Market trends and business perspectives
A high-energy shape memory polymer could someday enable robots to “flex their muscles”, according its developers.
When stretched or deformed, shape memory polymers return to their original shapes after heat or light is applied.
These materials show great promise for soft robotics, smart biomedical devices and deployable space structures, but until now they haven’t been able to store enough energy. [Read more…] about High-energy shape memory polymer could enable robots ‘flex their muscles’
Cloud office suites have revolutionized how we work. With many companies implementing remote work policies, suites like Microsoft’s Office 365 have enabled many companies to keep their door open during uncertain times.
One of the reasons Office 365 has come to dominate the discussion surrounding cloud office suites is that third-party developers can develop apps that supplement the core product.
These apps can prove incredibly useful for teams and team leaders. Below you will find some of the best apps that fill a variety of needs. [Read more…] about Top Office 365 Apps You Can’t Ignore
Okuma, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial equipment, has introduced “conversational programming” as standard on its CNC machines.
Okuma says its Advanced One Touch (AOT) conversational programming software enables shops to “easily create programs without the need for highly-trained programmers, achieve faster setup times, and increase machine productivity”.
Okuma America says that select machines from Okuma’s core product line now come equipped with the Advanced One Touch-Interactive Graphics Function (AOT-IGF), the conversational programming software designed for Okuma’s lathes, machining centers and multitasking machines. [Read more…] about Okuma makes ‘conversational programming’ standard on its CNC machines
Cheetah Mobile has launched its intelligent vending robot, FanBot, to international markets.
In contrast to traditional vending machines, the FanBot can autonomously identify and approach potential customers in complex and high-traffic environments, such as shopping malls, retail stores, gyms, cinemas, libraries, hotel lobbies and airport terminals.
Through this targeted and proactive customer engagement, FanBot is proven to achieve sales volume four times that of a traditional vending machine, selling one beverage every 110 seconds. [Read more…] about Cheetah Mobile launches ‘smart vending robot’
The University of Portsmouth scientists who re-engineered the plastic-eating enzyme PETase have now created an enzyme “cocktail” which can digest plastic up to six times faster.
A second enzyme, found in the same rubbish dwelling bacterium that lives on a diet of plastic bottles, has been combined with PETase to speed up the breakdown of plastic.
PETase breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) back into its building blocks, creating an opportunity to recycle plastic infinitely and reduce plastic pollution and the greenhouse gases driving climate change. [Read more…] about Plastic-eating bacteria could help recycle waste ‘six times faster’
Nintendo, one of the original games companies and still one of the biggest despite the “casual” gaming revolution brought about by smartphones, is reporting an astounding increase in profits.
According to the Financial Times, Nintendo’s net profits “soared by 541 percent” at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequential lockdowns, when most people in most countries stayed home.
Nintendo often suffers from too much demand for its consoles, as it did when its Switch handheld console – which looks rather like a smartphone, as shown in the main image – sold out around the world with many millions still searching for it. [Read more…] about Computer games giant Nintendo’s profits skyrocket by more than 500 per cent
ABB has unveiled a new 3D inspection robot cell which it claims makes quality control testing “10 times faster”.
The industrial automation giant says its 3D quality inspection (3DQI) robot cell is “capable of detecting defects of less than half the width of a human hair and imperceptible to the naked eye”.
It adds that the cell will “dramatically accelerate production by providing fast, accurate testing to make metrology easier and less time consuming”. [Read more…] about ABB says its new 3D inspection robot cell makes quality control testing ‘10 times faster’
AutoStore, the Norwegian robot technology company, reported revenues of $195 million in 2019, up 36 percent from 2018.
The company generated earnings of $108 million following the “continued strong demand for automated warehouse solutions”.
AutoStore adds that the outlook remains strong, despite short-term Covid-19 impact. [Read more…] about AutoStore reports record revenue growth for 2019
Higher levels of automation is the “obvious answer” to the challenges brought about by the disruption to the e-grocery supply chain, according to warehouse robots maker Swisslog.
The company says Covid-19 is “accelerating changes to e-grocery fulfillment”.
After years of relatively stagnant demand, e-grocery services started to ramp up in 2019 and analysts were predicting significant growth in 2020. [Read more…] about Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog
Moving your small business online is a great way to build your business brand and help open up brand new avenues to market your product or service.
However, opening your business up online can also leave you open to cyber-attacks, which means that in addition to developing a website and strong digital marketing strategy, you need to think about developing a strong cybersecurity policy.
While a cyberattack is potentially harmful regardless of who is the victim, for a business it can be even more damaging and potentially deadly. [Read more…] about The Importance of Cybersecurity in the Modern Workforce: 3 Tips to Protect Your Company
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