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Agricultural robots and AI: A question of when and not if

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Robotics and artificial intelligence will drive a deep and transformative change in the agricultural world during the coming decades, according to a new report by IDTechEx.

Seeing, localising, and taking plant-specific intelligent action are no longer the exclusive realm of humans, says the research company.

Machines have demonstrated the technical viability and the emphasis has long shifted to the finer details of return on investment, reliability, business model, and so on. [Read more…] about Agricultural robots and AI: A question of when and not if

ABB offering digital services free of charge

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ABB is making its digital services available free of charge.

During this unprecedented crisis, ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business says it is working to “help customers and partners keep production lines going and to enable businesses to continue to function while many are working from home”.

ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business is making “key software services” available free of charge to our customers until the end of 2020. [Read more…] about ABB offering digital services free of charge

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

Top 5 Career Options You Can Gain from Becoming a Forklift Operator

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Not a lot of kids dream about becoming a forklift operator when they grow up. However, if you want to get your foot in the door of construction, manufacturing, and even the food industry, you can start with this profession and work your way up.

A forklift operator drives a powered industrial truck to lift and transport materials from one point to another. They are considered professional drivers and have to obtain a Masterdrive Forklift Operator Cert as well as a higher-level driver’s license.

If you’re thinking about following this career path, below are the five job options that you have after becoming a forklift operator. [Read more…] about Top 5 Career Options You Can Gain from Becoming a Forklift Operator

Former BMW Munich engine assembly and test facility for sale

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Global advisory and asset management specialist, Gordon Brothers, is conducting the “unprecedented sale” of an ex-BMW Munich Engine Assembly and Test facility.

The sale features state-of-the-art equipment supplied from world renowned German automotive original equipment manufacturers GROB, KUKA, and J W Froehlich, supported by the latest Siemen’s and Thyssen Krupp hardware, software and operating systems.

The sale also encompasses all necessary equipment to assemble and test full dressed engines. To ensure throughput at the desired rate of assembly the facility includes 15 off KUKA and J W Froehlich Test units covering engine Cold test, Leak test and Helium test. [Read more…] about Former BMW Munich engine assembly and test facility for sale

Hanwha opens collaborative robotics centre in Europe

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Hanwha Robotics has opened a collaborative robotics centre near Frankfurt, Germany. The company’s new Technical Centre will also highlight its other precision machinery offerings.

Hanwha Precision Machinery’s president, Ki-Nam Lee, officially launched the facility an a grand opening ceremony recently. The Technical Centre is part of Hanwha’s efforts to accelerate the company’s growth in the European market.

Hanwha is aiming to increase sales in Europe by “at least €30 million” and make Europe account for more than 15 per cent of its total sales. [Read more…] about Hanwha opens collaborative robotics centre in Europe

Visteon opens new technical center in Mexico

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Visteon, a supplier of digital automotive dashboard electronics, has opened a newly constructed engineering center in Querétaro, Mexico.

Visteon says its Querétaro Technical Center (VTCQ) is home to highly skilled software, hardware and mechanical engineers responsible for developing advanced cockpit electronics products for North America-based vehicle manufacturers.

These products include digital instrument clusters, infotainment and information displays – and new technologies for connected and autonomous driving. [Read more…] about Visteon opens new technical center in Mexico

RIA publishes new technical report on collaborative robots

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The RIA R15.06 Standards Committee has finalized Technical Report R15.806-2018 to address the test methods and metrics for measuring pressure and force associated with quasi-static and transient contact events of collaborative applications.

A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a type of robot intended to physically interact with humans in a shared workspace. Collaborative robots are experiencing rapid market growth.

According to Markets and Markets research, the collaborative robots market is expected to reach a value of $4.28 billion by 2023, growing at an astounding 56.94 percent compound annual growth rate.

[Read more…] about RIA publishes new technical report on collaborative robots

UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane

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United Technologies (UTC) has recently launched the advanced projects group within the company, which moves at speed to build and pilot ambitious product and service demonstrators.

The group’s first product demonstrator is a hybrid-electric X-plane under the project name, Project 804.

The number “804” represents the straight-line mileage between the Pratt & Whitney facility in Longueuil, Québec, and the Collins Aerospace facility in Rockford, Illinois.

[Read more…] about UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane

Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

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Since the start of April, Group PSA’s vehicles equipped with level 3 autonomous driving functions have been operating on open roads in France as part of the European L3Pilot project.

Six to eight vehicles will undergo intensive driving tests to validate autonomous functions on dual carriageways.

The project is strengthening Groupe PSA’s expertise in the development of autonomous vehicles, thanks to a global ecosystem of partners, including European carmakers, research centres and roads authorities.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project