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From the Editor
The Remainder of 2022 Looks Good for Robotics
While technically we’ve gone past the halfway mark of the year, the end of August and beginning of September always feel like the true start – summer is over, kids go back to school, and the weather starts changing. It’s also a good time to pause and get ready for the rest of the year. In the robotics space, things continue to look good – the A3 reported that robot sales in North America broke records for the third consecutive quarter (starting in Q4 2021), with nothing on the horizon indicating any downsides at least in the short term. Companies like GEODIS are doubling down on robotics, having deployed more than 1,000 LocusBots in its distribution centers to prepare for the e-commerce rush of the holidays. Robotics development also continues to fascinate me – I’m hoping for good things from Molia and its plan to crowdsource, through video games, the idea of getting better motion and kinematics for humanoid robots. If you’re a glass-is-half-full guy like me, the rest of the year looks good!
– Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
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Prosegur Security to Integrate Robot Dog, Yellow, into Service Offerings
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Prosegur Security USA has announced its plans to integrate its newest technology, a robot dog named Yellow, into its private and professional security offerings for perimeter patrol tasks. Yellow is powered by Prosegur’s GenzAI platform and AI partner Azena, enabling risk situations to be communicated via 5G technology to any Prosegur security operations center (SOC). Yellow can be deployed in situations that are too dangerous or too difficult for human entry, Prosegur said. In addition, the robot can be deployed at events with the help of facial recognition, can identify “friend or foe” and alert security of any potential threats. |
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Robustel Launches Next-Gen IoT Gateways for Edge Applications
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Robustel, which designs and manufactures industrial-quality wireless IoT modems, routers and gateways, has announced a new series of cost competitive, fully integrated edge computing gateways. The Edge Gateway series will initially launch with three product lines, featuring the ARMv7 and ARMv8 architecture. With a product range that specializes in industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, Robustel said it is looking for new and innovative ways to service customers in key industrial verticals. With the release of its first generation 5G Industrial Gateway (the R5020) in 2020, the company said it has seen a massive global trend in customers relying on cloud IoT infrastructure to deliver several IoT solutions across all verticals. |
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GEODIS to Deploy 1,000 LocusBots at Global Warehouses
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Global transport and logistics provider GEODIS has announced an expansion of its agreement with Locus Robotics, and will deploy 1,000 LocusBots at the company’s warehouse locations worldwide over the next 24 months. The company said this represents one of the industry’s largest autonomous mobile robot (AMR) deals to date. The two companies began partnering in 2018 at an Indiana site, allowing the third-party logistics company to implement Locus’ technology into its operations to support its workforce with the complex picking process. Since then, GEODIS said the Locus Solution has provided improvements in productivity, flexibility, and agility, while also enhancing the workplace environment for workers by reducing tedious, repetitive tasks across sites. |
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Bell-Everman Launches New Multi-Axis Transfer Robot
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Bell-Everman, which creates motion control technologies for automation and metrology tasks, has announced a new multi-axis transfer robot based on its ServoBelt backlash-free belt drive technology. The ServoBelt Arc Drive features custom-designed rotary and tilt axes that precisely position semiconductor glass panels. Measuring 450 mm across, the robot’s large rotary axis is built around a ServoBelt drive mechanism and a proprietary Bell-Everman bearing design. The stage offers a torque rating of 200 N-m (400 N-m ultimate), speeds up to 150 rpm and repeatability to ±22 µrad (0.001º). The large-diameter rotary stage on the robot can also be scaled to larger sizes, and is available as a separate product. |
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SiLC Demos 1,000-meter Detection Range Vision Sensor
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SiLC Technologies, which develops machine vision and silicon photonics, has announced that its Eyeonic Vision Sensor has demonstrated the ability to perceive, identify and avoid objects at a range of more than one kilometer. Earlier this year the company demonstrated a detection range of more than 500 meters at CES, and the company said it has now optimized its technology to go beyond 1,000 meters. The company said ultra-long-range visibility is a requirement for industries that utilize machine vision, including automotive, metrology, construction, drones, and more. Specific scenarios include providing enough time for a vehicle to evade an obstacle at highway speeds, enabling a drone to avoid others in the sky, and controlling deforestation by making precision mapping and surveying of forests possible. |
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Product Profile: Renishaw Reporter
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Manufacturers need ready access to the right data at the right time to take advantage of rapid progress in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). These developing areas are at the forefront of Industry 4.0, and are driving the growing need for immediate visualization of manufacturing processes. Renishaw’s Reporter process monitoring app can be used with a wide range of machine tools and controllers to visualize machine, process and component measurement data in real time. Downloadable data sheets are available for using Reporter with Fanuc, Mazak, Mitsubishi and Siemens controls. |
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In Case You Missed It
A3: Robot Sales Hit Record for Third Consecutive Quarter
Robot sales in North America have hit a record high for the third-straight quarter, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), which tracks sales statistics in the robotics sector. The record was driven by a resurgence in sales to automotive companies, and continuing needs to manage increased demand to automate logistics for e-commerce. The A3 said that of the 12,305 robots sold in Q2 2022, 59% of the orders came from the automotive industry, with the remaining orders coming from non-automotive companies largely in the food & consumer goods industry, which saw a 13% increase in unit orders over the same period (April through June) in 2021. Read More |
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Sponsored Content
BLV Series R Type Brushless DC Motors
The new BLV Series R motors feature high power with reduced size and weight and are designed for battery-powered input type applications, such as automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots and conveyors. Learn More HERE. |
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Featured Article
Q&A: How Mollia Aims to Advance Humanoid Kinematics for Robots
Robot development continues to expand in many different areas, from warehouse robotics and industrial arms helping to create products and deliver goods through the supply chain; to agriculture robots and self-driving vehicles looking to provide more productivity, efficiency and safety for human workers and customers. Other companies are working on developing a world where humanoid-style robots become a part of everyday life, with robots assisting in household chores and taking care of the elderly, or working in hazardous environments instead of humans. One problem, however, is that gaining access to the deeper levels of a robot’s capabilities, even to alter a simple movement or process, requires the expertise of highly skilled software developers and other experts. Read More |
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Robotics News
- G. Mondini Launches Automated Tray Sealer for Small, Midsize Food Producers
Harpak-ULMA, the North American distributor of tray sealing manufacturer G. Mondini, has announced commercial availability of the Cigno (pronounced Cheenyo), a fully automatic compact tray sealer that looks to increase productivity for small-to-midsize food operations. The Cigno is designed for streamlined installation, has low staff and infrastructure requirements, and a gas flush design that eliminates the need for more expensive vacuum pumps or compressed air.
- KEF Robotics Awarded $1.5M for Tethered UAS Development
KEF Robotics, which develops visual autonomy systems for aircraft, has announced it was awarded a 12-month, $1.5 million Phase 2 SBIR award from the Army Applications Lab. The contract will fund KEF to develop advanced computer vision algorithms to fly tethered autonomous drones through an urban environment in day or night conditions. The company said the award will speed its ambition to provide vision-based autonomous flight to any aircraft, even in GPS-denied environments.
- German Bionic, Mubea Team up on Exoskeleton Development
German Bionic, which is developing smart power suit exoskeletons, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Mubea, a German firm that specializes in manufacturing lightweight products and manufacturing technologies. By commencing production for the development of robotic exoskeletons, Mubea said it is tapping into a new and extremely promising future sector, with a projected market volume of $12.5 billion by 2030.
- Optimas Re-Opens Indiana Lab for Quality Testing Services
Optimas Solutions, an industrial manufacturer and distributor that specializes in fastening and supply chain solutions, has announced the re-opening of its Quality Lab in Columbus, Ind., in order to provide general parts inspections and production part approval process (PAPP) evaluations. The company said its goal is to offer faster quality lab services by localizing capabilities. The lab offers additional inspection tools and features with localized services.
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Drone News
AeroVironment Launches Multi-Sensor Imaging Payload for Drones
AeroVironment has announced its Mantis i23 D, a multi-sensor daytime imaging payload that is compatible with the Raven B small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). The Mantis i23 D is an enhanced daylight variant of its predecessor, the Mantis i23, and uses the same modular interface to allow for quick and simple swapping between payloads with no software updates required to avionics or ground control systems. Weighing 13.4 ounces (380 g), the ultralight imaging system features dual 18-megapixel electro-optical sensors and a class-leading 24x digital zoom, which provides four times improved target detection over the current Mantis i23 payload during daytime missions. Read More
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Case Study: Vietnam Farmer Deploys XAG Drone to Reduce Rice Production Costs
Le Thanh Nguyen, a 62-year-old farmer who was born and raised in Tam Nong District of Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, now turns his seven hectares of rice farm with XAG drones. He had been farming in a traditional way for over 40 years since he was 15, but is now open to the new technology. He is one of the earliest farmers to adopt agricultural drones in rice production and a dedicated follower of drone solutions. Vietnam is the world's second largest rice exporter, with 6.24 million tons exported in 2021, making great progress on productivity and output. Its rice production is primarily supported by small-scale farmers with over 65% of households cultivating under five hectares. But as urbanization and the rising price of fertilizers keep up pressure, Vietnamese farmers must cope with the lack of labor force and higher cost of production, with some of them choosing to cut the scale of rice farming. Read More |
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Mapping News
Sanborn Expands M-Map Coverage for Autonomous Vehicles
The Sanborn Map Company has announced it successfully completed the collection of geospatial data for 4,250 line miles of highway throughout the western U.S., allowing the company to expand the reach of its Sanborn M-Map product line. The M-Map offering was developed for the autonomous vehicle market, and provides precision datasets with absolute accuracy – thus enhancing safety and operational capability for clients, Sanborn said. Read More |
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Nextech AR Adopts Lidar For Real-World Metaverse Mapping Platform
Nextech AR Solutions, which provides augmented reality (AR) and 3D model services, has announced that its ARway no-code spatial computing platform for the real-world metaverse is now adopting lidar technology to create hyper-accurate meshes for its software. The move to lidar enhances the ability of ARway to create high-quality meshes and spatial mapping solutions, the company said. Lidar sensors are capable of creating precise three-dimensional images of an environment, and to measure distances and the velocity of road-traffic participants, obstacles and pedestrians. Nextech said lidar provides a much more dense point cloud than video-to-point cloud technology, producing a hyper-accurate model of the environment scanned. Read More |
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