Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Kingetics makes ‘big innovations’ in footwear-exoskeleton-robotic ambulation science

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By Dakota Grossman, writer, and Dr Steven King, managing member, Kingetics

Kingetics, a small veteran owned startup company has developed and tested new technology that has shown significant improvements in protecting our soldiers as well as improving the gait of mechanical walking systems.

Load carriage and high impact forces on the lower limbs are often cited as leading causes of musculoskeletal injuries. Injury rates during military training range from 1 per cent to 16 per cent, and up to 30 per cent in elite  infantry  units.

Data from Podiatry Arena shows that there are about 32,000 broken bones per year during military combat, costing the US Department of Defense an estimated $240,000,000 in medical expenses.
 [Read more…] about Kingetics makes ‘big innovations’ in footwear-exoskeleton-robotic ambulation science

DJI launches its ‘most advanced’ commercial drone platform and first hybrid camera series

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DJI, the world’s largest manufacturer of civilian drones, has launched what it says is its “most advanced” commercial drone platform, the Matrice 300 RTK, and the Zenmuse H20 Series – a hybrid, multi-sensor camera.

DJI engineered this all-in-one, high-tech solution to expand possibilities and exploit areas of work never explored before, for precise aerial inspections and data collection missions.

Christina Zhang, senior director, corporate strategy at DJI, says: “With the M300 RTK flying platform and the Zenmuse H20 camera series, we are providing a safer and smarter solution to our enterprise customers. [Read more…] about DJI launches its ‘most advanced’ commercial drone platform and first hybrid camera series

How driverless shuttle vehicles can get safely from A to B

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Project 3F, a consortium of six partners led by Bosch, has presented its results for automated driving in the low-speed range. (See video below.)

Their main finding is that the vehicle can continue driving despite deviations on the specified route and technical failures in the system.

The transport of people and goods were tested on test tracks in Renningen and Aachen, Germany. [Read more…] about How driverless shuttle vehicles can get safely from A to B

How to simplify the control architecture of cartesian coordinate robots

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By Barry Weller, product manager at Mitsubishi Electric

In order to remain competitive, it is generally accepted that industries should adopt lean manufacturing strategies to improve process efficiency.

A key action can be to reduce part count, that is to say the number of components in an assembly or system. This is particularly challenging when it comes to highly accurate cartesian coordinate (linear) motion applications.

In these cases, machine builders would often need to use both PLCs and computer numerical controllers (CNCs) in order to fully manage movement within the machine – until now. [Read more…] about How to simplify the control architecture of cartesian coordinate robots

FedEx and Chanje to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure

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FedEx has now started on the “next phase” of its electric vehicle rollout after initially launching construction on electronic direct current charging stations back in January.

One of the biggest logistics companies in the US, Federal Express has been using all-electric vehicles as part of its pickup-and-delivery fleet for more than 10 years.

Through a new agreement with Chanje Energy, the company plans to electrify 42 FedEx stations in California, making it one of the largest deployments of integrated charging infrastructure by a single commercial fleet to date. [Read more…] about FedEx and Chanje to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Kindred unveils new robotic solution for e-commerce fulfillment

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Kindred has unveiled a new robotic solution for e-commerce fulfillment.

The company debuted the Kindred Sort 3.7 piece-picking robot at the recent Modex Show.

The enhanced Sort 3.7 system features eight additional cubbies, for a total of 27, translating into a 42 percent increase in the number of items it can sort at e-commerce fulfillment centers and warehouses, says Kindred. [Read more…] about Kindred unveils new robotic solution for e-commerce fulfillment

Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

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Omron is making available its Sysmac Studio 3D simulation software available to industrial companies. (See video below.)

The company says it will be the first in the industry to provide such a system, which “can integrate and verify the movements of robots and peripheral devices that make up facilities”.

Omron says its “extensive knowledge and technology of control equipment”, including robots, helped in its development of the software. [Read more…] about Omron launches simulation software for automated factories

Yanmar leads agricultural robotics project to develop ‘SMASH’ system

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Agriculture in the future will see increasing use of scientifically precise farming techniques, where automated “agro-bots” monitor, treat and work the land, using advanced technology designed to help maximise yields and minimise disease. 

With its extensive experience in automation and agricultural mechanisation, agritech specialist Yanmar is now showing the way in advanced field robotics research.

Time for change in our changing times?

It’s hard to think of a more important economic sector than agriculture. This is an industry that directly affects the lives of everyone the world over, despite being beset by challenges from all sides.

Changes in temperature and precipitation are influencing crop yields; farmers and agricultural workers are directly exposed to the effects of weather extremes, while millions more in food-related jobs are already feeling the impact of our changing climate. [Read more…] about Yanmar leads agricultural robotics project to develop ‘SMASH’ system

OnRobot launches new 2.5D vision system

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OnRobot has launched “Eyes”, its new 2.5D vision system. The company says it brings together “unrivaled ease-of-use to vision-guided robotic applications”. (See video below.)

Eyes’ advanced, affordable 2.5D vision adds depth perception and parts recognition for all leading robotic arms, offering seamless integration, one-picture calibration, intuitive programming, and none of the complexity of existing vision systems.

Eyes can be flexibly mounted both on the robot wrist or externally, making it ideal for almost any unstructured application in need of vision guidance. [Read more…] about OnRobot launches new 2.5D vision system

ifm electronic launches new RFID system ‘ideally suited to production line’

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ifm electronic has launched a new RFID system which the company says has long user-adjustable operating range, robust construction and choice of fieldbus interfaces.

ifm adds that the HF RFID systems in the new DTE60x range “are ideally suited to production line applications”.

The new units provide RFID antenna, evaluation electronics and fieldbus interface in a single compact module, which makes them easy to install, even when space is limited. [Read more…] about ifm electronic launches new RFID system ‘ideally suited to production line’