Robots are getting ready to take over Las Vegas during CES 2017. Here are must-see robotics sights to add to your schedule.
December fundings, acquisitions and IPOs
Ten robotics-related companies got funded in December for a combined total of $94 million; down from $225 million in November. Four more got acquired. Over $2 billion was involved. No companies went public. Fundings Zipline, the San Francisco-based meds drone delivery service startup, raised another $25 million (in Nov) in its B round from Visionaire Ventures…
Flying Warehouse Could Deploy Amazon Prime Air Delivery Drones
Patent reveals how Amazon plans to make its Prime Air drone deliveries work at scale.
Samsung POWERbot VR7000 Alexa-Controlled Robot Vacuum Debuting at CES
Samsung says Amazon Alexa voice control is now available on all of its WiFi-connected POWERbot robot vacuums.
ROTA NCX power lathe chuck – Upgrade easily to tomorrow’s technology
Manufacturing requires cost control — which usually takes the form of control over lot size, setup, and changeover times. Lot sizes affect the costs of parts. Setup and changeover times dictate how long a machine stays running and how much it’s subject to downtime. The last cost driver is machine cost, and it’s been in the spotlight lately as machines […]
SCHUNK EGL: Intelligent gripping module
The SCHUNK EGL 70 mechatronic parallel gripper combines power and intelligence. With variable gripping force between 50 and 600 N it is one of the most powerful and flexible mechatronic grippers on the market and was specifically developed for industrial applications. Because the finger position, closing speed, and gripping force are freely programmable within a maximum stroke […]
How Well Did Our 2016 Robots and Markets Predictions Do?
At the beginning of this year, we made five predictions for 2016 robots and industry, including about drone autonomy, AI applications, and the so-called robot apocalypse. How did we fare?
SCHUNK hydraulic expansion arbor with VERO-S module quick-change capabilities
With more than 75,000 implemented, customer-specific solutions, SCHUNK has been developing and manufacturing hydraulic expansion arbors for high-precision applications in milling, hobbing, turning, grinding, assembly, inspection, and balancing for over 35 years. With SCHUNK, profit from the know-how of the world’s largest supplier and the market leader for hydraulic expansion technology … now with VERO-S Module […]
5e NannyBot Wants to be Your Robot Babysitter
The 5e NannyBot is designed to help parents remotely monitor their kids. The robot uses sonar to follow kids around and stream a live audio/video feed back to the parent’s cell phone or computer.
FAA to Approve Drone Flights BVLOS at Test Site
The FAA is expected to approve drone flights beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in North Dakota. The test site will become the first in the United States to allow drones to fly BVLOS without a chase plane. The approval applies to larger drones, but it could trickle down to smaller drones for lower-altitude applications.
Amazon Echo Data Sought in First-Degree Murder Case
Authorities in Bentonville, Arkansas have issued a warrant to Amazon to deliver any audio and records from an Echo that belongs to James Andrew Bates. Bates is going to trial in 2017 for first-degree murder of Victor Collins.
135,000 new robots installed in U.S. over past six years
According to the World Robotics Report 2016, published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), from 2010–2015, U.S. manufacturers have installed approximately 135,000 new industrial robots. The principal driver in this race to automate is the automotive industry. During this same period, the number of employees in the automotive sector increased by 230,000. Today, the […]
Views and forecasts about robotics for the ag industry
At RoboUniverse in San Diego in December, agricultural robots and the labor shortage were quickly identified as the biggest issues facing the industry today. Water scarcity and field health were other key issues mentioned, but it’s labor that keeps farmers up at night and robotics that could come to their rescue. Current situation: interim solutions…
Time and Motion
Among the difficulties in mechatronics are the many relationships within any given system. In most cases we approach each application from a certain perspective and somewhat randomly try to sort out he most important relationships in terms that are familiar to us as individuals. For the mechanical engineer it is easiest to interpret mechatronics as […]
Zenbo Home Robot Goes on Sale Jan. 1 in Taiwan
ASUS’ Zenbo home robot is designed to provide assistance, entertainment, and companionship to families. ASUS will start selling 32G and 128G versions of Zenbo in Taiwan beginning January 1, 2017.
Jibo look-alike appears on Chinese websites
For all of us who participated in the Jibo IndieGoGo crowdfunding and are anxiously awaiting delivery – which has been delayed again – this Chinese knock-off came as quite a surprise. This little Jibo look-alike appears under the brand name Oding with a corresponding website (www.odingbot.com) and a parent company, EDGbot.com. Both companies are registered under a…
Innovative robot services from ULC avoid breaking ground
Robot services such as infrastructure inspection and maintenance can not only save money, but it can also save lives. See how ULC Robotics’ Cisbot is used to make gas main work safer and cheaper for utilities.
KUKA Aerospace sold to comply with US objections of sale to Chinese Midea
Advanced Integration Technology (AIT) will acquire KUKA Aerospace North America (KUKA Aero), in a carve-out transaction to comply with U.S. regulators who objected to KUKA’s sale to Chinese consumer products manufacturer Midea. Kuka Aerospace said its takeover by Midea needed the approval of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the…
Plen Cube Personal Assistant Robot Launching at CES
PLENGoer Robotics will launch at CES 2017 its PLEN CUBE palm-sized personal assistant robot.
‘Powered Clothing’ Is the Goal of Superflex Exoskeleton Funding
Superflex has raised $9.6 million in Series A funding for its consumer-oriented “powered clothing.” The rehab exoskeleton market is still growing, but this is a new direction.
Engineering Big Challenges
Machines are designed to fulfill a purpose. That purpose is usually to solve a specific problem. In broad terms, machines convert input energy into motion to perform a task or produce a product. Machines are inanimate, even though they often exhibit motion through the use of mechanisms. Machinery is primarily about doing work, doing it […]
World’s Fastest Tricopter to be Demoed at CES
YI Technology will for the first time in the United States conduct a live demo of its Erida tricopter during CES 2017. YI claims Erida is the world’s fastest tricopter with a top speed of 75 MPH.