Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

The Toyota Corolla at 50: The best-selling car of all time

by

The Toyota Corolla is by far the best-selling model of car ever made, with close to 50 million units sold since its launch in 1966. 

The company commemorated the 50th anniversary last month of “the car for everyone” by producing a video and other content looking back on its success in putting Toyota on the global automaking map.

One notable story told of how one owner has been driving his first-generation Corolla since he bought it in 1969 at the age of 24.  [Read more…] about The Toyota Corolla at 50: The best-selling car of all time

US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report

by

The United States will regain its lead as the world’s most competitive manufacturing nation by the year 2020, according to a report by economic analyst Deloitte. 

Deloitte made its forecast after surveying the opinions of manufacturing industry executives for its 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.

Deloitte says “executives expect the US to assume the top position before the end of the decade”.  [Read more…] about US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report

Trust Automation adds ‘revolutionary capture technology’ to robotic aircraft

by

zipline-robotic-aircraft

Trust Automation says it has provided critical engineering support in the development of the recovery system for Zipline International’s medical delivery drones.

Trust Automation is a provider of standard and custom motors and controls as well as support system solutions.

Trust Automation says it was instrumental in taking a concept provided by Zipline from drawing board design to operational reality. [Read more…] about Trust Automation adds ‘revolutionary capture technology’ to robotic aircraft

Foxconn and Apple negotiating with Indian government on manufacturing and retailing

by

Apple and its main manufacturer Foxconn are negotiating with the Indian government over the possible establishment of a manufacturing plant and retail stores in the country. 

This is according to reports on the AppleInsider.com website, which quotes India’s Economic Times newspaper.

Indian business regulations require foreign companies to source at least 30 per cent of their goods from local suppliers, a requirement which has stalled Apple’s plan to open up a number of stores in the country of 1 billion people.  [Read more…] about Foxconn and Apple negotiating with Indian government on manufacturing and retailing

Nissan autonomous tech boss reveals philosophy behind automaker’s approach

by

nissan

Nissan says it is taking “a step-by-step approach in introducing autonomous driving technologies to market”. 

The company has been relatively quiet of late on its developments but is now revealing more about its philosophy.

Nissan says that to see the autonomous driving fully integrate into daily life, solving the many technological challenges as well as societal acceptance are key.  [Read more…] about Nissan autonomous tech boss reveals philosophy behind automaker’s approach

Smart cities: A matrix of information superhighways

by

tokyo
Tokyo, the world’s most populous city, with almost 40 million residents. Picture by Moyan Brenn, via Wikimedia

Johannes Petrowisch, partner account manager at industrial automation software company Copa-Data, discusses the role of data collection and analysis in the smart cities of tomorrow

The largest ant colonies in the world contain over 300 million individuals and cover areas that are several kilometres wide. Ants mostly rely on tactile and chemical means of communication to keep these huge systems in order.

Luckily, as humans, we have additional tools at our disposal to make our homes and cities more efficient, more organised and, to put it simply, better places to live in.
[Read more…] about Smart cities: A matrix of information superhighways

Can foreign tech companies win in China?

by

tech in asia
Picture by Andre Gunawan, Tech in Asia

China-based investment expert Edward Tse, CEO of Gao Feng, considers the fortunes of outside tech companies entering China

Clearly, China’s regulatory regime regarding the internet, in particular social media, is far more restrictive than that of the US and many other western countries in general.

The “Great Firewall” has proven itself repeatedly to be a thorn in the side of foreign companies, and not all have been able to overcome this hurdle.

Most have tried, but with varying degrees of success.  [Read more…] about Can foreign tech companies win in China?

Rethink Robotics signs exclusive distribution deal with Hunan Cothink in China

by

rethink-robotics-baxter

Hunan Cothink will distribute Sawyer and Baxter robots throughout the country

Rethink Robotics has reached an exclusive agreement with collaborative robotics provider Hunan Cothink Robotics Technology Company to distribute its robots to the entire Chinese manufacturing community.

Rethink Robotics and Hunan Cothink originally announced a partnership in February of this year that awarded Hunan Cothink distribution rights in northern and southern China, but the success of the relationship and the demand for Rethink Robotics’ smart, collaborative robots has led to a new, exclusive deal that covers the entire Chinese geography.

Earlier this year, Hunan Cothink was formed as a separate division with a new sales and support organization that is designed to bring Rethink’s robots to the Chinese market and help Chinese manufacturers build smarter factories. Hunan Cothink also distributes Rethink Robotics’ Baxter robot worldwide.  [Read more…] about Rethink Robotics signs exclusive distribution deal with Hunan Cothink in China

Chinese energy company employs Sawyer industrial robot from Rethink Robotics

by

Five Sawyer robots power flexible production in smart metering, power distribution and energy management 

Wasion Group, a provider of integrated solutions in smart metering, smart power distribution and energy management in China and international markets, has deployed Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer industrial robot on its assembly line for manufacturing single-phase energy meters.

Wasion is moving forward with smart manufacturing initiatives by leveraging smart, collaborative Sawyer robots that are easy to deploy and can meet the precision specifications for the companies’ factories.

Wasion is said to produce 35 million units of various smart metering, power and energy management equipment annually. With a diversified product portfolio, Wasion’s production lines need to accommodate a variety of products in lower volumes.  [Read more…] about Chinese energy company employs Sawyer industrial robot from Rethink Robotics

Suzuki and Toyota to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies

by

Environment, safety, and information technology fields to also feature prominently in the new business partnership

Suzuki and Toyota have agreed to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies, although the details were not discussed. 

The companies say they have started exploring ideas that are directed towards a business partnership.

In a statement, Toyota and Suzuki say they recognise the environment surrounding the automotive industry has been changing “drastically and rapidly in an unprecedented fashion”.  [Read more…] about Suzuki and Toyota to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies