Backed by powerful software, the nūrio EEG device gives one an in-depth look at the activity of the mind anytime, anywhere. It uses AI algorithms that let users transform thoughts into commands to control things, such as IoT devices connected to the nūrio cloud. The proprietary architecture allows Brain-Computer Interfaces to control most devices with…
Parametric modeling: Still going strong thirty-one years on
To get to parametric modeling and to the newer direct modeling, CAD has undergone such radical changes as to make the early systems look unrecognizable to today’s engineers. Here’s a quick review. Jean Thilmany, Senior Editor Last year, parametric modeling turned thirty. “Parametric modeling made solid modeling practical for the first time and was a […]
Trelleborg launches electrically conductive PTFE sealing materials
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions launches Turcon MC1 and Turcon MC2 materials, the only polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based electrically conductive materials suited for use in spring and elastomer-energized seals. Engineered for dynamic applications, seals, and bearings from the materials will provide reliable electric connection between moving parts. Konrad Saur, Vice President Innovation & Technology for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, […]
FarmWise raises $14.5M Series A for sustainable robotic farming
FarmWise, which is developing robots to precisely care for crops, has raised Series A funding and plans to grow its engineering and operations teams.
Robot taxes, universal basic income, and the future of work up for debate
In the Democratic race for U.S. president, Bill de Blasio has proposed robot taxes, while Andrew Yang offers universal basic income. Did uncertainty around automation and jobs contribute to Donald Trump’s election?
Cartica and Moodify join Toyota AI Ventures’ investment portfolio
Toyota AI Ventures has invested in Cartica AI, which is developing a perception platform for autonomous vehicles, and Moodify, which applies scents to affect drivers’ moods.
Sensors and the future of food tech
Scientists and research engineers are developing technologies to boost food yield economically and efficiently in order to feed the world’s growing population. New ideas continue to emerge as the scientific community devotes time and energy in solving this problem. One futuristic approach involves creating an ideal environment for growing food in the air without soil, […]
XAIN brings blockchain, data privacy to Porsche vehicles
XAIN is applying FedML, or federated machine learning, to its ANDY system for protecting privacy while analyzing data from vehicles including self-driving cars.
Shopify acquires 6 River Systems for $450M
6 River Systems, a Waltham, Mass.-based warehouse automation startup best known for its Chuck autonomous mobile robot (AMR), was acquired by Shopify for $450 million. Shopify, the Canadian e-commerce giant, paid 60% in cash and 40% in shares for the deal, which is slated to close in Q4 2019. Shopify launched in June 2019 its…
Robotics investments recap: August 2019
Automation transactions in August 2019 included a major surgical robotics acquisitions, as well as funding for welding robots, cleaning drones, AI, and autonomous trucks.
What ancient myths can teach us about today’s technology
Miles Budimir • Senior Editor As our editorial team was preparing this year’s Motion Systems Handbook, covering the basics of motion technologies as well as their ongoing evolution, I began to wonder about the origins of the technology we cover. This got me thinking about the idea of control systems and automation more generally. This […]
Mobile picking partnership to demonstrate end-to-end solution
6 River Systems, which makes the Chuck AMRs and Mobile Sort smart kiosks, and Soft Robotics, which makes compliant grippers and the SuperPick system, have integrated their offerings for mobile picking.
Labor and robotics needed for the future of manufacturing, says KUKA exec
Labor and automation aren’t forces in opposition, notes KUKA CRO Joe Gemma. He says that industry needs to understand the benefits of robotics, and academia and government need to work more closely together.
CAD and AI: making design better, faster, and easier
AI has the potential to allow engineers to design products faster than before while meeting design specifications, sometimes in new and unique ways. Jean Thilmany, Senior Editor Artificial intelligence could be said to be the new hot buzzword, as it seems to be making inroads into all types of software. “We don’t see a lot […]
‘Roboats’ from MIT can now autonomously change configurations
MIT researchers have added capabilities to ‘roboats,’ allowing them to form pop-up bridges, stages, and other structures.
KBR revs up with AWS, NASA for fully autonomous vehicle race
KBR, a provider of technology and services to the government and energy industry, worked with Amazon Web Services and NASA to stage a race of fully autonomous vehicles.
Ringfeder Market Talk 5/19: EMO exhibition, digitalization, and more
EMO Hannover 2019: The whole world of metal working Things get hard at the EMO Hannover: or more precisely, it is all about metal working. From September 16 to 21, 2019, more than 2,200 exhibitors will showcase their product solutions to about 130,000 professional visitors from all around the world – seizing the opportunity to […]
Astro robot dog learns new tricks using AI
What would you get if you combined Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa with Boston Dynamic’s quadruped robots? You’d get “Astro,” the four-legged seeing and hearing intelligent robot dog. Using deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI), scientists from Florida Atlantic University’s Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory (MPCR) in the Center for Complex Systems and Brain…
When human expertise improves the work of machines
Machine learning algorithms can sometimes do a better job with a little help from human expertise, at least in the field of materials science. In many specialized areas of science, engineering and medicine, researchers are turning to machine learning algorithms to analyze data sets that have grown too large for humans to understand. In materials…
Tyrata expands scientific advisory board with experts in data handling and machine learning
Tyrata, Inc., a tire sensor, data management and analytics company, has expanded its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with two experts in complex data handling, machine learning and data analytics. The new board members, both Duke University professors, will focus on optimizing data collection and analytics for the IntelliTread™ technology platform as Tyrata continues to transform…
August 2019 Special Edition: Motion Systems Handbook
What ancient myths can teach us about today’s technology As our editorial team was preparing this year’s Motion Systems Handbook, covering the basics of motion technologies as well as their ongoing evolution, I began to wonder about the origins of the technology we cover. This got me thinking about the idea of control systems and…
Starship Technologies raises $40M Series A, expands campus services
Starship Technologies has closed Series A funding and said that it has completed 100,000 deliveries and will be expanding service to 100 university campuses.
Appen updates training data product for AI development
Australia’s Appen has added features to its AI training data product intended to make text annotation and utterance, as well as enterprise analytics, easier to do.
UPS invests in TuSimple autonomous trucks
UPS Ventures, the venture capital arm of UPS, has made a minority investment in autonomous trucking company TuSimple. The companies are testing self-driving semi-trucks in Arizona to determine whether the vehicles can improve UPS’ service and efficiency. This is an extension of the ongoing commercial relationship between UPS and TuSimple in which UPS has purchased…
IPC-220/240 ultra-compact modular system for intelligent manufacturing
Advantech announced the release of its IPC-220/240 ultra-compact modular system. Powered by a 6th/7th generation Intel Core i socket-type (LGA1151) processor with Intel Q170/H110 chipset, equipped with 2/4 PCIe/PCI slots for integrating add-on cards, and compatible with Microsoft Windows 7/10 operating systems, IPC-220/240 provides the ideal system for traditional legacy control operations and industrial automation…