Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Anna

Bosch and Nio sign strategic partnership agreement

by

The Bosch Group and electric vehicle company Nio signed a strategic cooperation agreement focused on sensor technology, automated driving, electric motor controls, and intelligent transport systems.

The signing ceremony took place in Berlin in the presence of German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Nio began delivering its 7-seat high-performance electric sports utility vehicle, ES8, to its users in China in June.

The vehicle contains key components from Bosch, such as driver assistance systems, control units, sensors and the iBooster electromechanical brake booster. The components will be further developed for Nio’s future models.

Audi starts series production of electric motors in Hungary

by

Audi Hungaria’s Győr factory has begun the series production of electric motors. The electric motors are produced using modular assembly.

The current production capacity is for approximately 400 electric axle motors each day and can be gradually increased.

At present, about 100 people are employed in this new area, to be increased to more than 130 by the end of the year. Production is with one‑shift operation, but will soon change to three shifts.

[Read more…] about Audi starts series production of electric motors in Hungary

Driverless race car becomes first to complete uphill event

by

The dynamics of racing — a human driver guiding a powerful machine to reach the finish line as fast as possible — haven’t changed much since the Goodwood Festival of Speed was founded a quarter century ago. Until now.

The Roborace Robocar, a futuristic vehicle designed for the new era of driverless transportation, became the first car to complete the Goodwood hillclimb without a human at the wheel.

The innovative race car, powered by the Nvidia Drive autonomous vehicle computing platform, wowed 55,000 spectators by navigating with ease around trees, hay bales and tight curves.

[Read more…] about Driverless race car becomes first to complete uphill event

Seegrid self-driving vehicles clock up over 1 million ‘safe’ hours

by

Seegrid, the leader in connected self-driving vehicles for materials handling, says its self-driving vehicles have exceeded 1 million production miles at customer sites without a single personnel safety incident.

Having travelled the equivalent of over 40 times around the earth, Seegrid’s vision-guided vehicles (VGVs) have logged more infrastructure-free miles at customer sites than any other infrastructure-free AGV company.

According to OSHA, in the United States, someone dies every three days in a forklift accident and each year 34,900 serious injuries occur, making worker safety a massive factor in any factory or warehouse setting.

[Read more…] about Seegrid self-driving vehicles clock up over 1 million ‘safe’ hours

BMW introduces robotic X-ray measurement for prototype vehicle analysis

by

The BMW Group has introduced computer tomography into prototype development, production and analysis – a first in the automotive industry.

The full range of vehicles, from Mini to Rolls-Royce, can now be quality-controlled from the early stages of development.

Scans are performed by four robots which move around the outside of the prototype to produce several thousand cross-sectional images. These are then used for detailed examinations of innovations, new materials and bonding technologies.

[Read more…] about BMW introduces robotic X-ray measurement for prototype vehicle analysis

Fanuc America to expand headquarters with new facility in Michigan

by

Fanuc America Corporation, major supplier of robotics, CNC systems, robomachines and industrial IoT solutions, has announced plans to construct a new facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, US, that will be used for engineering, product development, manufacturing and warehousing.

Fanuc’s products are applied in a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, consumer products, food and pharmaceuticals to name a few.

Since 1982, the company’s line of painting robots, and a variety of automation software products have been designed and built in Michigan.

[Read more…] about Fanuc America to expand headquarters with new facility in Michigan

ABB Control Technologies and Actemium sign global cooperation agreement

by

ABB Control Technologies, the market leader in Distributed Control Systems (DCS) for over 15 years, and Actemium, the Vinci Energies brand dedicated to industry and worldwide major player in industrial processes, signed a global agreement in June to significantly expand their existing relationship.

The purpose of this agreement is to enable customers to access best in class control and automation solutions combining the strengths from both companies: global reach, deep domain expertise, extensive product offering, market leading engineering capabilities and most importantly, a strong portfolio of industrial digital solutions.

The collaboration agreement is focused on industries with a high growth rate, usually characterised by short product cycles and quick launch times.

[Read more…] about ABB Control Technologies and Actemium sign global cooperation agreement

Volvo receives Sweden’s largest order ever for electric buses

by

Gothenburg in Sweden now takes the lead in the transition to electrically propelled urban bus traffic in Sweden. The order for 30 all-electric Volvo buses from GS Buss, subsidiary of Göteborgs Spårvägar, and Public Transport Authority Västtrafik, is the biggest order so far for all-electric buses in Sweden.

It is also Volvo Buses’ biggest order to date. The buses will run on route 60 in Gothenburg from next autumn.

Västtrafik, the public transport provider in the Västra Götaland region, has high sustainability targets. Among other things, carbon dioxide emissions are to be cut by 80% by 2020, 95% of all transport shall use renewable energy by 2025, and noise from transport is to be reduced.

[Read more…] about Volvo receives Sweden’s largest order ever for electric buses

ABB invests in soft robotics to transform pick and place processes

by

ABB is backing a new technology which will enable robots to pick up and handle fragile items that would be damaged if current grippers were used. 

ABB Technology Ventures is ABB’s strategic venture capital investment arm. ATV finds the startup partners from which ABB can best benefit, both strategically and financially.

ABB’s partnership with Soft Robotics provides a perfect example of how proactive engagement with a startup can make all the difference when it comes to improving innovation processes.  [Read more…] about ABB invests in soft robotics to transform pick and place processes

Continental begins construction of its first plant in Lithuania

by

Continental is expanding its European production capacities, celebrating the groundbreaking ceremony for its first plant in Kaunas, Lithuania.

From the second half of 2019, electronic components for the European market will be manufactured in the technology company’s new electronics plant.

Components will include door and seat control units as well as gateways and units for intelligent glass control, whose film technology allows the vehicle glazing to be darkened automatically or via user input.

[Read more…] about Continental begins construction of its first plant in Lithuania