Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Origami-inspired miniature robot could open new era of surgical robotics

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By Lindsay Brownell, Wyss Institute, Harvard University

Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, in which a surgeon uses tools and a tiny camera inserted into small incisions to perform operations, has made surgical procedures safer for both patients and doctors over the last half-century.

Recently, surgical robots have started to appear in operating rooms to further assist surgeons by allowing them to manipulate multiple tools at once with greater precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with traditional techniques.

However, these robotic systems are extremely large, often taking up an entire room, and their tools can be much larger than the delicate tissues and structures on which they operate. [Read more…] about Origami-inspired miniature robot could open new era of surgical robotics

Benefits of Passing Cisco 200-301 Exam! Should You Count on Practice Tests?

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Getting a Cisco certification is one of the wisest decisions you could make for your future career. Considering that the IT environment is very competitive, you will need to do something extra to stand out.

Therefore, earning CCNA, which is one of the most recognized credentials in network technology can be a very smart step. [Read more…] about Benefits of Passing Cisco 200-301 Exam! Should You Count on Practice Tests?

2 Tools to Help Automate Your Sales Process

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Back in the day, sales representatives used to spend all day in the field, exploring leads, looking for potential clients and, well, selling.

Now, a sales rep spends less time in the field and more time completing tedious tasks and non-sales activities.

Further on, research suggests that now, sales reps only spend one-third of their day actually making sales, while the other two-thirds are spent on manual tasks such as writing emails, scheduling meetings, prospecting leads and entering data into the computer. [Read more…] about 2 Tools to Help Automate Your Sales Process

Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

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A brainy alien-hunter is apparently obsessed with finding life on Mars. The Purdue scientist is playing a critical role in the 2020 NASA Mars rover mission.

Briony Horgan (main picture), associate professor of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, is working to determine whether we are alone in the universe or if life once existed on other planets such as Mars.

When the NASA Mars rover Perseverance launches in the next few weeks, it will travel to Jezero Crater, which preserves evidence of a time when rivers flowed on Mars. [Read more…] about Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

XPO Logistics wins contract to build warehouse and distribution network for Greene King

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XPO Logistics has been selected by pub retailer and brewer Greene King to manage dedicated warehousing and distribution for Greene King’s secondary drinks channel.

XPO will provide innovative logistics services from five warehouses distributing to retail pubs and restaurants, including Pub Partner independent licensees and on-trade trade customers.

UK-based Greene King has a rich heritage of brewing award-winning beers and leading pub brands for 220 years. [Read more…] about XPO Logistics wins contract to build warehouse and distribution network for Greene King

InOrbit raises $2.6 million for its cloud robotics business

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InOrbit, a provider of cloud-based robot management software, has closed $2.6 million in seed round investment.

The funding was led by Animo Ventures, with participation by Yamaha Motor Ventures and Laboratory Silicon Valley, Kärcher New Venture and other key institutional and individual investors.

InOrbit’s software-as-a-service enables robotics companies and operators to develop, deploy and orchestrate autonomous robots at global scale. [Read more…] about InOrbit raises $2.6 million for its cloud robotics business

Virginia Tech partners with Dive Technologies to launch autonomous underwater vehicle

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Virginia Tech researchers at the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics have partnered with Boston-based Dive Technologies to support the development and testing of what they describe as a novel autonomous underwater vehicle with innovative vehicle design and state-of-the-art control, software, and autonomy systems.

This multiyear collaboration provides an opportunity to apply research discoveries and innovative technology developed in the academic lab and deploy them in next-generation commercial applications.

Bill Lebo, co-founder and chief technology officer of Dive Technologies, says: “We feel fortunate to be working closely with professors Daniel Stilwell, Stefano Brizzolara, and the entire team supporting Dive Technologies from the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech partners with Dive Technologies to launch autonomous underwater vehicle

Horiba Mira offers simulation platform to autonomous car developers

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Automotive engineering and development consultancy Horiba Mira says it is providing its new “co-simulation” platform to helps US Connected and Autonomous Challenge organisers get through the Covid-19 lockdown.

With the coronavirus pandemic causing disruption across the industry, Horiba Mira’s forward-thinking Horizon Scanning team has provided critical support to the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (EcoCAR), using its new Component-in-the-Loop (XiL) co-simulation platform, DigiCAV, to help EcoCAR safely carry on developing its vehicles despite the recent lockdown.

As one of the world’s leading competitions for creating concept vehicles for future mobility, the EcoCAR Challenge is a four-year scheme managed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), a multidisciplinary science and engineering research centre based in Chicago. [Read more…] about Horiba Mira offers simulation platform to autonomous car developers

Scientists create ‘first’ map of agroforestry and ecosystem services in Asia-Pacific

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A team of scientists have mapped for the first time the research trends in agroforestry and the current state of knowledge in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the research gaps about the ecosystem services provided by agroforestry, in a new study.

The team, Seongmin Shin, Khaing Thandar Soe, Haeun Lee, Tae Hoon Kim, Seongeun Lee and Mi Sun Park from Seoul National University in the Republic of Korea, found that the number of agroforestry-related articles in the region has been growing fast but is still small compared to all the literature globally on the subject.

India and China were noted as hotspots of research, which is not surprising given the two nations’ supportive policies and institutes of agroforestry. [Read more…] about Scientists create ‘first’ map of agroforestry and ecosystem services in Asia-Pacific

Magna celebrates ‘significant milestone’ in contract manufacturing

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Magna is celebrating what it regards as a “significant milestone” in its progress as a contract manufacturer.

The company recently built the ArcFox α-T sports utility vehicle – a battery electric vehicle – through its Zhenjiang, China joint venture contract manufacturing facility.

The $40,000 α-T symbolises the first time Magna’s complete vehicle manufacturing has expanded beyond Europe, where the company has built vehicles for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and others at its Graz, Austria facility. [Read more…] about Magna celebrates ‘significant milestone’ in contract manufacturing