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Hexagon NovAtel unveils ROS-based autonomous driving platform

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NovAtel, part of Hexagon, has released of its first purpose-built driver, powered by Robot Operating System (ROS), to support its OEM7 family of GNSS receivers.

The driver, developed by NovAtel engineers, provides an optimized interface enabling users to accelerate autonomous development projects by quickly incorporating NovAtel OEM7 receivers into custom applications.

The driver is available for immediate download through the new NovAtel GitHub repository or as a ROS Binary Package for direct installation. [Read more…] about Hexagon NovAtel unveils ROS-based autonomous driving platform

FLIR releases European thermal imaging dataset for automotive driver assistance development

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FLIR Systems has made available its first European thermal imaging regional dataset and the third in a series of thermal imaging datasets for machine vision testing.

The company says the dataset is designed to help researchers, developers and auto manufacturers enhance and accelerate work on safety, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), automatic emergency braking (AEB) and autonomous vehicle systems.

The dataset features thousands of annotated thermal images of daytime, nighttime and various weather scenarios from six cities across Europe. [Read more…] about FLIR releases European thermal imaging dataset for automotive driver assistance development

IPsoft and GlobalDWS launch service robot powered by Amelia

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IPsoft, a developer of virtual robot for business, and GlobalDWS, a systems integrator and technology solutions provider, have partnered to enable Amelia, IPsoft’s conversational artificial intelligence solution, on GlobalDWS’ service robot platform. (See video below.)

The result of this agreement is a new disinfection service robot that combines GlobalDWS’ autonomous, voice-enabled robot platform with an Amelia-driven Covid-19 Assistant.

The robot is equipped with a high-pressure atomizer containing disinfectant liquid and UV-C lights to effectively eliminate 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria and viruses from a target area – for example, floors, desks, doors – while providing Covid-19 risk assessments and information through an interactive assistant. [Read more…] about IPsoft and GlobalDWS launch service robot powered by Amelia

Nvidia offers glimpse into Silicon Valley simulator in the cloud used for autonomous car development

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As much of the world continues to conduct business from home, Nvidia’s autonomous test vehicles are hard at work in the cloud. (See video below.)

During the GTC 2020 keynote, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang demonstrated how Nvidia Drive technology is being developed and tested in simulation.

While physical testing is temporarily paused, the cloud-based Nvidia Drive Constellation platform makes it possible to dispatch virtual vehicles in virtual environments to continue making great progress in self-driving technology. [Read more…] about Nvidia offers glimpse into Silicon Valley simulator in the cloud used for autonomous car development

NXP expands partnership with Microsoft Azure RTOS

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NXP Semiconductors has expanded its partnership with Microsoft to bring Microsoft Azure real-time operating system (RTOS) to a broader range of processing solutions from its EdgeVerse portfolio.

The collaborative efforts will give NXP’s developer community using MCUXpresso Software and Tools seamless access to the capabilities of Azure RTOS, including fully integrated middleware and tools for file management, graphical user interface, security, networking, and wired/wireless connectivity.

Currently, Azure RTOS support is available for many of NXP’s low-power, secure 32-bit LPC and i.MX RT crossover microcontrollers (MCUs). [Read more…] about NXP expands partnership with Microsoft Azure RTOS

Critical Manufacturing and Tata Consultancy Services partnership to develop ‘modern MES’

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Critical Manufacturing has agreed a global consulting and services partnership with Tata Consultancy Services, a global leader in IT services, consulting and business solutions.

Under the agreement, TCS will offer global consulting, project development and implementation support services around Critical Manufacturing’s Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for customers in the complex discrete industry, including the semiconductor, PCB manufacturing, medical device, aerospace and defense, and automotive segments.

Regu Ayyaswamy, global head, internet of things and engineering services, TCS, says: “TCS works with leading manufacturers globally, helping them scale up product innovation and pursue their growth and transformation initiatives. [Read more…] about Critical Manufacturing and Tata Consultancy Services partnership to develop ‘modern MES’

Opinion: Cloud robotics is a game changer, but three challenges lurk

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By Rhys Davies, product manager at Canonical, publisher of Ubuntu open-source operating system

The service robotics market is projected to soar from $37 billion worldwide this year to $102.5 billion by 2025, according to ResearchAndMarkets. Every week, it seems, we see some cool new application, like the warehouse automation solution shown in the video below.

A major reason for robotics’ emergence as a hot technology trend often spoken in the same breath as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) is the convergence of robotics with the cloud.

Cloud robotics – a term first coined in 2010 by then-Google research scientist James Kuffner – provides vast amounts of processing power and storage resources to expand robot capabilities. [Read more…] about Opinion: Cloud robotics is a game changer, but three challenges lurk

How AI is Changing the Insurance Sector

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Whether you own a business or drive a car, insurance is important to protect your investments and prevent you from sinking in the event of a serious and costly accident or act of malice.

People need to address risk, so they turn to insurance carriers that offer the best premiums for their needs.

To do so, these carriers will have to improve their processes so they can better service their clients. [Read more…] about How AI is Changing the Insurance Sector

NXP launches new bluetooth devices for automotive and industrial markets

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NXP Semiconductors has launched new devices within its KW3x range of microcontrollers (MCUs). The new KW39/38/37 MCUs add Bluetooth 5.0 long-range capabilities and expanded Bluetooth advertising channels.

These enhancements are made while offering seamless migration with hardware, software and tools compatibility with the previous generation of devices, KW34/35/36.

The connectivity MCUs allow Bluetooth LE devices to communicate at distances of more than a mile and increase the amount of Bluetooth advertising channels and advertising data within the Bluetooth standard, the predominant IoT protocol. [Read more…] about NXP launches new bluetooth devices for automotive and industrial markets

Cincoze launches new industrial GPU computer

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Cincoze, a manufacturer of embedded systems, has unveiled its new industrial GM-1000 rugged GPU computer, which is powered by the 9th/8th generation Intel CPU and supports one MXM GPU module expansion.

This GPU computer provides high-performance computing capability with a small footprint design, which is suitable for applications like edge computing, machine vision, image processing, and artificial intelligence.

GM-1000 can be configured with a range of 9th/8th generation Intel CPUs, including Xeon and Core i up to 8 cores. It supports dual channel DDR4 2666MHz SO-DIMM up to 64GB. It has abundant I/Os, including 4 x COM, 2 x GbE LAN, 8 x USB, 1 x HDMI, and 1 x DVI-I. [Read more…] about Cincoze launches new industrial GPU computer