Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Abdul Montaqim

Top 30 interesting farming automation technologies and companies

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In this briefing, Robotics and Automation News lists approximately 30 companies and advanced technologies emerging in the agriculture sector

In our recent article, “humorously” entitled “Alien farming technology…”, we mentioned that it might be a good idea to list some of the robotics and automation technologies emerging in the agricultural sector.

Which brings us here, and the slight problem of how to order the list. After minimal discussion, we decided to go random. So this list is not presented in any particular order. Hence the lack of numbers.

However, we do think all the technologies and companies mentioned below are offering something that will bring significant changes to the agricultural sector.  [Read more…] about Top 30 interesting farming automation technologies and companies

Efficient supply chains: From quirky packaging to highly functional boxes

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Designers can be awkward sometimes. Actually, they can be awkward a lot of the time. Something to do with the artistic temperament probably. 

To be fair to them, their job is to make their work stand out from what is often an overcrowded marketplace.

So, as a result, in packaging design, for example, you see all sorts of shapes and sizes that could make life really difficult for the people who actually make the physical packaging.  [Read more…] about Efficient supply chains: From quirky packaging to highly functional boxes

Deliver: Growth of e-commerce providing opportunities for robotics and automation companies

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“Deliver” is a series of industry events in Europe aimed at “e-logistics”, an obvious play on the term “e-commerce”. 

E-commerce can, obviously, refer to either online retail or wholesale, or any sales and purchasing activity that occurs in an electronic environment, on electronic devices.

And, in the aggregate, e-commerce is such a big activity now that it is driving growth in many related business sectors such as supply chain and logistics. Hence, e-logistics.  [Read more…] about Deliver: Growth of e-commerce providing opportunities for robotics and automation companies

Hannover Messe and CeMAT review: Raving with the machines

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The machines are not out to get us, claims Deutsche Messe boss

German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto set the tone on day one of the Hannover Messe/CeMAT double-header. Asked to shake hands with a robot, they both went for the more casual fist bump – a symbol for the relaxed, natural interaction of humans with digitization, robots and machine learning. (See main picture.)

Dr Jochen Köckler, chairman of the managing board at Deutsche Messe, at the close of Hannover Messe/CeMAT, said: “Technology is not about competing with us humans – it’s about assisting us. That is the core message conveyed by this trade fair, which has again underscored Hannover’s reputation as a global hotspot for the digital transformation of industry.

“The focus here has clearly been on the human element: We’re the ones making the decisions and setting the course. The interaction of humans with machines and IT adds up to a huge competitive gain across manufacturing, logistics and the energy industry.” [Read more…] about Hannover Messe and CeMAT review: Raving with the machines

Hannover Messe: Bosch takes lead with 5G connectivity for industry and invests $100 million in new ‘smart factory’ in Mexico

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Industrial giant Bosch is taking the lead in 5G connectivity in partnership with Nokia.

The two companies have been demonstrating a number of 5G projects at Hannover Messe, probably among the first of their kind in the industrial sector.

One of the experts working on the project explained that “most of the industry is cabled”, meaning that robots and other machines, whether they are mobile or stationary, tend to be connected via cables, such as Ethernet, for example. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Bosch takes lead with 5G connectivity for industry and invests $100 million in new ‘smart factory’ in Mexico

Hannover Messe: Siemens showcases its digital enterprise portfolio

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Siemens has been showcasing its digital enterprise portfolio at Hannover Messe. The company says it has been continuously enhancing its digital services for Industrie 4.0, also referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, wherein all machines are connected to the internet and everything is digitised, right down to individual components, which have what are called “digital twins”.

It’s a process also known as “digital transformation”.

Klaus Helmrich, member of the managing board of Siemens, at the press conference for Hannover Messe, said: “We created the technical prerequisites for this transformation with our range of consistent solutions. By implementing Digital Enterprise solutions, users and customers can now tap into the full potential of Industrie 4.0.” [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Siemens showcases its digital enterprise portfolio

Hannover Messe: A new software paradigm for industrial hardware

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Within every intelligent machine, such as an industrial robotic arm, there is, of course, software.

The software is what enables it to operate according to its requirements.

And as the machines get more sophisticated, so does the software. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: A new software paradigm for industrial hardware

Hannover Messe: Global expansion for events platform

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Deutsche Messe is the company behind the annual Hannover Messe industrial technology show, and generates annual revenues of around $360 Million, give or take $100 million.

The company has been expanding recently into Asia, with several new trade events for the manufacturing industry as well as the logistics sector.

For the logistics sector, Deutsche Messe holds a series of events under the brand name of CeMAT. While both these events are expectedly huge in Germany, they are also rather large in other parts of the world. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Global expansion for events platform

ABB showcases electric vehicle technology to German and Mexican leaders

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ABB has been showcasing its latest technologies for electric vehicles to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at Hannover Messe.

The two leaders, along with ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, were shown a demonstration of the company’s new high power fast charging solution: the Terra HP EV charging station with a power output of up to 350 kW recharges a car battery in just eight minutes for 200 km reach.

“This high-power fast charger provides electric vehicles with up to seven times more range in the same charging time than with previous models,” Spiesshofer said. [Read more…] about ABB showcases electric vehicle technology to German and Mexican leaders

Kuka launches specialised system for riveting

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Industrial Robot maker Kuka has launched something it calls ready2_rivet, which the company says is the “ideal self-pierce riveting solution for body-in-white applications”.

The new ready2_rivet solution is part of Kuka’s ready2_use range.

The self-pierce riveting solution for body-in-white applications has been developed jointly with Böllhoff, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of fasteners and assembly systems.  [Read more…] about Kuka launches specialised system for riveting