Robotics & Automation News

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Country Insight: The potential for development in communist North Korea

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North Korea is often referred to as a hermit kingdom of sorts, or the last bastion of communism remaining in today’s largely capitalist world. 

But it’s probably more accurate to think of it as a militaristic nation which has been on a war footing ever since the 1950s when it was the battleground for forces from the US, UN and China, as well as its own.

So, for the past 70 years, the country’s population of 25 million have had to live on food rations provided by the communist government.  [Read more…] about Country Insight: The potential for development in communist North Korea

Efficient supply chains: From quirky packaging to highly functional boxes

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Designers can be awkward sometimes. Actually, they can be awkward a lot of the time. Something to do with the artistic temperament probably. 

To be fair to them, their job is to make their work stand out from what is often an overcrowded marketplace.

So, as a result, in packaging design, for example, you see all sorts of shapes and sizes that could make life really difficult for the people who actually make the physical packaging.  [Read more…] about Efficient supply chains: From quirky packaging to highly functional boxes

Deep learning: Creating the next generation of smart robots

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Deep Learning for Robotics Summit
28th to 29th June • San Francisco

Join RE•WORK later this month to discover the latest advancements in AI and robotics at the Deep Learning for Robotics Summit.

Global experts will explore where AI meets the real world through human-robot interaction, imitation learning, skill embedding, robot perception, progressive neural networks, robotic grasping and many other areas.

We are offering an exclusive discount for Robotics and Automation News readers: Use code RA20 for 20% off your ticket.  [Read more…] about Deep learning: Creating the next generation of smart robots

Alien farming technology: A glimpse into the future of automated agriculture

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Farming, as a human activity, is thought to be the basis for civilisations and societies dating back 15,000 years, possibly even further back if you believe the ancient alien astronaut theory.

In fact, ancient alien astronauts from the Anunnaki race are thought to have introduced Earthlings to farming in the first place, and gifted humans the plough. But that’s a whole other story.

Whatever its age, farming is still a globally widespread activity today. Indeed, until around 50 years ago, the vast majority of countries around the world were agrarian, meaning their economies and societies were reliant on the income generated by the agricultural sector – not just the food produced by it.

Even today, the largest economy in the world – the US – is also the world’s largest exporter of food.  [Read more…] about Alien farming technology: A glimpse into the future of automated agriculture

Deliver: Growth of e-commerce providing opportunities for robotics and automation companies

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“Deliver” is a series of industry events in Europe aimed at “e-logistics”, an obvious play on the term “e-commerce”. 

E-commerce can, obviously, refer to either online retail or wholesale, or any sales and purchasing activity that occurs in an electronic environment, on electronic devices.

And, in the aggregate, e-commerce is such a big activity now that it is driving growth in many related business sectors such as supply chain and logistics. Hence, e-logistics.  [Read more…] about Deliver: Growth of e-commerce providing opportunities for robotics and automation companies

Computers on wheels: An insight into how computers are making cars in their own image

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When Robotics and Automation News interviewed Professor Ralf Herrtwich, the boss of autonomous driving technology at Daimler Mercedes-Benz, one of the many interesting insights he gave us was about the nature of car making these days. 

Herrtwich said that, while building cars is still mainly a mechanical process, developing them is overwhelmingly about software.

“Both at OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and suppliers,” said Herrtwich, “software engineering and coding constitute a huge and ever-growing portion of the work.”  [Read more…] about Computers on wheels: An insight into how computers are making cars in their own image

EPHJ: Nominees for Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 unveiled

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The Jury of the Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 at EPHJ-EPMT-SMT, the international high-precision trade show, has selected six innovative projects from the numerous applications submitted for consideration.

These six nominated projects will now be put to a vote by the 800 exhibitors of EPHJ-EPMT-SMT who elect the Grand Laureate 2018. The winner will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, the opening day of the show.  [Read more…] about EPHJ: Nominees for Exhibitors’ Award for 2018 unveiled

Belt & Road: Much more than a revival of the ancient Silk Road

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A huge amount has been written already about the so-called Belt and Road initiative or project, but it looks like this is just the beginning. 

On the face of it, the Belt and Road refers to a plan to create a logistics network that brings together Europe and Asia with road, rail, and sea routes.

It’s an idea China came up with, and its leaders have made enthusiastic pronouncements about it, even though the project will cost an estimated $1 trillion over the next decade or two. But it’s an open-ended, complex project, so such estimates could just be Communist Chinese propaganda.  [Read more…] about Belt & Road: Much more than a revival of the ancient Silk Road

Kuka launches new robots and showcases its vision of ‘intelligent automation’

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Kuka has launched two new robots – a collaborative industrial robotic arm called LBR iisy (main picture) and an innovative new one called “i-do” that is difficult to describe (see picture below) but is categorised in the company’s new “consumer robotics” business.

Kuka has also been showcasing the company’s vision of “intelligent automation”.

The industrial robot making giant says it is showing how mechatronics and digitization merge in the smart factory.

Kuka demonstrated some of its concepts for the production of tomorrow at the recent Hannover Messe event, under the motto “industrial intelligence 4.0_beyond automation”.  [Read more…] about Kuka launches new robots and showcases its vision of ‘intelligent automation’

Thailand and South Korea sign new trade and investment deals

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Thailand and South Korea have been working closely to increase bilateral trade and investment.

The two countries are among the largest manufacturers of advanced technological products in the world.

Overall, when all manufacturing is taken into account, South Korea is approximately the fifth-largest manufacturing nation in the world, while Thailand is within the top 20.  [Read more…] about Thailand and South Korea sign new trade and investment deals