Where Innovation Meets Imagination
The Benz Patent Motorwagen, invented by Carl Benz in the 1880s, is regarded as the first motor car ever made.
It was a purely a mechanical machine with no electronics.
It wasn’t until the 1930s that electronics started playing a part in cars, which had become much more complex and more powerful since the original motorwagen.
And electronics have played an increasingly large role ever since. [Read more…] about Connected cars: A massive new market for chipmakers
One of the major concerns among blue collar workers is the fear that robotic automation will take jobs that are sorely needed by the average working Joe who simply wants to provide for his or her family.
While it is understandable to think this way since automation can do the work in less time and with more efficiency, it may not necessarily be true that automation is going to replace human jobs.
A study emanating from the UK’s prestigious Oxford University indicates that automation may actually be a very good thing in that it will not only bring factories back home, but it will stimulate the economy, creating more jobs in the process. [Read more…] about ‘Believe it or not, automation may bring jobs back to the US’
Smart lighting manufacturer claims collaborative robot makes assembly 1,200 percent faster
Deco Lighting, a lighting technology manufacturer, is planning to deploy Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer industrial robots to reduce production time with precision sub-assembly on each line.
By introducing Sawyer into this process, Deco Lighting hopes to reduce assembly time on its products from about an hour per unit to less than five minutes.
Based in Commerce, California, Deco Lighting marks a paradigm shift in the LED lighting industry through optimization in design and manufacturing. [Read more…] about Deco Lighting increases production speed ‘by 1,200 per cent’ using Rethink’s Sawyer industrial robot
Michelin, the tire manufacturer, has selected Swisslog warehouse and distribution solutions to automate a new distribution center in the US.
The order value of the automation project amounts to a high multimillion-dollar range and was booked in the second quarter of 2016.
The new distribution center will supply passenger and truck tires throughout North America, allowing the company to meet its ambitions for responsible logistics. [Read more…] about Swisslog signs ‘major contract’ with tire manufacturer Michelin
Honeywell says a subsidiary of PetroVietnam will use its new IIoT-based Connected Performance Services (CPS) offering to improve the performance of its manufacturing operations in Quang Ngai City, Vietnam.
Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical (BSR) will use Honeywell’s CPS technology which integrates Honeywell UOP’s deep process knowledge to improve refinery and plant performance at its naphtha complex.
CPS is part of Honeywell’s Connected Plant initiative, which leverages IIoT technologies, services and domain expertise to improve all aspects of industrial operations from supply chain efficiency to asset optimization. [Read more…] about Honeywell connectivity solution ‘improves efficiency and productivity at PetroVietnam refinery’
AImotive – formerly known as AdasWorks – claims to be the first to enable an artificial intelligence ecosystem for autonomous driving regardless of location, driving style or driving conditions
AImotive has launched what it says is a “full stack technology solution and the most powerful artificial intelligence software” for the automotive industry, designed to provide self-driving vehicles better safety, improved comfort and increased productivity.
AImotive used to be called AdasWorks, and the new name reflects the broader vision to “bring global accessibility to self-driving vehicles, faster and safer than any other company in the world”.
The AImotive product suite delivers the robust technology required to operate self-driving vehicles in all conditions, and adapts in real-time to different driving styles and cultures, says the company. [Read more…] about AImotive launches self-driving automotive technology powered by artificial intelligence
Japan Robot Week 2016 was hailed “a great success” by the organisers, as the event finished.
In 2015, the Japanese government announced “Japan’s Robot Strategy”, designating the subsequent five years as a term for dedicated focus on robotics innovation.
Leading up to 2020, the government pledged to invest approximately $1 billion in robotics-related projects, aiming to expand the service robot market to $14 billion – about 20 times today’s market value. [Read more…] about Japan planning to invest billions in service robots
By David Henry, Reuters
Bank of America plans to provide customers with a chatty “virtual assistant” named Erica that will use artificial intelligence to make suggestions over mobile phones for improving their financial affairs.
Michelle Moore, head of digital banking for Bank of America, said in an interview on Monday that Erica will be smarter than a robot because she will bring up topics on her own, using predictive analytics as opposed to only answering questions customers ask.
For example, Erica may recommend taking steps to lift a sagging credit rating she noticed. Or, she may propose a customer make higher monthly payments on an outstanding credit card balance to reduce interest expenses. [Read more…] about Bank of America hires chatty virtual robot
Toyota follows up its Microsoft deal with partnership with Getaround in bid to challenge Uber
Toyota says it will launch a Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) to collaborate with various service providers, as well as telematics insurance.
Based on the proliferation and popularity of mobility services, like car-sharing, the MSPF will have various functions to support mobility services, and leverage the Toyota Smart Center (TSC), the Toyota Big Data Center, and financial services.
Shigeki Tomoyama, president of Toyota Connected, says: “As a mobility service platform provider, by collaborating with various companies and services, we would like to help create a new mobility society in order to offer safer and more convenient mobility to our customers.” [Read more…] about Toyota launches connected car platform and partners with Getaround to compete with Uber
The Toyota Corolla is by far the best-selling model of car ever made, with close to 50 million units sold since its launch in 1966.
The company commemorated the 50th anniversary last month of “the car for everyone” by producing a video and other content looking back on its success in putting Toyota on the global automaking map.
One notable story told of how one owner has been driving his first-generation Corolla since he bought it in 1969 at the age of 24. [Read more…] about The Toyota Corolla at 50: The best-selling car of all time
