Robotics & Automation News

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Daimler Trucks confirms ‘significant increase’ in unit sales worldwide

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Daimler Trucks claims it is seeing a “significant increase” in unit sales across many key regions around the world.

As part of its Capital Market & Technology Day, Daimler Trucks today confirmed its positive outlook for unit sales and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and remains optimistic about its outlook for the current business year.

In the Trucks division, the world’s most successful manufacturer of commercial vehicles anticipates a significant increase in unit sales and EBIT compared with the previous year.  [Read more…] about Daimler Trucks confirms ‘significant increase’ in unit sales worldwide

Briefing – Robotics and Automation in Logistics: Driverless trucks on the horizon

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In this article, Robotics and Automation News marvels at the driverless trucks being developed for freight operations.

Most people know what “freight” means – it refers to the movement of goods by road, rail, sea or air. Beyond that, terminology in that sector can get a little complicated, mostly because some terms are interchangeable.

Logistics, for example, is often used to mean the entire process of moving goods, although professionals in the industry use it to mean a similar thing to freight.  [Read more…] about Briefing – Robotics and Automation in Logistics: Driverless trucks on the horizon

Events: Automatica ‘beats all records again’, say organisers

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Organisers of the biennial Automatica event say this show has beaten all previous records.

Automatica 2018, which took place from June 19 to 22, reached new highs in the two main categories:

  • more than 46,000 visitors (+ seven percent); and
  • 890 exhibitors (+ seven percent).

Falk Senger, trade fair managing director for Messe München, the parent company of Automatica, says: “Automatica addresses the future topics of human-robot collaboration, digital transformation in production, and service robotics.

“The strong results show that the history of automation and robotics is being written here in Munich.”  [Read more…] about Events: Automatica ‘beats all records again’, say organisers

Opinion: Super-material graphene could lead to an electric vehicle breakthrough

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Electric vehicle manufacturers and battery makers have long been searching for the “holy grail” technology that could lower the cost of batteries while also extending their range.

Government research labs, venture capital, startups, and large corporations have all toyed with different ways to get to the promise land.

But one material is emerging as the most promising innovation to date that could actually lead to cheap, long-range and fast-charging electric vehicles: graphite.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Super-material graphene could lead to an electric vehicle breakthrough

Industry analysis: 8 technologies that will transform manufacturing

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Advisory firm ABI Research has listed what it regards as the most transformative technologies in manufacturing.

The company outlines how the technologies fit together with each other in its report Smart Manufacturing.

The eight transformative technologies the report highlights are:

  1. Additive manufacturing
  2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  3. Augmented reality
  4. Blockchain
  5. Digital twins
  6. Edge intelligence
  7. Industrial Internet of Things platforms
  8. Robotics

The manufacturing sector has already seen increased adoption of IIoT platforms and edge intelligence, says ABI.  [Read more…] about Industry analysis: 8 technologies that will transform manufacturing

OnRobot and OptoForce target 250 per cent growth in Southeast Asia

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Robotic solutions providers OnRobot and OptoForce – which are both now part of one single company – are aggressively targeting Southeast Asia, aiming to grow 250 per cent in the region this year.

Executives at the companies believe the increased demand will come from the electronics, automotive and CNC machining industries.

This new assessment follows the appointment of Niels Ole Sinkbæk Sørensen as sales manager, Asia Pacific, who oversees business expansion in the region for both companies, based in Kuala Lumpur.  [Read more…] about OnRobot and OptoForce target 250 per cent growth in Southeast Asia

Self-driving car companies face choice between active and passive sensors

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Self-driving cars are close to becoming a reality. When this happens, the sensors they use will be particularly important, says Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd, parent company of Foresight Automotive.

Foresight is developing a sensor system that uses multiple visual light and infrared cameras in stereoscopic technology to interpret its surroundings.

Google’s parent company Alphabet, Inc.  is installing a wide range of sensors in its cars, combining their different inputs to create a fuller picture.

[Read more…] about Self-driving car companies face choice between active and passive sensors

Briefing – Products and Markets: Automatica provides ideal platform for new and established companies

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In this article, Robotics and Automation News highlights some of the products being showcased at the Automatica trade show later this month 

For anyone who has developed and built a robotic or automation technology of some description, there’s no better place to market it than Automatica.

Automatica is probably the world’s largest trade event for the automation industry.

Held every two years in Munich, Germany, the show attracts approximately 50,000 visitors from 100 countries, and about almost 1,000 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries.
[Read more…] about Briefing – Products and Markets: Automatica provides ideal platform for new and established companies

Smart cities: Embracing technology for urban mobility advancement

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By Francois-Joseph Van Audenhove, partner at Arthur D. Little

Urban mobility operators face evolving customer needs and behaviors as well as a spate of technological advancements, driven by the fourth industrial revolution, that must be embraced in order to stay competitive in the short term, and require transformation for operators to stay relevant in the long term.

Major developments have opened up a range of new mobility options for individuals and now customers expect operators, particularly of public transport, to offer services that are fast, reliable, convenient and personalized.

As such, technological trends and new mobility solutions could lead to a very different mobility ecosystem in the future.  [Read more…] about Smart cities: Embracing technology for urban mobility advancement

Mass customisation: Cimpress finds ‘the right balance’ of automation and human intervention in manufacturing

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Cimpress was practising “mass customisation” years before the term became fashionable. In 1999, the Netherlands company took its operation to the internet and launched its now-famous Vistaprint brand, among others.

Originally established in 1995, Cimpress now employs 12,000 people worldwide and last year generated revenue of more $2 billion.

In this article, Maarten Wensveen, chief technology officer at Cimpress, provides an insight into the company’s operations and technology. 

Modern manufacturing technology is improving how goods are made and how quickly they can be delivered to customers.

[Read more…] about Mass customisation: Cimpress finds ‘the right balance’ of automation and human intervention in manufacturing