Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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SafeAI releases ‘first operating system purpose-built for autonomous heavy equipment’

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SafeAI, a developer of software for autonomous heavy equipment, has released its SafeAI Autonomous Framework, which the company claims is “the first operating system built specifically for autonomous heavy equipment”.

The company says that, with the SAF, companies can use both SafeAI’s infrastructure and industry expertise to accelerate their autonomous application development and create safer, more productive job sites faster than ever.

Off-road heavy industries know they need to deploy autonomous solutions to remain competitive. However, many do not have the time, resources or in-house expertise to build the solutions they need from the ground up. [Read more…] about SafeAI releases ‘first operating system purpose-built for autonomous heavy equipment’

5 manufacturing trends to look forward to in 2021

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The past year has highlighted the need for sweeping and immediate changes across the manufacturing industry. It has been facing several evolving challenges accelerated by the pandemic.

To improve efficiency and productivity, here are five manufacturing trends you should look forward to in 2021:

Continued Focus On the Development of IoT
IoT (the internet of things) remains a buzzword in manufacturing owing to its adaptability and disruptive nature. As companies and their equipment continue to be digitized, IoT can help companies in multiple ways. [Read more…] about 5 manufacturing trends to look forward to in 2021

It’s out! The 2021-22 Robotics and Automation News Awards brochure

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It’s out!!! 

The 2021-22 Robotics and Automation News Awards brochure is out – finally! Sorry if it’s later than you expected.

Download it now at this link: https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/shop/advertising/2021-22-robotics-and-automation-news-awards-brochure/

In the brochure, you will see the 11 companies that received the highest numbers of readers’ votes in each category.

The three companies with the highest number of votes are listed in the “Nominees” section and one of them will receive the Readers’ Award. We will announce the winner at the presentation in late November or early December – exact date yet to be decided. [Read more…] about It’s out! The 2021-22 Robotics and Automation News Awards brochure

Autonomous vehicles ranked among top 10 innovations attracting investment

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The convergence of automotive and technology industries is accelerating the pace of innovation in the mobility and transportation sectors, leading to a surge in patent grants relevant to autonomous vehicles while also attracting venture capital investors’ interest in the area.

GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has ranked autonomous vehicles among the top 10 innovation-led technologies.

GlobalData’s Technology Innovation Intensity framework is a proprietary data-driven model that incorporates key innovation drivers from alternative datasets such as patents and deals to track a technology’s pace of innovation as well as its lifecycle stage. [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicles ranked among top 10 innovations attracting investment

Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

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Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacturing and service of aircraft and helicopter engines and auxiliary power units, has chosen Webcon BPS as its enterprise-grade, low-code process management and automation platform to digitalize business processes and accelerate its digital transformation to align with the new remote work reality.

Jocelyn Brulé, Pratt & Whitney digital technology manager, says: “As an industry leader, we must not only ensure operational efficiency, but also focus on innovation. Therefore, for many years we have been using low-code platforms to digitize business processes.

“Webcon BPS, used in our Polish division, was one of them. Due to the efficiency, transparency and speed by which we’ve been able to use it to deliver business applications, and how easily the platform enables change management, we decided to roll it out globally. [Read more…] about Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

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A startup company called Ghost has raised $100 million Series D financing, fueling the development of its autonomous driving system that features what it describes as “a revolutionary breakthrough in crash prevention”.

Returning investors Sutter Hill Ventures and Founders Fund participated in the round, along with a new commitment from Coatue.

Ghost was founded in 2017 with the belief that driving should not be dangerous. Despite all the technology and features included in modern cars, cars still crash – accidents and fatalities are going up, not down. [Read more…] about Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

Awards update: Robotics and Automation News Awards 2021 to go ahead

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Robotics and Automation News is organising its first-ever awards event, despite the challenges caused by the global pandemic.

We had originally wanted to hold a live event, either by renting space at one of the big trade shows or a separate conference centre.

However, this is highly unlikely to happen, so we are planning a virtual awards ceremony for sometime in late October or early November 2021. [Read more…] about Awards update: Robotics and Automation News Awards 2021 to go ahead

Kuka signs major contract with Daimler involving at least 1,000 robots, continuing ‘100-year partnership’

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The Daimler automotive group and the Augsburg-based automation specialist Kuka have signed a new framework contract for the coming years. This marks a continuation of the companies’ long-standing partnership.

Kuka has not released details of the new deal but says the order “encompasses a four-figure number of robots and linear units as well as other Kuka technologies such as software and controllers”.

This includes the KR Fortec heavy-duty robot as well as the next generation of the KR Quantec. Kuka linear units, in turn, add a further axis to the robot, thereby considerably extending the work envelope of the robot. [Read more…] about Kuka signs major contract with Daimler involving at least 1,000 robots, continuing ‘100-year partnership’

Kuka releases new operating system for its industrial robots

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Kuka has released a new operating system that the company says will “mark the beginning of a new era in robotics”.

Claiming it is “as easy to use as a smartphone”, Kuka launched the new operating system at Hannover Messe, the annual industrial trade show in Germany, where the company gave audiences the first look at the OS, called iiQKA.OS.

Kuka says iiQKA.OS will “significantly simplify robot use”. [Read more…] about Kuka releases new operating system for its industrial robots

Avinor ploughs €40 million into Yeti autonomous snow removal vehicles

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Norwegian airport operator Avinor is taking the next step towards autonomous snow removal through a new framework agreement regarding the purchase of self-driving runway sweepers.

The self-driving technology is developed by the technology company Yeti Move, where Semcon is one of the co-owners.

Since the winter of 2018/2019, a number of self-driving runway sweepers have been tested at Oslo Airport. With Avinor’s new framework agreement with snowplough manufacturer Øveraasen, which runs for eight years, more autonomous vehicles will be put into operation during the winter of 2021/2022. [Read more…] about Avinor ploughs €40 million into Yeti autonomous snow removal vehicles