Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Computing

Adding value to product lifecycle management for the small and medium enterprise

by

Bob Hillier, managing director of product lifecycle management expert at Design Rule, explains why working with PLM value added resellers  allows small and medium sized companies to get the most from their software

In 1963, children’s author Leo Lionni published his bestselling book, Swimmy. In this classic book, a school of smaller fish team up and swim as one, to avoid being eaten by the larger creatures.

The story sums up the challenges faced by small and medium sized enterprises, especially when it comes to product development.

There are numerous advantages of working with small businesses, due to their agility and flexibility.  [Read more…] about Adding value to product lifecycle management for the small and medium enterprise

Product lifecycle management software ‘integral’ to industrial internet

by

Product lifecycle management software is integral to the industrial internet but not all companies use them. 

According to industry experts at Hannover Messe, PLM applications are as essential as computer-aided design software.

In the age of Industrie 4.0 and the Internet of Things, some people might wonder if we still need PLM systems in the digital future.  [Read more…] about Product lifecycle management software ‘integral’ to industrial internet

Renishaw and Dassault team up for integrated additive manufacturing

by

Engineering services provider Renishaw is collaborating with Dassault Systèmes, a 3D modelling, simulation and industrial operations software provider, as part of its commitment to provide and enhance software for metal additive manufacturing.

Users of Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience platform applications can now design, optimise, simulate and set up additive manufacturing builds directly for production on Renishaw’s additive manufacturing systems, which build 3D metal parts using laser powder bed fusion technology.  [Read more…] about Renishaw and Dassault team up for integrated additive manufacturing

Artificial intelligence driving revenue growth, says Infosys

by

US Secretary of State John Kerry in Davos
US Secretary of State John Kerry at a previous World Economic Forum meeting in Davos

In a report specially prepared for the World Economic Forum meeting of world leaders from business and politics at Davos, Switzerland, Infosys says businesses and economies which adopt artificial intelligence are seeing dramatic growth. 

The IT consulting giant says companies and countries which embrace AI can expect to see revenue rise around 40 per cent by 2020.

Infosys adds that 80 per cent of AI adopters who can replace workers with computer systems are actually planning to retain and retrain their staff.  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence driving revenue growth, says Infosys

Artificial intelligence takes centre stage at World Economic Forum

by

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, at Davos 2017
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, at Davos 2017

In a number of talks and statements at this year’s World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, artificial intelligence has been taking centre stage, with many saying that while no one really knows the limit of the technology, it has already had profound effects on business and society.

One of Google’s original founders, Sergey Brin, said he looked at AI a few years back, and didn’t really know AI would develop to the extent it has done.

“I didn’t pay attention to it at all, to be perfectly honest,” he said in a discussion at WEF. “Having been trained as a computer scientist in the 90s, everybody knew that AI didn’t work. People tried it, they tried neural nets and none of it worked.”  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence takes centre stage at World Economic Forum

Tiny chip capable of running deep neural networks could accelerate robotics development

by

movidius

One of the challenges in robotics development is the fact that the computer processing required is just massive, often too much for a complex machine to handle onboard without packing very large pieces of hardware. 

One way around it has been to connect the robots up to cloud computing systems which run such things as neural networks and can remotely process data – but this is inefficient and slow.

Even if takes a few seconds to process massive quantities of data, those seconds are just too much time wasted for a machine such, for example, an autonomous car on the move – these things need to be instantaneous.  [Read more…] about Tiny chip capable of running deep neural networks could accelerate robotics development

ADL launches what it claims is ‘industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever’

by

 

ADL Embedded Solutions has launched its ultra-compact ADLEPC-1500 Embedded PC, which the company claims is “the industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever released”.

At 3.4” x 3.2”, the ADLEPC-1500 is a “full-feature embedded PC” targeted at unmanned, industrial controls, robotics, traffic management and surveillance market, says the company.

ADL adds that the device’s wide voltage and temperature range make it “ideal” for a variety of applications and environments.  [Read more…] about ADL launches what it claims is ‘industry’s smallest Intel-based embedded device ever’

Energy expert Idec joins Copa-Data partner community

by

wind turbines

Idec Technical Services, a specialist in the design and installation of high voltage protection and control systems integration, has joined the Copa-Data Partner Community, a worldwide network of certified specialists in Copa-Data’s software, zenon.

As a new member of the Copa-Data Partner Community, Idec will have access to a range of knowledge exchange initiatives provided by Copa-Data with the aim of improving the ergonomics and productivity of partners’ automation projects.  [Read more…] about Energy expert Idec joins Copa-Data partner community

Avid Technology launches new predictive maintenance system for vehicle fleet operators

by

Giles Johnston (left), Avid business improvement consultant, with Avid managing director, Ryan Maughan
Giles Johnston (left), Avid business improvement consultant, with Avid managing director, Ryan Maughan

North East England based automotive cleantech firm Avid Technology has launched a new system for the fleet maintenance industry to help bus operators solve the ongoing quest for efficiency.

Avid says its three new fleet service products – Smart Speed, Smart Shield and Smart Spanner – are designed to reduce costs, boost productivity and improve service delivery and safety.

The entire system is based on the principles of what the company calls “Total Preventative Maintenance”, which it says is used widely to improve the effectiveness of manufacturing operations across the world.  [Read more…] about Avid Technology launches new predictive maintenance system for vehicle fleet operators

Advantech launches WebAccess 8.2 to round out the end-to-cloud IoT applications

by

advantech webaccess

Advantech has launched WebAccess 8.2 to round out the IoT applications from the end to the cloud.

Based on the previous powerful features, the latest version supports MQTT protocol and adds two new drivers (Ethernet/IP for Allen-Bradley PLC and B+B Wzzard MQTT) enabling manager/administrator/System Integrator to effortlessly integrate more on-site devices and upload the front-end data to the cloud.

In order to push product performance to perfection, Advantech has enhanced Dashboard performance in this new release to ensure stable and synchronous data transmission.  [Read more…] about Advantech launches WebAccess 8.2 to round out the end-to-cloud IoT applications