Worldwide sales of industrial robots set a new record: 248,000 units sold in 2015, 12% more than 2014. 66,700 units sold in China of which 20,400 were made in China. Asia is still the strongest growth market with 156,000 units for the region, a 16% increase over 2014, but that figure is much lower than the…
Apple Camp Adds Coding & Robotics Course
Apple Camp is adding a “Coding Games and Programming Robots” course that will teach kids how to program Sphero robots using Tynker.
Commercial Drone Rules Announced by FAA
Under the FAA’s new rules for small commercial drones, pilots no longer need special permission from the government to fly.
Sphero SPRK+ Robot Ball Teaches Kids to Love Code
The Sphero SPRK+ robot ball is designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and invention through connected play and coding.
Visual Components Essentials Provides Powerful Production Simulation
Planning, testing, and implementing industrial automation doesn’t have to be a pain. Essentials from Finland-based Visual Components provides a drag-and-drop interface and plug-and-play modeling.
Robotic Pharmaceutical Unit Picks Workcell
The newly introduced RX Unit Pick Workcell is a fully automated robotic pharmacy order fulfillment system capable of handling thousands of different kinds of pre-packaged medicine with 100% verification for mail order delivery direct to customers or to central fill locations. Developed jointly by the Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America, Inc., R/X Automation Solutions […]
Control Architecture and the Future of Control
The architecture problem is stretched further as the next generation of computing emerges. When it is possible to embed a 32 bit processor that costs $1. into a peripheral, it is more effective to put the processing capability at the point of use. This enables high data rate traffic between a network of intelligent peripherals […]
Podcast: Talking Self-Driving Cars with Brad Templeton
Brad Templeton joins The Robotics Trends Show to discuss self-driving cars, including looming federal regulations, Google vs. Tesla, convolutional neural networks and fatal accidents.
The World’s Strongest and Most Reliable Clamping System
Sync your workholding with your machine for ultimate spindle uptime today! Set up changes are reduced by 90% with this fast, extremely accurate quick change, workholding, and positioning system. Infinite combinations are possible as any workholding can be mounted on top, from a standard vise to a custom fixture, for a reliable and consistent changeover. […]
Rapid mechatronic gripper for small part handling
The EGP from SCHUNK is the electric small part gripper with the most compact performance on the market. SCHUNK expanded the EGP series with a smaller size (25) which weighs 110g and has a stroke of 3 mm per finger. Furthermore, SCHUNK has developed an optional “speed” version of the EGP 25. By reducing the […]
Pepper Robots Working at Belgian Hospitals
Two of Belgium’s hospitals have installed Pepper robots in their receptions areas for trials. The robots will help patients in Ostend and Liege.
World’s First Kid-Sized Exoskeleton Helps Children Walk
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has introduced an exoskeleton for children with spinal muscular atrophy that will help young patients walk for up to five hours. The exoskeleton consists of long support rods that fit around the user’s legs and torso that can be adjusted as the child grows.
How AI is Making Self-Driving Cars Smarter
The stage is set for artificial intelligence to dominate our roads. Here’s how artificial intelligence is improving self-driving cars.
ArcWorld 2000 offers flexible approach
The new ArcWorld 2000 welding workcell is a modular solution specifically designed for robotic welding of large workpieces. This powerful, flexible, pre-engineered solution is perfect for low- to medium-volume manufacturers with a medium to high mix of parts. Able to handle parts up to 5 meters in width and payloads up to 6,300 kg, the […]
Unmanned combat robots beginning to appear
IAI's RoBattle unmanned, heavy duty, highly maneuverable, combat and support robotic system (UGV) is being shown at the Eurosatory 2016 international air land defense and security exhibition in Paris this week. The system, by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is designed to be integrated with tactical forces in mobile or dismounted operations and support a wide range of missions…
China Continues to Invest in European Industrial Automation
International investors spend on Italy’s Gimatic and Germany’s Periscope, Midea encounters resistance in its plan to acquire KUKA, and Foxconn continues hunting for partners.
Fastec Imaging’s TS5 High-Speed Camera
Fastec Imaging’s TS5 handheld High-Speed Camera enables you to record any rotating machinery or equipment moving at high-speed and susceptible to vibration problems for performance analysis or troubleshooting using slow motion replay. This handheld, portable, battery operated camera with a large built-in LCD touch screen and an intuitive on-screen menu system puts the power of […]
Chinese investors keep buying international robotics companies
The latest acquisition is Gimatic, an Italian pneumatic and electric grippers, sensors and positioners maker, by Agic Capital. The Financial Times reported the sale price to be between $112 and $169 million. Gimatic is an Italian supplier of robotic end-of-arm tools. Annual sales have grown more than 20% over the past three years, with most of its business coming from Europe. Asia, accounting for less than 1/10 of Gimatic sales, is seen as the market with the biggest potential. Gimatic's gripper product line is of direct interest to Chinese robot manufacturers. Agic Capital, together with China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) and Chinese state fund Guoxin International Investment Corp,…
Control and Architecture
The next wave of control system architecture is already emerging. As processor power continues to grow and cost continues to decline, how do we leverage that emerging capability? Through an understanding of control system architecture. Industrial control systems are really arrangements of processors whose internal and external structure is designed to solve a unique equipment or […]
Podcast: The Art of Human-Robot Conversation
The Robotics Trends Show examines the keys to a flexible voice platform for robots and how to make conversations with robots seem as natural as possible.
Flirtey Performing First Ship-to-Shore Drone Delivery in US
Flirtey’s ship-to-shore drone delivery hopes to prove how drones can provide life-saving aid to victims of a disaster.
Ehang 184 Passenger Drone Approved by Nevada for Testing
The state of Nevada has approved the Ehang 184 passenger drone for testing at its FAA-approved drone site, but the FAA has yet to give the go-ahead.