Robotics & Automation News

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Infrastructure

Kollmorgen relocates to new premises in Sweden

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Kollmorgen, a manufacturer of motor solutions for the robotics industry, is relocating to new premises in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The move is part of a strategic initiative to meet the future demands for automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots, by expanding the business and increasing the innovation and development capacity.

The company says the relocation will increase speed of innovation and development, and improve training experience for partners and end-users. [Read more…] about Kollmorgen relocates to new premises in Sweden

T-Mobile to implement 5G smart city infrastructure in Peachtree Corners

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Peachtree Corners, which claims to be one of the nation’s “first smart city environments powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G”, says that T-Mobile, Applied Information and Temple are introducing 5G-connected vehicle technology that enables traffic signals to communicate with any vehicle on the road via a revolutionary mobile app.

Brian Johnson, city manager of Peachtree Corners, says: “As another strong reflection of Peachtree Corners’ leadership as an innovative smart city in the United States, we’re excited to offer smart connected infrastructure relevant to our citizens, city employees and visitors by enabling any vehicle to receive communications from 5G-connected traffic signals.

“Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology isn’t just a concept here, it’s a reality that all people can experience just by downloading an app on their smartphones. [Read more…] about T-Mobile to implement 5G smart city infrastructure in Peachtree Corners

NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Vehicles Over Game Feature

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The National Highway Transport and Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched investigations into Tesla’s 580,000 vehicles over its passenger game feature capabilities at the center of its dashboard.

However, the video game capabilities on Tesla vehicles are not a new feature. It has existed in all Tesla models released between 2017 to 2022, including models 3, S, X, and Y. [Read more…] about NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Vehicles Over Game Feature

John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

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Deere & Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural and forestry vehicles, is expanding its US footprint and technology operations with a new office in Austin, Texas.

Deere says the new location enables it to further strengthen its technology capabilities and attract talent interested in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges – including feeding a growing population.

Jahmy Hindman, Chief Technology Officer at John Deere, says: “Austin is a growing destination for some of the brightest minds in technology. Opening this office was a strategic decision from both a talent and collaboration perspective, particularly in software and data analytics. [Read more…] about John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

NTT training robots to become data center workers

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NTT, the national telecommunications provider of Japan and one of the largest such companies in the world, is training industrial robots to become data center workers.

The company has a separate business division for data centers called Global Data Centers and says its global platform is “one of the largest in the world”.

Its data centers tend to be huge facilities and are “expensive to run”, mostly because of the massive amount of electricity necessary and the cooling infrastructure, not to mention the sheer floor space required. [Read more…] about NTT training robots to become data center workers

Volvo, Daimler, and Traton partner to build high-performance charging network

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Europe’s three leading commercial vehicle manufacturers – Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton Group – have signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture to install and operate a high-performance public charging network for battery electric, heavy-duty long-haul trucks and coaches across Europe.

As previously publicised, the parties are committed to initiating and accelerating the necessary build-up of charging infrastructure for the increasing number of customers of electric vehicles in Europe and contribute to climate-neutral transportation in Europe by 2050.

The joint venture creation is subject to regulatory approvals. [Read more…] about Volvo, Daimler, and Traton partner to build high-performance charging network

BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

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BMW i Ventures took a lead investment in HeyCharge, the German start-up providing electric vehicle charging stations in apartment complexes, office buildings and other infrastructure locations.

HeyCharge was in Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 batch of start-ups.

Kasper Sage, managing partner, BMW i Ventures, says: “The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market in coming years will necessitate greater infrastructure build-out of charging solutions around the globe. [Read more…] about BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units

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General Motors says it will invest more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity.

This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.

Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO, says: “We are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the US, and our North American EV production capacity. [Read more…] about General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units

ABB to provide charging infrastructure for Lilium’s electric passenger-carrying drone

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ABB E-mobility has agreed to provide the charging infrastructure for Lilium’s high speed regional air network, using electric passenger-carrying drones, scheduled for commercial launch in 2024.

Lilium has plans to launch networks in Florida, Germany, and Brazil. As part of the agreement, ABB will develop, test and supply the MegaWatt fast charging infrastructure necessary for the quick turnaround times needed for electric aviation.

The ABB charging points are designed to be capable of fully charging batteries in approximately 30 minutes, and charging up to 80 percent in 15 minutes, enabling the 20-25 flights per aircraft per day planned across Lilium’s global vertiport network. [Read more…] about ABB to provide charging infrastructure for Lilium’s electric passenger-carrying drone

‘We wrote the playbook’: Michigan reinvents itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility

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The US state of Michigan is reinventing itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility. From opening an air corridor for drones to building a stretch of road on which electric vehicles can charge themselves wirelessly as they move along, the state is creating an ecosystem which could become something of a template for the rest of America.

Michigan is, as most readers will know, the state in which Detroit is located. Detroit, the most populous city in the state, is the historic centre of the modern global automotive industry, or “Motor Town” as it was famously called many decades ago, inspiring the name “Motown” for the even more famous record label.

And while it may have lost some of its industrial status in recent decades, Detroit still provides homes and office space to some of the largest automotive companies in the world: Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz USA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and a whole range of automotive components, systems and parts manufacturers. [Read more…] about ‘We wrote the playbook’: Michigan reinvents itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility