Market trends and business perspectives
Locus Robotics has broken its own record in terms of productivity numbers in November 2019. (See infographic below.)
The warehouse robot maker delivered more than 13 million units picked on behalf of global retail and third party logistics partners during the critical holiday season.
Locus says this is a 400 per cent increase in units picked over last year. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics picks ‘record-breaking’ 13 million units during 2019 holiday period
Continental says its new server concept is a “central element” for the conversion to a service-oriented electronics architecture in highly connected ID electric cars.
Volkswagen uses the server as an in-car application server (ICAS1) for ID vehicle models based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB).
High computing power and a consistent separation of hardware and software are paving the way for new functions and convenient over-the-air updates. [Read more…] about Continental vehicle server connects VW ID electric vehicles
The new World Robotics report, released by the International Federation of Robotics, shows an annual global sales value of $16.5 billion in 2018 – a new record.
At least 422,000 units were shipped globally in 2018 – an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous year.
IFR forecasts shipments in 2019 will recede from the record level in 2018, but expects an average growth of 12 percent per year from 2020 to 2022. [Read more…] about IFR report: Global investment in industrial robots reaches record $16.5 billion
by Anna
Hyundai Motor Group has begun a series of sweeping changes to its R&D organisations and development processes, enabling greater responsiveness to the changing future mobility technology landscape.
Promoting a keener focus on customer needs, the new approach will also streamline the decision-making and development processes to achieve efficiencies and cost optimisation.
Through reorganisation under Architecture-Driven System-Based Organisation (SBO), technology units at the Group’s R&D Division in Korea will align their operational processes to transform the Group.
[Read more…] about Hyundai reorganises R&D centre structure to streamline vehicle development
by Anna
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has established MELCO Elevator Lao Sole Co., Ltd. (MLAO) to accelerate its lift and escalator business growth in the highly promising Mekong regional market.
The new company, which was established by Mitsubishi Elevator (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MET), a Mitsubishi Electric subsidiary, began operations on July 1, 2019.
The new company is expected to strengthen Mitsubishi Electric’s sales of lifts and escalators as well as related provision of high-quality maintenance services.
[Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric launches new lift and escalator company in Laos
by Anna
Volkswagen will be investing up to €4 billion in digitisation projects up until 2023 – mainly in administration but also in production. At least 2,000 new jobs related to digitisation are to be created.
This has been agreed by the Board of Management and the General Works Council in their “digital transformation roadmap”.
Agile working methods, improved processes and digitisation are to reduce the burden on employees and speed up processes. Tasks that used to be performed manually are to be simplified through improved IT.
[Read more…] about Volkswagen agrees digital transformation roadmap
by Sam Francis
Proton Motor says it is planning to install a new robot to accelerate the manufacturing of fuel cell units intended for use in road vehicles and other technologies.
The new “stack manufacturing robot” – referring to a fuel cell stack – will increase production capacity to 5,000 fuel cells a year, says Proton.
Germany-based Proton Motor Fuel Cell is a designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems with a “zero carbon footprint”. Its technology is used in the e.Go, an autonomous electric vehicle (main picture). [Read more…] about Proton Motor to install new robot to accelerate fuel cell production
Intergovernmental organization BIPM outlines historic changes to the International System of Units, or the SI
Today, May 20, is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875.
This treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment.
The theme for World Metrology Day 2019 is “The International System of Units – Fundamentally Better”. [Read more…] about International System of Units agreement being commemorated today
The current robotics limelight tends to focus on the ability of new innovations to automate tasks, but a less publicized development is taking place whereby passive exoskeletons have been slowly deployed and adopted to help augment the capability of human workers.
Exoskeleton popularization through passive suits will provide a base for increased resources for powered suits, which will eventually provide significant augmentative capability to the industrial workforce.
By 2028, global Exoskeleton revenues will reach $5 billion with hundreds of thousands of active exoskeletons being deployed, according to ABI Research. The research consultancy’s findings are on its report, Exoskeletons for Industrial Use Cases.
[Read more…] about Exoskeleton market projected to grow to $6 billionby Mai Tao
Industrial motors giant Nidec is planning to build a $500 million facility in China, according to a report on Nikkei.
The factory will specialize in manufacturing motors for electric vehicles, a growing market in China and the rest of the world.
The proposed location is said to be the Jinpu New Area in the port city of Dalian, north-east China, about 500 km east of Beijing.
[Read more…] about Nidec to build $500 million facility in China to make motors for electric vehiclesRobotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.
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