Robotics & Automation News

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Household appliances maker Vorwerk acquires Neato Robotics

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Neato Robotics, which mainly makes robotic vacuum cleaners for the home, has been acquired by Vorwerk. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Vorwerk first invested in Neato Robotics in 2010. With this acquisition, the German family-owned enterprise says it is enhancing its strategic position on the emerging global market for home robot vacuums.

Neato will operate within the Vorwerk Group as a wholly owned independent business unit, with its own brand identity and corporate culture. There will be no changes to leadership or daily operations.  [Read more…] about Household appliances maker Vorwerk acquires Neato Robotics

ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

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ABB has partnered with Amazon and Sonos to add new functions to its home automation range of products, collectively called free@home. 

ABB claims to be the leading home automation company in the German market, and the company is apparently looking to expand into new geographies, possibly including the US.

Its free@home range includes a variety of devices and hardware, all based on its digital platform, ABB Ability.  [Read more…] about ABB integrates Amazon and Sonos technology into its smart home products

‘World’s first’ fully automated port terminal opens in Melbourne

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The Port of Melbourne is the site of what is said to be the world’s first fully automated container handling terminal.

The system was developed and delivered by Kalmar, part of Cargotec, and Navis, part of Kalmar Business Area within Cargotec.

The automation solution is called OneTerminal, and was supplied to International Container Terminal Services Incorporated at the Port of Melbourne, Australia.  [Read more…] about ‘World’s first’ fully automated port terminal opens in Melbourne

Billion-dollar industrial estate to feature data centre infrastructure as part of its offering

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In what might be a sign that traditional industry is increasingly becoming digital, the developer of an industrial estate is making telecommunications and data processing a fundamental component of its offering. 

Traditionally, the priority for industrial estates have been to provide good road and other transport networks. Nowadays, data networks are sometimes even more important to companies of all types – including those in the manufacturing sector.

Bannon Investment Group, which is developing the 85-acre Elk Grove Technology Park near Chicago O’Hare Airport, says the estate will one of the largest of its kind in the US.  [Read more…] about Billion-dollar industrial estate to feature data centre infrastructure as part of its offering

Manufacturing and construction driving growth in Vietnamese automation and control systems market, says report

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Despite slowdowns in certain industries, Vietnam’s automation and control systems market is witnessing stable growth, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.

Robust expansion in the manufacturing and construction sectors plus increased foreign direct investment, growing end-user need to optimize processes and improve efficiency, and development of special economic zones are factors fuelling growth.

Nonetheless, barriers to market entry are high. To succeed in a fiercely competitive ecosystem, automation vendors must embrace new technologies, such as Internet of Things, collaborate with developers of machine-to-machine technologies, and become one-stop integrated solution providers.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing and construction driving growth in Vietnamese automation and control systems market, says report

Work starts on ‘largest’ fully automated parking structure in the US

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autoparkit

Creative Office Properties and Dasher Lawless Automation broke ground last month on a subterranean, 277 stall AutoParkit System.

It is the largest fully automated parking structure below grade in the US It is longer than a football field and features multiple load bays to service both tenants and guests.

The system also exclusively features automated electric vehicle charging stalls and automated bicycle storage.  [Read more…] about Work starts on ‘largest’ fully automated parking structure in the US

Prefabricated construction using robots set to increase in next few years

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Prefabricated construction is where the individual components and parts of a building are manufactured in a factory and then transported to the building site and assembled together to form the final house or commercial building, or whatever it may be. 

This construction technique or methodology has been around for quite some time and its proponents have probably often wondered why it doesn’t become the main way dwellings and office blocks are built.

Its supporters say it reduces the costs of construction significantly and enables more accuracy and quality in the final building process.  [Read more…] about Prefabricated construction using robots set to increase in next few years

Interview: Fast-moving robotics and automation market prompts updates to forecasts

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The global market for robotics and automation systems is growing so fast that it’s causing seasoned industry analysts to revise their forecasts. 

For example, the Boston Consulting Group released a report into the robotics which it has now updated with new numbers.

The causes of the reviews include the relatively new interest in personal robotics technology for the home, and the burgeoning market in collaborative robots for industry.

Another key development is the launch of the Apple HomePod, which, along with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, looks set to automate a huge number of homes to levels never seen before.

[Read more…] about Interview: Fast-moving robotics and automation market prompts updates to forecasts

Dana to supply driveshaft assemblies and motion systems for New York Wheel

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new york wheel
Photo credits: S9 Architecture / Perkins Eastman

New York City is planning to construct what will be the world’s largest ferris wheel, and a company called Dana is providing the crucial components.

Dana announced that it is providing driveshaft assemblies and gearboxes for the New York Wheel – which will be the world’s tallest observation wheel.

This attraction is currently under construction on the north shore of Staten Island in New York City and will stand 630 feet (192 meters) high when completed in early 2018.  [Read more…] about Dana to supply driveshaft assemblies and motion systems for New York Wheel

Swiss robots planning to build houses using 3D printers

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ETH Zürich, a university in Switzerland, has unveiled a plan to build a three-storey house – dubbed DFab House – using robots and 3D printing. (See video below.) 

Structural engineers and sustainability experts from ETH Zürich have teamed up with business partners on the project, which is designed to bring numerous building technologies from research labs into the real world.

The project is overseen by the National Centre of Competence in Research Digital Fabrication, and its architects, robotics specialists, and materials scientists.  [Read more…] about Swiss robots planning to build houses using 3D printers