Robotics & Automation News

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Wood that’s twice as expensive as gold? Really?

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Apparently, first-grade agarwood costs $100,000 per kilogram, which is almost twice the price of gold, currently at around $60,000 per kg.

This is according to an interesting video published on Business Insider, which we have embedded below for your viewing pleasure (hopefully it will work).

No obvious connection to robotics and automation, although we did publish an article about using robots in the furniture-making sector recently, but it’s just one of those startling facts about the world we live in. [Read more…] about Wood that’s twice as expensive as gold? Really?

Cheetah Mobile’s epidemic prevention and control robots keeping busy in China

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More than 30 hospitals and public venues in six major Chinese cities have been using Cheetah Mobile’s robots for epidemic prevention and control. (See video below.)

The locations include Wuhan’s Huoshenshan Hospital, the emergency specialty field hospital that was built in 10 days in response to the virus outbreak. [Read more…] about Cheetah Mobile’s epidemic prevention and control robots keeping busy in China

igus unveils virtual trade show booth

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igus, a supplier of components, has unveiled a “virtual trade show booth” to provide some assistance to industry people who are “still bummed out about trade shows being cancelled”. 

The virtual stand is interactive, as you might expect, and features a range of components for many industries, including robotics, material handling, agriculture and many more.

igus says the aim of the stand was to showcase its “new, innovative plastic products for low-cost automation”. [Read more…] about igus unveils virtual trade show booth

Robotic camera offers social distancing solution, say its makers

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The makers of the robotic camera Solo Cinebot say their camera can offer a solution to production companies in this new world of social distancing. (See video below.)

Virtually every government in the world has stipulated social distancing rules, where people have to all stay two metres apart – even at work.

The Solo Cinebot system was the brainchild of Josh Shadid and Aaron Grasso and was created as a “response to filming needs at this unpredictable time”. [Read more…] about Robotic camera offers social distancing solution, say its makers

Cobots v Covid: How Universal Robots and others are helping in the fight against coronavirus

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Collaborative robots, or cobots, are emerging as a “tremendous force for good” in the global battle against Covid-19, according to Universal Robots.

In this article, we highlight some of the ways in which collaborative robots from Universal Robots have contributed to the global response to the pandemic.

We take a look at disinfection and test kit solutions along with some less easily categorized solutions made possible by Universal Robots, the world’s leading manufacturer of cobots. [Read more…] about Cobots v Covid: How Universal Robots and others are helping in the fight against coronavirus

3 Reasons Why Smart Home Features Increase Your Home’s Value

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Smart technology is transforming our homes in ways that even just a few years were really only imaginable in science fiction movies.

Smart home features make our homes more convenient, more livable, and can also add some serious value to your home. There are so many different smart devices available that provide different benefits for our homes and our families.

Smart lighting, media, heating, and security systems are all much sought after features in modern homes and are enabling incredible levels of interaction between home and owner. In this article, we will discuss 3 reasons why smart home features increase your home’s value. [Read more…] about 3 Reasons Why Smart Home Features Increase Your Home’s Value

Mitsubishi Electric develops ‘co-operative AI’ for human-machine work

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Mitsubishi Electric says it has developed a cooperative artificial intelligence technology that it says “enhances work collaboration between humans and machines”.

The system uses something Mitsubishi calls “inverse reinforcement learning”, or IRL, to learn and imitate the actions of skilled workers.

IRL, one of the key features of Mitsubishi Electric’s “Maisart AI” technology, enables machines to imitate human-like actions based on relatively small amounts of data. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric develops ‘co-operative AI’ for human-machine work

University students compete in SICK’s second annual TiM$10k Challenge

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For the second consecutive year, sensor manufacturer SICK invited students from universities around the country to participate in the company’s TiM$10K Challenge.

The challenge started in 2018 to support innovation and student achievement in automation and technology.

Teams were supplied with a 270° SICK LiDAR sensor (TiM) and accessories and challenged to solve a problem, create a solution, or bring a new application to any industry that utilizes the SICK LiDAR. [Read more…] about University students compete in SICK’s second annual TiM$10k Challenge

Kia unveils digital dashboard with monitor to ‘eliminate blind spots’

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Kia has revealed details of its “Blind-Spot View Monitor” technology included with the all-new Kia Sorento sports utility vehicle.

This “second pair of eyes” for drivers is designed to enhance safety for Sorento occupants and other road users by eliminating a driver’s left- and right-side blind spots.

The Sorento is the first Kia vehicle in Europe to offer this advanced driving assistance feature, one of a range of functions enabled by the car’s new fully-digital “Supervision” 12.3-inch instrument cluster. [Read more…] about Kia unveils digital dashboard with monitor to ‘eliminate blind spots’

Parrot and Survae partner to develop drone imagery with interactive mapping

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Parrot, a drone manufacturer, and Survae, a software platform for managing aerial and ground-based imagery, have agreed a partnership through Parrot’s SDK program to combine Parrot’s ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal hardware and Survae’s software for professional drone use.

Parrot’s ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal drones offer an ultra-compact tool for professionals, helping them gain new vantage points to make informed decisions using the drone’s aerial insights.

In addition to its built-in 4K HDR camera, ANAFI Thermal also integrates a FLIR thermal sensor – allowing working professionals to easily capture thermal and visual readings for faster response times, along with higher precision and efficiency. [Read more…] about Parrot and Survae partner to develop drone imagery with interactive mapping