Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Features

Stäubli prepares robotics portfolio for Automate 2019

by

Stäubli will exhibit at Automate, the international automation industry expo, in Chicago, USA, from April 8th – 11, 2019, showing its electrical connectors, fluid connectors and robotics solutions.

One of the biggest crowd attractions at the exhibition will be the highly realistic Smart Production Line where  robots and mobile robot systems produce components for tool change systems with human employees in an Industry 4.0 setting.

Stäubli will show solutions capable of realising the production scenarios of the future. It will also be staging a North America premiere of the TS2 SCARA series.

[Read more…] about Stäubli prepares robotics portfolio for Automate 2019

Omron takes its ‘Factory Harmony’ exhibit to ATX West

by

Industrial automation company Omron has taken its interactive “Factory Harmony” exhibit to ATX West to demonstrate the factory floor of the near-future.

The company followed up its showing at the Consumer Electronics Show with an exhibit of advanced artificial intelligence, automation and robotics at ATX West 2019.

Known for its industry-leading core technology, Sensing & Control + Think, Omron will bring its new interactive Factory Harmony exhibit to ATX with a team of experts who collaborate with customers to provide customized automation solutions for factory line efficiency and business growth.  [Read more…] about Omron takes its ‘Factory Harmony’ exhibit to ATX West

Market trend: Grocery e-commerce investments could lead to global invasion by delivery robots

by

With investment in grocery e-commerce growing at an alarming rate, a massive number of delivery robots of all shapes and sizes are plotting to take over the world 

Being able to order your groceries online and have it delivered to your home is not new, of course. Maybe these days, an increasing proportion of shoppers use their mobile devices rather than their desktop computers, but other than that, it’s about the same as it’s always been – or for almost two decades anyway. 

But behind the scenes, or screens, a lot of things are changing.

From the moment a customer clicks “Buy” and pays through their device, almost everything is different. From the artificial intelligence-driven digital platform, through the highly automated logistics and supply chain, right up to home delivery by a robot, a huge amount of innovation is taking place.  [Read more…] about Market trend: Grocery e-commerce investments could lead to global invasion by delivery robots

Technical insight: System-based guidance for robot vision

by

In this article, SICK, one of the largest providers of sensors to industry, provides an insight into robot vision, position determination and part localization in 2D and 3D

SICK’s Robot Vision portfolio contains a whole range of innovative solutions for 2D and 3D localization of parts in automated, robot-assisted handling processes.

Different options are available to suit each task: Streaming cameras, vision sensors, snapshot cameras, or smart cameras become the robot’s eyes based on the measuring ranges, fields of view and volumes of view, resolutions, or part movements involved in the task.

The system solutions are designed with easy integration and fast operational readiness in mind, at both installation and operation level.  [Read more…] about Technical insight: System-based guidance for robot vision

Infographic: Computer-aided manufacturing

by

MecSoft has produced an interesting infographic on the subject of computer-aided manufacturing. (See below.)

Computer-aided manufacturing is the process of utilizing computer software to simplify and automate CNC machining and 3D printing.

The software sends design data to a 3D printer or CNC machine tool, and the device follows the instructions to create the design.  [Read more…] about Infographic: Computer-aided manufacturing

SIAF Guangzhou celebrates 10 years as South China’s ‘foremost platform’ for intelligent manufacturing

by

Marking its 10th edition this year, SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou (SIAF), the pre-eminent trading platform for intelligent manufacturing solutions in South China, says it will continue to keep pace with the ever-changing industry as the smart factory concept looks set to feature prominently during the show.

Over the past nine years, SIAF has endeavored to stay at the forefront of the industry in a rapidly evolving market. The show has grown steadily to become one of the most important platforms promoting industry convergence as well as business networking. This must-attend event will once again be concurrently held with Asiamold at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou from 10-12 March 2019.

Together, the two shows will utilize 62,000 sqm of exhibition space spanning five halls. It is expected that up to 950 internationally renowned brands will exhibit, attracting over 80,000 visitors from 45 countries and regions. A wide range of application sectors will be featured including automotive engineering, consumer goods, electric engineering, household appliances, mechanical engineering, packaging and printing, medical and pharmaceutical, textile and lighting.  [Read more…] about SIAF Guangzhou celebrates 10 years as South China’s ‘foremost platform’ for intelligent manufacturing

Kuka revises financial forecasts because of economic slowdown

by

Company says it will redirect investment towards “smaller and simpler robot systems” as well as collaborative robots

Kuka has revised its financial forecasts for the fiscal year 2018 because of the “economic slowdown”, which could at least in part refer to the US-China trade dispute.

The industrial robot maker says the “challenging market environment” is the result of a slowdown in the “key industries of automotive and electronics, weak growth in the important Chinese market as well as challenges in the project business”.

Kuka says it has implemented an “immediate package” to strengthen future viability. And it is adjusting its forecast for the past fiscal year 2018.  [Read more…] about Kuka revises financial forecasts because of economic slowdown

Top 20 autonomous delivery robots: Ready to take over the streets

by

Despite some occasional antipathy towards them, autonomous delivery robots are gaining ground in urban landscapes. 

While some local authorities are unsure about allowing machines to roam free on city streets, most people probably accept that it’s only a matter of time before regulations accommodate the new technology.

Universities, meanwhile, as well as other organizations such as hotels, airports and large companies with extensive grounds of their own, have the opportunity to allow relatively large numbers of these autonomous mobile robots to deliver such things as snacks and maybe books, documents, and other items to students, guests and staff.  [Read more…] about Top 20 autonomous delivery robots: Ready to take over the streets

Solving the tricky last-mile: Delivery robots to rescue e-commerce

by

Logistics companies refer to it as the “last mile” – the final stage of dispatch, when the item goes from the local depot to the customer’s address.

The last mile is often the most complex part of the journey, and probably the least cost-effective, for obvious reasons:

  • the delivery vehicles are large and yet the parcels are small, making each delivery relatively expensive; and
  • the vehicles often have to traverse narrow, winding streets, covering much less ground using the same amount of petrol as when traveling much longer distances on a typical motorway, for example.

These factors, and many other difficulties, are why a lot of companies have been researching and developing a wide variety of interesting solutions for that tricky last mile. And with e-commerce growing so fast, the solutions can’t come fast enough.

[Read more…] about Solving the tricky last-mile: Delivery robots to rescue e-commerce

Automated storage and retrieval systems market forecast to see significant growth

by

The automated storage and retrieval systems market is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 7.6 percent during the period 2018-2028, according to a report by Fact.MR.

North America is likely to maintain its lucrativeness in the automated storage and retrieval systems market, accounting for nearly 30 percent revenue share of the global market in 2018.

The report opines that opportunities will not be limited to developed regions alone; the automated storage and retrieval systems market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan is likely to register the highest annual growth throughout the forecast period.  [Read more…] about Automated storage and retrieval systems market forecast to see significant growth