Robotics & Automation News

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Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support

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Universal Robots has launched Service360, a new support service offering which the company says “enhances performance, increases uptime and mitigates risk through seamless collaboration”.

Chris Wilson, vice president of service, Universal Robots, says: “Our customers are at the center of everything. Now, we’re empowering them to proactively monitor, optimize and safeguard cobot performance with enhanced support and preventative maintenance.

“Service360 protects production lines, maximizes uptime, reduces risk and enables success by ensuring manufactures are prepared for the unexpected.” [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support

ESMERA opens €200,000 competition to fund small businesses developing robotics solutions

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The EU funded robotics project ESMERA – the European SMEs Robotics Applications – has opened its second open call to help fund small businesses developing robotic solutions for enterprise applications.

Within that call, industrial end-users have defined specific challenges that are to be solved by introducing a robotics solution.

The challenges come from the areas of manufacturing, energy, construction, agriculture, food processing, retail, healthcare and emergency response. [Read more…] about ESMERA opens €200,000 competition to fund small businesses developing robotics solutions

Global wearable robotic exoskeleton market forecast to grow to $4 billion

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The global wearable robotic exoskeleton market is forecast to grow to more than $4 billion by the end of 2026 and record annual growth of 43.1 per cent during the forecast period of 2019-2026.

At present advancement in Artificial Intelligence and robotics is enabling wearable robotic exoskeleton development primarily for logistics, medical and engineering commitments due to limited battery support capabilities.

However wearable robotic exoskeleton can be applied in a wide range of industries capable of augmenting the growth of the global wearable robotic exoskeleton market. [Read more…] about Global wearable robotic exoskeleton market forecast to grow to $4 billion

Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

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Yamaha is using part of its $100 million investment fund to buy a stake in Advanced Farm Technologies.

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley led the Series A funding round for the startup.

Yamaha says this latest investment reflects the company’s “core interest in businesses driving innovation in the agricultural sector. [Read more…] about Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

Columbia university demonstrates robotic cane to ‘improve stability in walking’

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Columbia University has demonstrated a robotic cane which it claims can “improve stability in walking”.

The developers say the device acts as a cane-like mobile assistant to provide “light-touch” operation to help the elderly and others with impaired mobility.

By adding electronics and computation technology to a simple cane that has been around since ancient times, a team of researchers at Columbia Engineering have transformed it into a 21st-century robotic device that can provide light-touch assistance in walking to the aged and others with impaired mobility. [Read more…] about Columbia university demonstrates robotic cane to ‘improve stability in walking’

Toyota robots to help at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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Toyota Motor Corporation, as a worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, aims to provide mobility solutions that go beyond providing official vehicles for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

One way Toyota is doing this is by participating in the Tokyo 2020 Robot Project, led by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, that brings the government, Tokyo Metropolitan government, as well as Games’ partners together with experts in the field of robotics.

At Tokyo 2020, the robots to be introduced by Toyota will be used to support the mobility of people at various locations and venues.

[Read more…] about Toyota robots to help at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Eclipse Automation acquires Transmoduls to expand into Europe

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Eclipse Automation, of Cambridge, Canada, is in the process of acquiring Transmoduls, located in Veszprém, Hungary.

Eclipse says Transmoduls is at the forefront of manufacturing turnkey, feature-rich automation solutions for the automotive, electronics, food and medical markets.

With facilities in Canada and the United States, Eclipse delivers proven custom automation solutions combining design, engineering, manufacturing, integration and aftercare for advanced production, lean manufacturing and modern distribution. [Read more…] about Eclipse Automation acquires Transmoduls to expand into Europe

Cowen and MassRobotics agree to collaborate in robotics and artificial intelligence

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Cowen, a provider of data and information to investors, and tech startup incubator MassRobotics have agreed a partnership to bring together their extensive market knowledge to advance research into the emerging robotics and artificial intelligence industry.

Based in the Boston area, MassRobotics is a global hub for robotics, and the collective work of a group of engineers, rocket scientists, and entrepreneurs focused on the needs of the robotics community.

Jeffrey Solomon, CEO of Cowen, says: “The robotics and artificial intelligence industry is a rapidly expanding market, and one that will define the advancement of manufacturing and services on a global basis. [Read more…] about Cowen and MassRobotics agree to collaborate in robotics and artificial intelligence

DJI uses Ubuntu in drone computer

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Ubuntu, the most popular Linux operating system for the Internet of Things, is now available on the Manifold 2, a high-performance embedded computer offered by drone manufacturer, DJI.

The Manifold 2 is designed to fit onto DJI’s drone platforms via the onboard SDK and enables developers to transform aerial platforms into truly smarter drones, performing complex computing tasks and advanced image processing, which in-turn creates rapid flexibility for enterprise usage.

As part of the offering, the Manifold 2 is planning to feature snaps. Snaps are containerised software packages, designed to work perfectly across cloud, desktop, and IoT devices – with this the first instance of the technology’s availability on drones.

[Read more…] about DJI uses Ubuntu in drone computer

IOC takes delivery of zero emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from Toyota

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A fleet of Toyota Mirai zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell cars has been delivered to the International Olympic Committee  in Lausanne, Switzerland as a key part of the organisation’s mobility plan.

The eight fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) were unveiled on the eve of World Environment Day at Olympic House, the IOC’s new sustainability-driven headquarters to be inaugurated on 23 June 2019.

To allow refuelling of the vehicles, a temporary hydrogen fuelling station – one of the first in Switzerland – will be installed at the new headquarters, before a public station is commissioned nearby.

[Read more…] about IOC takes delivery of zero emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from Toyota