should soon be quietly and powerfully cruising the streets of Europe with a battery heart from Braunschweig.

In addition to that, up to 100,000 battery systems for the beloved models e-up!4, SEAT Mii electric5, Škoda Citigoe iV6 and as well as for hybrid vehicles such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE7. [Read more…] about Volkswagen expands production of battery systems

Alio Industries launches new nano-positioning device

by Leave a Comment

Alio Industries has unveiled the latest version of its Hybrid Hexapod nano-positioning.

The “all new” HH-30D Hybrid Hexapod – the industry’s only 6-Degree-Of-Freedom (6-DOF) nano positioning device with +/-30 degrees tip and tilt travel.

The Hybrid Hexapod was developed by Alio Industries to address the inherent performance limitations of conventional hexapods. [Read more…] about Alio Industries launches new nano-positioning device

NextGenAM 3D printing pilot successfully completed

by

The “NextGenAM” project, what began as a vision in May 2017, has now reached a successful conclusion.

The aim was to develop a digitalised next-generation manufacturing line to produce aluminium components for the automotive and aerospace sectors significantly more cost-effectively than is currently possible.

The successful outcome was that, in terms of the overall production process, manufacturing costs could be reduced by up to 50 percent compared with existing 3D printing systems.

[Read more…] about NextGenAM 3D printing pilot successfully completed

VW unveils cutaway model of electric Golf car

by

Volkswagen has demonstrated a cutaway model of an electric version of its popular Golf model of car, calling it “eGon”.

Volkswagen released details of the multifaceted program in store for visitors at IdeenExpo in Hannover, Germany from June 15 to 23.

eGon, the cutaway model of an e-Golf, is one of Volkswagen’s highlight projects to be showcased at Germany’s largest youth event for science and technology.

[Read more…] about VW unveils cutaway model of electric Golf car