Robotics & Automation News

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Autonomous vehicle Olli goes to university

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Local Motors by LM Industries, known for 3D-Printed mobility solutions, has launched operations of Olli at the University at Buffalo, USA. Olli is the world’s first co-created, self-driving, electric vehicle.

The University at Buffalo will use Olli for autonomous vehicle education and mapping while also testing the shuttles for campus transportation.

The project, which is being co-managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York State Department of Transportation, supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030.

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Digi-Key bolsters industrial automation portfolio 

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Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, continues to strengthen their offering of Industrial Automation (IA) components, adding over 14,000+ part numbers to their portfolio in categories such as sensors, cables, safety devices, control monitors, relays, timers, switches, lighting, and controllers.

Aside from the product lines from Digi-Key’s traditional suppliers such as Omron, TE, Panasonic, Molex, and others, the company has added 15 new lines and in the past year, including products from Altech, SICK, IDEC, Carlo Gavazzi, and Belden.

“Digi-Key aims to be the industry leader and single source for IA products and solutions for customers all over the world,” said Eric Wendt, Strategic Program Development Director – Industrial Automation at Digi-Key.

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Fendt combine harvester scoops Red Dot award 

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The Fendt IDEAL high-power combine harvester took Best of the Best Red Dot Award in the renowned design competition. Efficient, high-performance and groundbreaking in design was the verdict of the Red Dot Jury.

Only around one percent of the more than 6,300 submissions are awarded the specific Red Dot quality seal at the end of the process: Best of the Best.

The Fendt high-power combine harvester scored highly as one of the best design products in the commercial vehicle category, and now stands alongside the other award winners, such as the Ferrari Portofino or McLaren 720S from the sports car category, in the exclusive Red Dot group: Best of the Best 2018.

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Magna and Beijing Electric Vehicle to jointly engineer and build electric vehicles in China

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Magna is to form two new joint ventures with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd (BJEV) for complete vehicle manufacturing as well as engineering of electric vehicles.

BJEV, a subsidiary of the BAIC Group for electric cars, and Magna, a global automotive supplier and the world’s leading brand-independent vehicle contract manufacturer, have signed term sheets for the new joint ventures.

Over the coming months, Magna and BJEV will work with authorities to implement legally binding joint-venture agreements which will govern the operations of these two joint ventures.

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Festo shows off BionicFinWave underwater robot

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BionicFinWave, which Festo presented for the first time at the Achema 2018, has been inspired by nature. The bionics team examined the undulating fin movements of marine animals such as the polyclad or the cuttlefish.

To move through the water, the animals use their fins to generate a continuous wave that progresses along the entire length of their bodies. This undulation forces the water backwards, thereby producing a forward thrust.

The BionicFinWave also uses this principle to manoeuvre itself forwards or backwards. The underwater robot manoeuvres itself autonomously through a system of acrylic glass tubing. This project is providing impetus for future work with autonomous robots in the process industry.

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Magna to make the new BMW Z4 in Austria

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Magna is adding to its contract vehicle manufacturing line-up in Graz, Austria with the addition of the new BMW Z4. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of 2018.

“Our expertise in complete vehicle engineering and production makes us unique and the ideal partner for the industry,” says Günther Apfalter, President of Magna Europe and Magna Steyr.

“We are very pleased that we can further strengthen our relationship with the BMW Group and continue to solidify our overall position in the industry with new business like this.” [Read more…] about Magna to make the new BMW Z4 in Austria

3D Systems and GF Machining Solutions partner on metal part production

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3D Systems and Georg Fischer AG GF Machining Solutions today announced a partnership that will enhance metal parts production and redefine how manufacturers think about their manufacturing environments.

GF Machining Solutions is one of the world’s leading providers of complete solutions to the precision machining industry and to manufacturers of precision components.

By combining the strength of 3D Systems’ innovation and expertise in additive manufacturing with GF Machining Solutions’ renowned leadership in precision machining, this partnership will enable manufacturers to more efficiently produce complex metal parts within tight tolerances, and reduce total cost of operation.

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Atlas Copco acquires niche machine vision solutions provider

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Atlas Copco, a provider of sustainable productivity solutions, has acquired German Quiss Qualitäts-Inspektionssysteme und Service AG. The company specialises in machine vision solutions for quality inspection and robot guidance, and is mainly used in the automotive industry.

Quiss is based near Munich in Germany. The company had revenues of approximately 8.4m euros in 2017 and 45 employees.

Quiss’ core competence is image processing, algorithms, as well as system design including hardware and software. The products are mainly used for quality inspection of adhesive dispensing applications within the automotive industry.

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Raytheon invests in advanced manufacturing for radar development

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Raytheon Company has opened a $72 million, 30,000 square foot facility on its Andover, Massachusetts-based campus, which is now home to some of the industry’s leading innovations in manufacturing.

The new space features advanced automation technology to support complex radar testing and integration.

“We built the new radar development facility with the future – and our customers – in mind,” said Sarah Jennette, program manager for the project.

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Swisslog wins CarryPick order with Waytek

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Swisslog Logistics Automation is to install CarryPick at electrical parts supplier Waytek’s Chanhassen, Minnesota distribution centre.

Swisslog’s CarryPick solution is a mobile system for flexible, scalable order fulfilment. CarryPick’s mobile robots  supply workstations with mobile racks.

The system supports different sizes and weights of products, provides the ability to add racks and robots quickly as storage volume increases, and enables equipment to be easily moved from one warehouse to another. The goods-to-person solution is orchestrated by Swisslog’s SynQ warehouse management software.

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