Robotics & Automation News

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Infrastructure

Connected Signals launches cloud-based vehicle-to-infrastructure system

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Connected Signals, a provider of predictive real-time traffic signal information, has launched its Signal Priority System product suite for smart cities.

SPS is a proprietary vehicle-to-infrastructure technology that is a cloud-based, centralized system connecting vehicles to traffic signals, and providing prioritization of buses, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and others.

Connected Signals says this fresh approach capitalizes on existing traffic management infrastructure and cellular data, rather than requiring dedicated roadside equipment.

[Read more…] about Connected Signals launches cloud-based vehicle-to-infrastructure system

ABB and Porsche to jointly develop electric vehicle chargers

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ABB has teamed up with Porsche to develop a dedicated high-power charger for Porsche’s electric vehicles in Japan.

ABB has entered into an agreement to deliver its market-leading electric vehicle infrastructure for Porsche Japan’s EVs, including Taycan, the automaker’s first fully electric car, set to enter the Japanese market in 2020.

Under the terms, Porsche Japan will install ABB’s high-power chargers at Porsche Centers and public facilities across the country, creating a network of fast chargers for its electric vehicles. The first installation is set to go live in mid-2020.

[Read more…] about ABB and Porsche to jointly develop electric vehicle chargers

Arrow Electronics to take part in Qualcomm’s Smart Cities Accelerator Program

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Arrow Electronics, Inc. will take part in the Smart Cities Accelerator Program of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for the global acceleration of edge compute, 5G appliances and NB-IoT distributed sensors.

Qualcomm Technologies is promoting a library of Smart City solutions that combine existing mobile broadband networks while re-imagining existing infrastructure in cities around the world.

This will help drive additional value and integrate solutions with secure interoperability, edge processing and an ecosystem to deploy at scale.

[Read more…] about Arrow Electronics to take part in Qualcomm’s Smart Cities Accelerator Program

Japan to send robots to Moon and remote control them to build lunar base

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The Japanese Aerospace and Exploration Agency is planning to send robots to the moon and remote-control them to build a lunar base.

Jaxa is partnering with Kajima Corporation, one of Japans oldest and largest construction companies, to promote research and development on the remote construction system by coordination of remote and automatic control.

The project got started in 2016 with the participation of educational establishments including Shibaura Institute of Technology, the University of Electro-Communications and Kyoto University.  [Read more…] about Japan to send robots to Moon and remote control them to build lunar base

Renewable energy now accounts for a third of global power capacity, says Irena

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Clean energy from sources such as solar, wind, and others now accounts for a third of global power capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The decade-long trend of strong growth in renewable energy capacity continued in 2018 with global additions of 171 gigawatts, according to new data released by Irena.

The annual increase of 7.9 percent was bolstered by new additions from solar and wind energy, which accounted for 84 percent of the growth. “A third of global power capacity is now based on renewable energy,” says Irena.  [Read more…] about Renewable energy now accounts for a third of global power capacity, says Irena

Endress+Hauser starts construction of Texas facility

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Industrial instrumentation and process automation company Endress+Hauser is investing $36 million in a new regional center on the Gulf Coast of the USA.

The company officially broke ground on earlier this month at its new site in Pearland’s lower Kirby District near Houston, Texas. Completion is projected by the end of 2020.

The new 10,000-square-meter Endress+Hauser campus will offer areas for calibration, repair and training, which will include a process training unit.  [Read more…] about Endress+Hauser starts construction of Texas facility

Mitsubishi develops autonomous firefighting robots

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has developed two firefighting robots: the “Water Cannon Robot” and the “Hose Extension Robot”. (See video below.)

As a team, they are expected to play an active role in situations too hazardous for firefighting crews, such as fires at petrochemical plants.

The Water Cannon Robot can extinguish and cool fires where human intervention is difficult, while the Hose Extension Robot automatically lays out up to 300 metres of fire hose to supply water to the Water Cannon Robot.  [Read more…] about Mitsubishi develops autonomous firefighting robots

NTT DoCoMo and STP to test drone-based inspection service in Indonesia

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Drones will enable telecom towers to be inspected faster and more safely than ever before, claim companies

NTT DoCoMo, the Japanese telecom giant, and PT Solusi Tunas Pratama, a company that leases out telecommunication towers in Indonesia, have agreed to test a service, named docomo sky for Tower Inspection.

The inspection service uses drones to photograph base stations and telecom towers and transmit the information to a command center in real time.

The partners hope to expand the scope of the test to include other locations and facilities prior to launching a full-scale commercial service in the first half of this year.  [Read more…] about NTT DoCoMo and STP to test drone-based inspection service in Indonesia

LG solar panels on show as part of ‘New American Remodel’ home

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Advanced solar panels from LG were part of The New American Remodel (TNAR), the official show home of the 2019 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in February.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) named LG Electronics USA official partner for the “net zero” TNAR home in the Nevada desert.

The New American Remodel exemplifies how even the most basic house can be transformed into a high-performance home when integrating today’s building practices that enhance energy efficiency, indoor-air quality, safety and universal design.

[Read more…] about LG solar panels on show as part of ‘New American Remodel’ home

ZF unveils concepts for emission-free, efficient and safe future urban landscapes

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ZF, better known for automotive technologies, has unveiled a range of concepts for emission-free, efficient and safe future urban construction sites and smart cities.

They include:

  • Zero emissions e-concepts for compact construction machinery
  • Artificial intelligence to make it easier to transport goods and people
  • Open IoT platforms offer wide-ranging options for new digital services

A lot of work lies ahead for the construction industry, says ZF. According to estimates, by 2050 two thirds of the world’s population will live in large cities.  [Read more…] about ZF unveils concepts for emission-free, efficient and safe future urban landscapes