Will Jibo ever make its way to homes around the world? While this early adopter wrote an open letter expressing his frustrations, he’s still holding out hope.
Jibo Delayed Until October 2016 Timeframe
Jibo has been delayed again until the October 2016 timeframe. The social robot’s hardware and system software is mature and reaching its final state, but it needs more time for practicing its skills and getting better at talking with users.
Podcast: Drone Strikes, Delivery Drones with Droners.io’s Dave Brown
How to stop drone sightings at airports, the drone delivery landscape, and how Flirtey, despite having its delivery drone accepted to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, won’t beat Amazon in the delivery drone market.
Cost-effective mobile robot enters North American market
Mobile Industrial Robots, MiR, announced that it has opened a U.S. office and its award-winning autonomous mobile robot—the MiR100—will be available to North American companies as another tool to drive efficiency. Already in use in 19 countries at prominent manufacturers such as Leoni, Flextronics, and Continental, MiR leads a new generation of autonomous mobile robots […]
Flirtey Delivery Drone Donated to Smithsonian
Flirtey’s delivery drone that completed the first FAA-approved drone delivery in the United States has been accepted into the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
The role of computer IT in robotics
We are entering an era in which cybersecurity is more important than ever, including in the growing robotics market. Hacking a computer could result in data loss or theft, but taking over a moving robot could be dangerous to whomever it interacts with. Cybersecurity and robotics go hand-in-hand as computers are the brains behind these.
Best Q1 ever for North American robotics market
The North American robotics market has set new records to begin 2016, according to Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group. A total of 7,406 robots valued at approximately $402 million were ordered from North American companies during the first quarter of 2016. The number of units ordered in the first three months of […]
POS Testing Goes Robotic With Rhiscom Automaton
Chile-based Rhiscom’s Automaton testing system includes a robot that can swipe cards and operate a point-of-sale keypad.
Mechanics, Load and Gearing
A thorough understanding of the mechanical load is crucial to successful motion applications. Gear designers are experts in understanding the mechanical load. Not just the RMS power requirement, but other issues such as impulse loads, the impact of heat on part geometry and life expectancy. Gear design, like electric motor design, has continued to evolve as clever designs have been […]
Bigger RTS drive axis from Güdel for heavy-duty robots
With the new Track Motion Floor base drive axis — the TMF-5 for short —Güdel is expanding the working range of heavy-duty robots with a seventh axis. The modular, expandable linear axis (RTS) can take static loads of more than 10 tonnes and dynamic loads of more than 6 tons … and is specially designed for […]
Machine + robot maker Güdel appoints Stuart Shepherd as CEO
Güdel, Inc. the US subsidiary of Swiss-based Güdel Group, announced today the appointment of Mr. Stuart “Stu” Shepherd as CEO of Güdel Inc. following the retirement of Mr. Stefan Nilsson. Reporting directly to Martin Sträb, President and Chairman of the Group Executive Board, Mr. Shepherd will be responsible for the operations and performance of the […]
AutomationDirect adds digital panel meters
AutomationDirect’s new ProSense line of digital panel meters offers a simple and cost-effective solution to display analog process, temperature, load cell, and potentiometer inputs. With all models, configuration parameters can be totally or selectively locked out to prevent unauthorized or accidental changes to the meter’s operation. Two-point direct or reverse acting linear scaling values can […]
Can Pepper Solve Japan’s Repeat Offender Crisis?
A Tokyo half-way house will use Pepper humanoid robots to mentor ex-cons in hopes of preventing them from committing future crimes.
Self-Driving Car Coalition to Accelerate Time to Market
Ford, Google, Lyft, Uber and Volvo, have formed the “Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets” coalition to speed up the time to market for self-driving cars. The coalition will “work with lawmakers, regulators and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of self-driving vehicles.”
HAII4YOU Factory with KUKA robots more efficient and smarter
The HAII4YOU Factory —— will debut a rash of new, innovative features at this year’s Hannover Messe trade show. For example, the KUKA LBR iiwa 7 R800 lightweight robot has been built into HARTING’s Integrated Industry demonstrator for the first time. “The new KUKA robots, together with other new, technical specifications, mean the system is […]
Stakeholders likely to be disrupted by the changeover to self-driving vehicles
Volumes have been written about the possible beneficial (and negative) effects of self-driving cars and systems. But few have studied what industries will be disrupted by the transformations as self-driving devices begin to provide for our transportation needs. The stakeholders are numerous and the effects can be devastating. Think secretaries, airline reservationists, and all the…
Global and iRobot floor cleaning market
iRobot recently divested its defense division so that it could focus on consumer and mobility products. Red Mountain Capital, a hedge fund that owns ~6% of iRobot stock wants to place two people on the iRobot board to effect some change. Proxy Fight Red Mountain Capital has forced iRobot into a battle over management direction, a fight described in detail…
Watch Jibo Control Philips Hue Smart Lights
A new Jibo skill allows the social robot to work with the Philips Hue API to control lighting with the home.
Robot Monk Practicing Buddhism at Beijing Temple
Xian’er, a two-foot-tall robot monk at Longquan temple in Beijing chants Buddhist mantras, moves via voice command and holds simple conversations. Xian’er is being used to attract new believers.
Kollmorgen’s NDC8 offers natural navigation capability for AGVs, allowing navigation with no reflectors or markers
With the addition of natural navigation capability to Kollmorgen’s NDC8 platform, the need for reflectors or markers to the existing environment for navigation has been effectively removed. OEMs and integrators are free to arrange and rearrange the way AGVs move in the warehouse or factory. Installation time is short, reducing costs and minimizing the effect […]
China’s growing robot industry turns to acquisitions
Paslin, a Michigan integrator of welding robots, automation systems, and tooling, was acquired by Wanfeng Technology Group for an undisclosed amount (but reported as $302 million in China Daily). PASLIN Established in 1937, Paslin is an integrator of robot welding and assembly systems and is a full-service design and build organization serving the automotive industry. Paslin also provides special welding and resistance spot welding equipment, and provides engineered automation system solutions. Paslin employs 700 and has derives most…
Podcast: Ricky Ye, STEM Education, Antbo Self-Learning Robot
Ricky Ye, CEO of DFRobot, joins The Robotics Trends Show to discuss the growing role of robotics in STEM education and the new Antbo self-learning robot for DIYers.