Robotics & Automation News

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ROEQ launches ‘world’s most precise’ docking station for Mobile Industrial Robots

ROEQ claims to have launched the “world’s most precise docking station for Mobile Industrial Robots”. 

The new docking station’s ± 1mm repeatability ensures precise delivery of products and pallets carried by the autonomous mobile robots from Mobile Industrial Robots equipped with ROEQ’s cart solution.

The company unveiled its new product at Pack Expo, which is also the first chance to see ROEQ’s new TR1000 Top Roller live – a unique new conveyor top module for MiR1000, the largest model from Mobile Industrial Robots with up to 1,000 kilo payloads. [Read more…] about ROEQ launches ‘world’s most precise’ docking station for Mobile Industrial Robots

Universal Robots ‘maintains top spot’ in collaborative robot market

Universal Robots is maintaining its top spot in the collaborative robot market, according to a report by ABI Research.

However, competitors including Doosan, Techman Robot and Precise Automation are “closing in“, says the study, Industrial Collaborative Robots Competitive Assessment.

There are well over 50 manufacturers of collaborative robots, or cobots, worldwide, but only a handful of these companies have so far deployed cobots on any meaningful level of scale. [Read more…] about Universal Robots ‘maintains top spot’ in collaborative robot market

Nvidia builds supercomputer to develop self-driving cars

Nvidia unveils DGX SuperPOD, ‘world’s 22nd fastest supercomputer’. By Charlie Boyle, Nvidia

In a clear demonstration of why artificial intelligence leadership demands the best compute capabilities, Nvidia has unveiled what it claims is “the world’s 22nd fastest supercomputer” – DGX SuperPOD – which provides AI infrastructure that meets the massive demands of the company’s autonomous-vehicle deployment program.

The system was built in just three weeks with 96 Nvidia DGX-2H supercomputers and Mellanox interconnect technology. Delivering 9.4 petaflops of processing capability, it has the muscle for training the vast number of deep neural networks required for safe self-driving vehicles.

Customers can buy this system in whole or in part from any DGX-2 partner based on Nvidia’s DGX SuperPOD design. [Read more…] about Nvidia builds supercomputer to develop self-driving cars

Sensors supplier Sick selected as Top 50 robotics company

Sick, the sensor specialist, has been named a Top 50 Robotics Company by the Robotics Business Review.

The RBR50 is an annual list of the 50 most innovative and transformative robotics companies that have achieved commercial success in the past year.

Sick provides sensor technology for a number of robotics applications, including navigation for mobile platforms. [Read more…] about Sensors supplier Sick selected as Top 50 robotics company

Geek Plus Robotics listed as a ‘Top 50’ robotics company

Geek Plus Robotics, a provider of robotics and automation solutions for warehouse and supply chain operations, has been named one of the “Top 50” robotics companies in the world by Robotics Business Review.

Geek Plus was selected in the autonomous mobile robots category.

The RBR Top 50 is published every year and is a list of robotics companies that the publisher and its judges determine to be “the most innovative and commercially successful robotics companies around the world”.

[Read more…] about Geek Plus Robotics listed as a ‘Top 50’ robotics company

UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane

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

Panasonic says it has sold 100 million household refrigerators

Panasonic says its production of household refrigerators reached a grand total of 100 million in 2018, 65 years since the company first began to manufacture them in 1953.

Panasonic began working on refrigerators as well as televisions and washing machines in anticipation of the approaching electrical age after the Second World War.

In 1952 an alliance was formed with Nakagawa Kikai Company, a specialist machine tool manufacturer that had made refrigerators. [Read more…] about Panasonic says it has sold 100 million household refrigerators

Epson launches new force sensors for industrial robots

Yoneharu Fukushima, COO of Epson’s Robotics Solutions Operations Division
Yoneharu Fukushima, COO of Epson’s Robotics Solutions Operations Division

Epson is launching its S250 series of high-precision force sensors. The S250 series, which will be rolled out worldwide from early June, will be available as an option for the company’s six-axis and SCARA robots.

Employing Epson’s proprietary piezoelectric quartz sensing technology, the new force sensors are durable and sensitive, allowing them to accurately and consistently sense minimal amounts of force in six directions.

The company says this will allow customers to automate complex manufacturing tasks and will improve productivity. Epson also provides robot operation commands with the sensor, allowing customers to easily introduce the system.  [Read more…] about Epson launches new force sensors for industrial robots