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Authoritative economic thinktank report finds tariffs have ‘no effect’ on US manufacturing employment

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A new report published on the VoxEU website, part of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), argues that US President Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs have failed to deliver on one of their most politically sensitive promises: bringing manufacturing jobs back to America.

The column, titled “The (non) effect of tariffs on manufacturing employment”, reviews data on US trade policy and employment and concludes that tariffs have little to no positive impact on overall manufacturing employment. [Read more…] about Authoritative economic thinktank report finds tariffs have ‘no effect’ on US manufacturing employment

Natural language processing and voice control for robots: The conversational robot

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Robots are steadily becoming easier to interact with. For decades, programming a robot meant learning a proprietary interface or mastering complex code.

Now, thanks to advances in natural language processing (NLP) and voice control, operators can instruct machines using everyday speech.

This shift promises to make robots more accessible to non-technical users, expand their applications, and ultimately accelerate adoption across industries. [Read more…] about Natural language processing and voice control for robots: The conversational robot

MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

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By Rachel Gordon, MIT CSAIL

When the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) first convened 40 years ago, the robotics community shared a clear vision: robots would one day combine elegant mathematical models with advanced computation to handle complex tasks.

Four decades later, the community is divided over how to reach that goal. That divide was on full display this May in Atlanta, where ICRA marked its anniversary with a unique closing keynote: a live Oxford-style debate on whether “data will solve robotics and automation”. [Read more…] about MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

Siemens Shanghai facility achieves ‘300 percent’ increased storage with Geek Plus robotic system

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Geek Plus, arguably one of the world’s largest warehouse automation companies, says its robotic system has helped Siemens’ Shanghai facility achieve a storage capacity increase of 300 percent, improved picking efficiency of 150 percent, and increased accuracy to 99.99 percent.

Geek+ has been collaborating with Shanghai Siemens Switchgear for five years. In that time, the company says it has engaged in “continuous innovation”.

Now it says it has successfully built “the world’s first robot-driven intelligent warehouse in the discrete-manufacturing field that covers the full process from receiving and shelving to storage, picking and distribution”. [Read more…] about Siemens Shanghai facility achieves ‘300 percent’ increased storage with Geek Plus robotic system

European postal services stop sending parcels to the US as Washington ends $800 duty-free rule

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Postal services across Europe have temporarily stopped accepting many parcels bound for the United States, citing uncertainty over new US customs rules that abolish the long-standing duty-free threshold for low-value imports. 

The suspension comes ahead of 29 August, when an executive order signed by President Donald Trump takes effect, ending the de minimis exemption that allowed goods worth up to $800 to enter the US duty-free. From Friday, almost all commercial parcels will require full customs clearance, duties and additional data.

DHL Parcel Germany was among the first to announce a halt, telling business customers it would no longer accept US-bound postal parcels from 22 August. Gifts valued up to $100 and letters remain unaffected, while DHL Express, the company’s courier arm, continues to operate with its own customs channels. [Read more…] about European postal services stop sending parcels to the US as Washington ends $800 duty-free rule

Japanese scientists develop ‘quantum computer-based robot control’

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The researchers say the new system enables ‘smoother, more complex movements for next-generation robots’

Scientists in Japan, working in partnership with Fujitsu, say they have developed “an innovative method for efficiently controlling robot posture using quantum computing technology”.

The scientists involved are from the Shibaura Institute of Technology (Associate Professor Takuya Otani, Faculty of System Science and Engineering – Human Robot System Laboratory), and Waseda University (Professor Atsuo Takanishi, Faculty of Science and Engineering).

This new approach facilitates the efficient and accurate calculation of inverse kinematics; that is, determining joint angles from a target end-effector position, for multi-joint robots by leveraging qubit-based position representation and quantum entanglement. [Read more…] about Japanese scientists develop ‘quantum computer-based robot control’

Market analysis: Bangkok’s rise as southeast Asia’s next data centre hub

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Bangkok is rapidly emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic data centre markets, according to a new report by DC Byte.

With total IT capacity surpassing 2.5GW, the city now ranks as the region’s second-largest market after Johor.

Strategic advantages such as abundant land, reliable power, and a central location bridging East and West are drawing a wave of international operators and hyperscalers. [Read more…] about Market analysis: Bangkok’s rise as southeast Asia’s next data centre hub

How a WW2-era factory is cutting production time by 80 percent

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Inside a compact production cell at Collins Aerospace’s wheel-and-brake facility in Troy, Ohio, two advanced machines now replace the five legacy machines once needed to produce aircraft wheels.

Together, they can cut production time from 45 days to just seven – a push the team calls “Wheels in a Week.”

Greg Smith, director of operations, says: “One, it’s obviously catchy. It rolls off the tongue, and the second, it is a challenge. And, everyone likes a challenge. [Read more…] about How a WW2-era factory is cutting production time by 80 percent

MIT launches new initiative to ‘transform US manufacturing’ with AI and automation

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By Eric Bender, MIT Industrial Liaison Program

“Manufacturing is the engine of society, and it is the backbone of robust, resilient economies,” says John Hart, head of MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) and faculty co-director of the MIT Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM).

“With manufacturing a lively topic in today’s news, there’s a renewed appreciation and understanding of the importance of manufacturing to innovation, to economic and national security, and to daily lives.”

Launched this May, INM will “help create a transformation of manufacturing through new technology, through development of talent, and through an understanding of how to scale manufacturing in a way that enables imparts higher productivity and resilience, drives adoption of new technologies, and creates good jobs,” Hart says. [Read more…] about MIT launches new initiative to ‘transform US manufacturing’ with AI and automation

Beckhoff opinion: Operating systems for industrial automation starts with people, not tech

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When people talk about operating systems (OS) in industrial automation, it’s easy to jump straight into performance stats, software capabilities or the technical specs.

But the real question most engineers and operations teams are asking themselves is much simpler: “Can our team actually use this?” [Read more…] about Beckhoff opinion: Operating systems for industrial automation starts with people, not tech