Salon Bot Primps for $61B Hair Care Industry
ANT localization—Even more simple
Satellite House Calls By Robot Space Doctor
ViviSat's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) is designed to dock with the orbiting satellite, securely latch on to it, and serve as a back-up propulsion system. This enables a mission extension for satellites which have run out of maneuvering fuel yet still have plenty of electrical power to operate their payloads.
(May 16, 2012)
Canon Cameras Betting On Robot-only Production
Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs — a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.
Canon, the world's leader in digital cameras with a 20% market share, is building two automated plants in Oita Prefecture that are expected to be fully online by 2015.
(May 14, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
Soft Materials Robotics: Ready For Prime Time?
Clearly, we are on the verge of a soft robotics revolution. But exactly what type of revolution? Core academic research and accompanying videos are fine, but a revolution, at least for the readers of Robotics Business Review, requires that robotics technologies make for applications and some support for commercialization. In that light, we will review this fascinating subject.
(May 12, 2012)
Robots Help Serve America’s 400M Daily Cups Of Coffee
Entrepreneurs are taking a close look at putting robots into their business plans, especially in retail food and beverage environments. Coffee is but one…but a big one that fits well with a robot’s basic skill set.
(May 11, 2012)
$262M For Fire Scout Robot Choppers
According to press reports, the upgraded Fire Scout will provide greater range, endurance and payload capacity as compared to its predecessor. The Fire Scout endurance upgrade has been designated as the MQ-8C.
(May 10, 2012)
Robots That Can Reveal the Inner Workings of Your Brain
Using a robotic arm guided by a cell-detecting computer algorithm, the team has discovered a way to identify and record neurons in the living mouse brain with better accuracy and speed than a human experimenter, according to MIT News.
(May 10, 2012)
UK Pours $25M Into Robotics R&D
The partnership between the Government and industry is in the form of a working agreement between the EPSRC and an eight-strong group of industry leaders, including BAE Systems, Schlumberger, National Nuclear Laboratory, The UK Space Agency and Sellafield Ltd.
(May 09, 2012)
RBR Insights
Intuitive: Share Price Stratospheric, Yet Questions Linger
Management expects growth of 25 percent to 27 percent in procedures, up from the previously forecast 24 percent to 26 percent. Also impressive were sales of 140 Da Vinci systems for the quarter compared to 120 during the same period last year and 126 forecast by JMP Securities. Whopping year-on-year increase of $107.10 million.
(May 09, 2012)
Swamped By Demand, 3D Printers Hit The Market
All the buzz about 3D printing generating a rebirth of manufacturing and creativity in the U.S. is much more than just hype. It is a practical and achievable goal, one that may soon be a reality for a growing number of start-ups.
(May 09, 2012)
3D Printing Robot To Impact Annual $8B In Retail Furniture Sales
Tables and chairs for casual dining represent an $8 billion slice of the more than $96 billion annually in retail sales of furniture and home furnishings. A Dutch inventor named Dirk Vander Kooij believes that his 3D printing robot that prints out tables and chairs —from recycled materials, no less— has a more than passing chance to impact that industry in a very big way.
(May 08, 2012)
Euro Project Tags $11M On Social Robots For The Elderly
The Robot-Era proposal aims to implement a fully realistic and real experimental setup in urban and domestic environments and with different kinds of citizens: the elderly users, the service providers, the municipalities, and the caregivers.
(May 07, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
Redwood Could Well Be The Apple, Inc. Of Robotics?
Redwood Robotics is questing after one of robotics’ most exclusive and elusive killer apps: robotic arms and hands. And by the look of the triumvirate it has assembled to pursue that challenge, it just might pull it off.
(May 06, 2012)
Robotic Arm Weaves a Structure Like a Spider
The goal of the research is to develop and apply novel processes that will enable and support design of physical matter that can be adapted to its specific environmental conditions.
(May 03, 2012)
Recon Robots Assist SWAT Teams in Washington DC Area
Washington, DC-area tactical and special operations teams will use the throwable micro-robot systems during high-risk tactical and counterterrorism operations to gain improved situational awareness and greater standoff distance.
(May 03, 2012)
RBR Insights
AeroVironment: Missed Estimates Cause Stock Stumble. Rebound Ahead?
AeroVironment recently developed the smallest unmanned aerial vehicle to date. Named one of the "50 best innovations of 2011" by TIME Magazine, the Nano Hummingbird was designed by AeroVironment as a compact surveillance unit capable of covert and controlled observation.
(May 02, 2012)
