
ABB Robotics, a supplier of industrial robots, has reached an agreement with A123 Systems to provide robotic automation systems for the assembly and manufacturing of lithium-ion battery modules and packs. A123 Systems, headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, develops, manufactures and supplies high-power lithium ion batteries designed to deliver a new combination of power, safety and life. A123 Systems selected ABB to design and build the automation systems based on ABB’s overall company strength, ongoing involvement in advanced battery…
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The GigE Vision camera interface standard that has been used by the machine vision industry since 2006 has recently been updated and Version 1.2 is now available. The GigE Vision standard committee worked diligently to improve the standard and version 1.2 brings brand new features, such as control of non-streaming devices to the industry. The Automated Imaging Association (AIA), the trade group that represents the global machine vision…
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Kiva Systems, a developer of robotic solutions that automate order fulfillment and warehouse operations, announced that Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has chosen Kiva to automate two key distribution centers in the United States and Europe. The medical device manufacturer was seeking a warehouse automation solution that would help ensure maximum reliability while maintaining the rigorous product and inventory control that exists today.
According to the multi-year agreement signed today, Boston…
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Major advances in microprocessor and artificial-intelligence techniques, along with innovations in automation and control systems, are ushering in a new age of robotics, in which once-futuristic visions are becoming realities. Despite these breakthrough applications – in areas ranging from manufacturing to medicine – robots carry risk.…
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FANUC Robotics America Inc. has introduced the new M-3iA intelligent, parallel-link robot designed to maximize speed and flexibility for assembly, small part handling and picking applications.
The M-3iA robot is a larger version of the company’s M-1iA robot introduced last year. Available in a four- or six-axis model, the M-3iA offers the same unique parallel-link structure, is lightweight and…
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Kiva Systems, a developer of game-changing mobile-robotic solutions that automate order fulfillment and warehouse operations, announced 2009 was a record year for the company. Kiva Systems grew business organically, significantly outperforming industry expectations in the face of a challenging economy by closing 2009 with increases in both revenue and bookings for new orders compared to 2008.
“In a year when the…
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Viewbits, the industrial cameras division of CMI, announced today that they are now shipping their new high speed, high resolution 12 megapixel CMOS machine vision camera. Iyeron™ is a compact shock-resistant camera with a 1.9-inch CMOS monochrome progressive scan sensor. The camera offers HXGA 4096 (H) x 3072 (V) pixel resolution at a full frame speed of 25 frames per second (fps). Until recently only linescan cameras offered such horizontal resolutions.
Filed in: Industrial Automation • Latest News DENSO’s new EtherNet/IP option for its RC7 robot controller allows a single cable to connect the robot controller with a programmable logic controller (PLC), simplifying integration and reducing the cost of robot setup and hardware. The EtherNet/IP cable quickly and easily plugs into a dedicated port on both the robot controller and PLC, eliminating the need to hand-wire and route parallel I/O terminals, which can amount to dozens or even hundreds for a…
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>SAS< Automation recently introduced a new adjustable bag gripper for a variety of bag handling applications that eliminates the need for costly custom tooling and can be adjusted quickly and easily in minutes for different production runs using a simple hand wheel. Ideal for plastic, woven cloth and paper bags containing heavy products including grains, chemicals, dog food, minerals and plastic resins.
This innovative gripper uses stainless steel fingers for both strength and their ability to withstand harsh manufacturing environments.…
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National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI), a developer of industrial measurement and control solutions, and DENSO Robotics, a pioneer in manufacturing automation using robotics technology, announced their collaboration to integrate NI measurement and vision technology with DENSO robotic arms. The collaboration increases productivity and performance in automated test, research and flexible manufacturing applications. In today’s trend toward high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, there is pressure to reduce cost and shorten development time. A new LabVIEW library of graphical functions makes it possible…
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