Robotics & Automation News

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Yamaha to acquire Robotics Plus

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New Zealand-based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation solutions, has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Yamaha Motor.

The Japanese automotive giant plans to use its acquisition to form the foundation of Yamaha Agriculture, a new company focused on delivering autonomous equipment and AI-powered digital solutions that help growers in the specialty crop market become more sustainable, profitable and resilient in the face of scarcer resources and climate change.

Robotics Plus specializes in developing automation solutions for agriculture, combining expertise in robotics, automation, sensing, and data analytics. [Read more…] about Yamaha to acquire Robotics Plus

Yamaha Motor Ventures leads $7.5 million funding round for Verge Ag

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Yamaha Motor Ventures, the strategic business development and investment arm of Yamaha Motor, has led a $7.5 million Series A funding round for Verge Ag, a precision agriculture company.

Verge claims to be the developer of the world’s first AI-powered interactive software that enables farmers to plan, simulate, and validate the movement of equipment in the field and execute field operations efficiently.

Nolan Paul, partner and Global Ag Tech lead for Yamaha Motor Ventures, says: “This investment in Verge Ag underlines our thesis that precision farming technologies are mission critical to a sustainable future for agriculture. [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor Ventures leads $7.5 million funding round for Verge Ag

Yamaha looking to invest in vertical farming companies

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Yamaha’s agricultural technology investments leader says he is observing the vertical farming market with a view to backing startups in the sector. (See video below.)

In a wide-ranging interview with Robotics and Automation News, Nolan Paul, partner, global agricultural technology lead at Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, says he finds vertical farming

“Vertical farming is one of those technologies which has the ability to transform the way food is grown and consumed,” says Paul. [Read more…] about Yamaha looking to invest in vertical farming companies

Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

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Yamaha is using part of its $100 million investment fund to buy a stake in Advanced Farm Technologies.

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley led the Series A funding round for the startup.

Yamaha says this latest investment reflects the company’s “core interest in businesses driving innovation in the agricultural sector. [Read more…] about Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

Yamaha invests in drone tech startup Exyn

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Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, the strategic business development and investment arm of Yamaha Motor, has participated in the $16 million Series A funding round for Exyn Technologies, a developer of autonomous aerial robotics for GPS-denied environments.

The investment is one of the first out of the $100 million Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund established in 2018 and activated this year. The Exyn investment reflects YMVSV’s interest in developing innovation in the aviation sector.

George Kellerman, CEO and managing director of YMVSV, says: “Advanced aerial autonomy technologies have broad impacts across industry sectors, making Exyn Technologies a very attractive exploratory investment for us. [Read more…] about Yamaha invests in drone tech startup Exyn

Yamaha Motor to open advanced technology centre for robotics, AI and IT 

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Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is to open the Yamaha Motor Advanced Technology Center in Yokohama City, Japan, to further advanced technology development in the robotics, artificial intelligence, and IT fields.

As a hub for development of advanced technology such as AI/IoT, motion control, and image processing in the robotics field, Yamaha Motor plans for the Center to progressively commit, recruit, and develop advanced specialist human resources in each field.

At the same time, Yamaha Motor is also positioning the Center as a hub for open innovation, promoting linkages and collaboration with companies, universities, and research institutions which possess knowledge and strengths in advanced technology fields.

[Read more…] about Yamaha Motor to open advanced technology centre for robotics, AI and IT 

Yamaha Motor debuts at Hannover with digital production lines

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Yamaha Motor booth made its debut at Hannover Messe last month, showcasing fully-digitalised production lines, including transport processes. Its stand featured an operational demonstration of the Advanced Robotics Automation Platform.

This new robotics system enables automation of complex advanced production facilities, integrating control of multiple robots and peripheral devices necessary for production facilities in one unit.

The company also highlighted the YK400XR SCARA robot, which features both high quality/functionality and excellent cost-performance, according to Yamaha.

[Read more…] about Yamaha Motor debuts at Hannover with digital production lines

Yamaha to develop remote management systems for industrial robots

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Yamaha is bringing together different parts of its global business in an effort to develop remote management system packages for industrial robots.  

Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Corporation say they have utilized the technology and experience of both to develop the packages, which are scheduled to be released in fiscal 2018.

This alliance enables Yamaha Motor to make what it describes as a “full-scale entry” into the IoT business in the factory automation field, say the companies.  [Read more…] about Yamaha to develop remote management systems for industrial robots

Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

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Yamaha Motor has selected Siemens to provide product lifecycle management software to support its digitalization initiative.

Yamaha will deploy the Siemens’ Teamcenter portfolio across all development divisions of their key business, motorcycle products.

Siemens claims Teamcenter is “the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software”.  [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor opts for Siemens product lifecycle management to digitalise industrial processes

Yamaha develops its own ‘Advanced Robotics Automation’ internet of things platform to connect its new industrial robots

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Yamaha Motor says its internet of things automation system enables integrated control of multiple robot products with one controller

Yamaha has developed a new Advanced Robotics Automation platform – essentially an internet of things system for connecting machines together. 

This integrated control robot system enables building advanced automated production lines at low cost, in short time frames, and provides a “remarkable increase in compatibility with IoT”, says Yamaha.

The company adds that the newly-developed integrated controller delivers comprehensive coordination and synchronous control of an entire automated system, including transport of pieces, handling, image recognition, and control of peripheral devices.  [Read more…] about Yamaha develops its own ‘Advanced Robotics Automation’ internet of things platform to connect its new industrial robots