Where Innovation Meets Imagination
ATI Industrial Automation’s QC-11 Automatic Tool Changer, a component of many robotic applications, is now certified to work seamlessly with collaborative robots from Universal Robots.
It joins more than 150 products in the UR+ portfolio featuring plug-and-play solutions for UR cobots.
The QC-11 enables automatic exchange of robotic end-effectors without any manual intervention.
[Read more…] about Universal Robots certifies ATI’s new automated tool changerGeneral Motors has confirmed that it is in discussions with Workhorse Group and an affiliated, newly formed entity to sell the company’s Lordstown Complex in Lordstown, Ohio.
The move – which was informally announced by US President Donald Trump earlier – has the potential to bring significant production and electric vehicle assembly jobs to the plant, says GM.
Upon final agreement, the entity, led by Workhorse founder Steve Burns, would acquire the facility. Workhorse would hold a minority interest in the new entity. [Read more…] about GM confirms discussions to sell Lordstown Complex to Workhorse
Sensors manufacturer Sick is launching its newest safety laser scanner, outdoorScan3.
The company says outdoorScan3 is the first safety laser scanner certified to IEC 62998 for use in outdoor applications.
The outdoorScan3 allows automated guided vehicle systems to navigate safely through outdoor industrial environments.
[Read more…] about Sick launches ‘first ever’ outdoor safety laser scannerFujitsu Limited has announced that, working with RIKEN, it has completed the design of Post-K, the successor to the K supercomputer.
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is aiming to start the public service of Post-K around 2021 or 2022.
Fujitsu has now concluded an official contract with RIKEN to manufacture, ship, and install hardware for Post-K.
[Read more…] about Fujitsu begins production of post-K supercomputerKomatsu Ltd has unveiled its electric mini excavator, based on its accumulated technological expertise of hybrid construction equipment and electric forklift trucks.
Equipped with an in-house developed new charger, high-voltage converter and other devices, it offers excavation performance on a par with the internal combustion model of the same power output, while achieving zero exhaust gas emissions and a dynamic reduction in noise levels.
Komatsu expects a wider range of applications for this machine, including construction work near hospitals or schools or in residential areas, where contractors pay special attention to exhaust gas and noise during work, as well as inside tunnels or buildings.
[Read more…] about Komatsu develops electric mini excavatorUnited Technologies (UTC) has recently launched the advanced projects group within the company, which moves at speed to build and pilot ambitious product and service demonstrators.
The group’s first product demonstrator is a hybrid-electric X-plane under the project name, Project 804.
The number “804” represents the straight-line mileage between the Pratt & Whitney facility in Longueuil, Québec, and the Collins Aerospace facility in Rockford, Illinois.
[Read more…] about UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane
ThyssenKrupp, one of the world’s leading suppliers of elevators and escalators, says it has completed its “biggest ever” contract in Sweden.
The work involved the iconic Urban Escape project in Stockholm.
ThyssenKrupp was asked to supply 53 elevators, 27 escalators and 15 platform lifts for the project.
[Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp completes its ‘biggest ever’ automated mobility contractHoneywell has announced a new automated robotic solution for unloading packages from truck trailers and shipping containers at distribution centres.
The robotic unloader uses artificial intelligence to operate fully autonomously inside of a trailer, which significantly reduces the manual effort required to operate receiving docks for retail merchandise and parcel distribution centres.
It drives into a trailer or container and uses machine vision to identify various package shapes and sizes as well as the optimal approach to unloading.
[Read more…] about Honeywell unveils automated robotic unloader for distribution centres
Traditional industrial robots tend to be very large and potentially dangerous, which is why they tend to be caged off and kept separate from human workers.
But a new company called Veo Robotics says it has the technology to transform traditional industrial robotic arms into safe machines that humans can work alongside, within close proximity.
Veo’s solution could make every industrial robot a collaborative robot. The term “collaborative” is recognized by international standards organizations and usually applies to much smaller, newer types of robots which are specifically designed to safe for humans to work with. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative
By Dr Antonio Espingardeiro, member of the IEEE
Robots can bring significant benefits to the workplace, positively impacting productivity, efficiency and quality.
There are challenges to realising these benefits – not least the complex subject of the degree and quality of human interaction that we want or need robots to deliver.
However, robotics offers tremendous scope for helping humanity, so the field will continue to develop the advanced technologies that make it possible. [Read more…] about Opinion: How assistive robots will transform the workplace and elderly care
