Robotics & Automation News

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BWIndustrie installs world’s first UR16e collaborative robot to optimise throughput

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Universal Robots says that BWIndustrie, a French specialist in machining, assembly and robotics, has installed the world’s first UR16e heavy-duty payload collaborative robot.

It becomes the company’s sixth cobot from UR, where it is streamlining the time-consuming and labour-intensive process of deburring metal parts.

Launched at China International Industy Fair to wide acclaim, the UR16e enables BWIndustrie to overcome the barriers of traditional manufacturing by automating the deburring processes in a matter of seconds compared to the several minutes incurred by manual labour. [Read more…] about BWIndustrie installs world’s first UR16e collaborative robot to optimise throughput

Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

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Airbus is in the midst of revolutionary changes that may lead the aerospace giant to spend more than $1 billion on robotics, automation and digitalisation technologies across its global operation in the next few years – that’s if the advances at the company’s Hamburg, Germany facility are duplicated in all its facilities worldwide. 

The multinational consortium could end up spending a lot more: for example, the final stages of its internal assembly is labour-intensive, with all equipment – seats and luggage compartments – installed by humans. If this stage is roboticised, as the company’s chief operating officer has suggested, it would fundamentally change the current production process, something which he is envisaging anyway.

Robotic technologies have already transformed the way Airbus manufactures the exterior shell of its planes. Whereas, in the past, human workers would have drilled the 6,000 or more external holes in the fuselage of a typical commercial airliner, now, robots not only drill them, they also rivet or fasten them.

Perhaps surprisingly to some readers, the drilling was done by humans all these years until now, and even now, it’s only at the Hamburg facility that robots have been brought in.

Last week, Airbus provided more insight into its highly automated aircraft manufacturing facility in Hamburg – a place called Finkenwerder, to be precise, at what’s described as a “private airport”.

The aerospace jumbo invited a small group of journalists, including one from Robotics and Automation News, for a visit to the vast, sprawling complex, and a detailed, guided tour of Hangar 245, the advanced manufacturing facility in which aircraft belonging to the “A320 Family”, as Airbus describes them, are currently being assembled.  [Read more…] about Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

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Startup company Diligent Robotics has raised $3 million in seed funding to launch “Moxi”, the company’s hospital robot.

Diligent Robotics describes itself as an artificial intelligence company which builds socially intelligent robots that help people with their jobs.

Its first product, hospital robot assistant named Moxi, is now out of beta and into market, beginning with the roll-out of Moxi into a Texas hospital starting October 2, 2019. [Read more…] about Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

B&R showcases technology for mass customisation

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Industrial automation company B&R has been showcasing its technology for mass customisation, or “batch of one”.

The company exhibited its SuperTrak process at the metal industry event EMO, held recently in Germany.

B&R says the metal industry is not immune to the global trend away from bulk annual orders toward small-batch customer orders with short lead times. [Read more…] about B&R showcases technology for mass customisation

ZMP starts shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in Korea

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ZMP has started shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in South Korea. The Japanese company is operating within a joint venture with Anro. (see video below.)

ZMP says it will begin shipping CarriRo in Korea from the end of November 2019.

The sales company in Korea will be T-Robotics, which is engaged in the robot business in Korea, and Anro. [Read more…] about ZMP starts shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in Korea

Slack expands its usage of Cobalt’s security robots

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Communications app developer Slack has expanded its utilisation of Cobalt Robotics’ mobile security robot.

While Cobalt robots have been patrolling the hallways at Slack offices for some time now, the company’s says its recent trip to Chicago for GSX came with “some exciting news about the next phase of our relationship with Slack”.

The new integration with Slack’s widely used enterprise communications and collaboration platform “will help keep safety and security a priority for you and your entire office”, says Cobalt. [Read more…] about Slack expands its usage of Cobalt’s security robots

Geek+ Robotics provides innovation insights at technical forum on sidelines of IMHX

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Geek+ Robotics, the world’s leading supplier of warehouse robots, has been providing technical insights into its latest innovations at a forum on the sidelines of IMHX, the ongoing intralogistics technology show being held in the UK.

Senior executives from Geek+, which has sold more than 7,000 warehouse robots since its inception five years ago, presented a variety of solutions that will add completely new functionalities to its current offerings.

Some of the ideas are still at the idea stage, while others are being developed in partnership with clients in the logistics and manufacturing industries. [Read more…] about Geek+ Robotics provides innovation insights at technical forum on sidelines of IMHX

Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

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Automaker Ford has for the first time introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside engineers in Cologne, Germany, to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.

The six cobots complete a choreographed sequence to sand the entire body surface in just 35 seconds. The initiative does not replace employees but allows operators to use their time on more complex tasks and avoid suffering the strains associated with performing repetitive tasks.

Dennis Kuhn, senior manufacturing engineer, paint shop, Ford of Europe, says: “The cobots can feel when more force needs to be applied, just like we can, and they can more easily get to hard-to-reach places, like the centre of the roof.” [Read more…] about Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

IMHX provides platform for more robotics and automation technologies

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IMHX is one of the largest trade shows aimed at the intralogistics sector in the UK. Held in Birmingham, the event features more than 450 exhibitors and attracts more than 16,000 industry experts over its four-day duration, from September 24th to 27th.

As with the other events Robotics and Automation News has covered over the past year or two, IMHX is seeing an increasing number of robotics and automation solutions sharing the stage with technologies that have been established for a lot longer.

Longer-established technologies can be said to be the ones that brought about “mechanised” automation, which has become more sophisticated over time, integrating electronics and computer technologies into it. [Read more…] about IMHX provides platform for more robotics and automation technologies

Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany

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Mobile Industrial Robots, a supplier of warehouse automation technologies, has opened a new office in Frankfurt, Germany. 

The company says Germany and the Benelux countries are “very important markets with a huge potential for MiR”, so the opening of its Frankfurt office today is also important.

Distributors from the DACH region – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – came to celebrate opening of MiR’s Frankfurt office. [Read more…] about Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany