Sensor Readings October 2018, Issue 18

The monthly magazine for the robotics and automation industry Issue 18 October 2018

AUTOMATING STOCKHOLM’S METRO SYSTEM

China’s future with the US Sensor Readings

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Editorial

Contents

Abdul Montaqim, Editor

he US and China have been involved in a trade dispute that looks as if it will continue to escalate. US President Donald Trump is not fond of multilateral trade deals, even one as relatively informal as Apec, the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference. He has already taken the US out of a similar trade pact called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, in which China and many other countries bordering the Pacific remain.

Meanwhile, Trump has imposed unilateral tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods from China, which has responded in similar fashion, albeit to a lesser extent.

Trump has also started discussions which could lead to the disbandment of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which includes Mexico and Canada, who are also Apec members.

He favours bilateral deals, possibly believing that the US would be better off trading one country against another in a competition for access to the giant American market.

However, China itself is now a massive market for all sorts of goods, including industrial automation machinery as well as cars – two items which this magazine and its associated website cover.

The big industrial robot makers – who tend to be from Europe and Japan – have already reported that the US-China trade spat has negatively affected their business. And although carmakers are yet to report any effects, it may be just a matter of time before business in China becomes a little more difficult for them too.

At the same as this is happening, China’s domestic ability to produce automation equipment and cars has been expanding exponentially.

This trade spat may end up making China more self-reliant and even stronger on the world economic stage, and although the US will probably be able to improve its financial returns, its actual trade may not increase as much as it would if it were to work in co-operation with China rather than be in economic conflict with it.

Questions about the quality of China’s products will remain in many segments. Unless it can adequately deal with those reservations, it may not break through to bigger markets. The quality of US and European products will win out in this area, at least in the minds of buyers.

However, if the US takes the financialisation route – where it mainly makes money from investments rather than producing and selling goods – it may not bode well for the manufacturing sector in the US, which appears to be one of Trump’s top priorities. Trump is hoping that the American manufacturing sector will again lead the world to a bigger market, like it did with computers and then the internet.

A new generation of highly-automated – if not fully autonomous – vehicles seem to show all the signs of being that new market.

Cars and trucks may not be entirely new technology, but almost everything about them is changing from the inside out – they are becoming like computers… some people say they’ll become smartphones on wheels.

But while in the past, China’s authoritarian ways may have stopped it from embracing computers and the internet for fear of losing control of the population, now, there’s no sign that the Communist Chinese leadership wants to stop progress or innovation – it wants to compete. l editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Trade: An overview of the Asia-Pacific trade bloc

Vehicles A ‘near-term’ vision of cars on the road to take off

Automated movement ThyssenKrupp wins elevators contract for Stockholm’s spectacular metro stations Country insight: A golden age in the Philippines

Country insight: Universal Robots eyes Vietnam

Smart cities: How high-rech cities of the future may function Insight: GreyOrange completes sector’s biggest funding Vehicles: Driving with a smart assistant

Manufacturing: Deloitte issues digitalization warning Vehicles: Strong autonomous vehicle market growth

Factories: Automation market predicted to reach $368 billion

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Trade

Features

An overview of the Asia-Pacific trade bloc Apec: With President Trump taking a critical approach to Apec, Sensor Readings takes a look at a range of countries in the organisation, and highlights some of their manufacturing strongpoints, particularly if they have some connection with the US Pictured is Shanghai in China

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he US is a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation organisation, better known as Apec, along with 11 other countries which have coastlines on the world’s largest ocean.

However, given the current American president’s apparent aversion to all trade blocs, being a founder is no guarantee that the US will continue to be a member.

US President Donald Trump has already taken America out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, and now seems busy dismantling – or renegotiating – the North American Free Trade Agreement, or Nafta.

Moreover, recently, Trump has decided to forego a visit to the annual Apec summit, scheduled for next month in Papua New Guinea.

Last year, when he attended the last summit, in Vietnam, Trump claimed the US was a victim of “violations, cheating or economic aggression” by other member countries of Apec.

This is a common theme for Trump, who has previously said similar things about TPP, Nafta and other trade deals, including the ones in place with Europe – that other countries are levying tariffs and taxes unfairly against the

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US while benefiting from America’s lower charges.

Trump has also objected to the trade practices of individual countries and has introduced tens of billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs on imports from China and Germany.

While he may or may not have a point about the unfairness, exiting Apec is probably not on the agenda – but who knows with Trump really?

Although leaving Apec does not mean the US loses access to the Asian economy, the arguments in favor of staying in Apec are many and persuasive.

We will highlight some statistics later in this article, but a quick glance at key data shows that the Apec region: l has almost 40 percent of the world’s population; l accounts for 47 percent of world trade; and l accounts for more than 60 percent of global gross domestic product.

According to Apec data, among the top traded products are integrated circuits, computing devices, and motor vehicles and parts. (See charts on following page) Given that Trump is determined to drive growth in the US manufacturing sector, turning away from a group which includes so many fast-growing manufacturing nations does not seem like a good idea.

But Trump has shown that he is willing to make bilateral deals directly with other countries, and take

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Features

Trade individual companies into account, outside multilateral structures.

So he may, for example, deal directly with the countries from which US companies – like Apple and other tech companies and automakers – procure the most manufacturing services and make specific agreements with them, setting aside the region-wide trading framework provided by Apec.

While there has been no clear indication from the Trump administration about Apec, it’s unlikely the US will choose to isolate itself from Apec.

Below, we list each of the 21 countries in Apec, and highlight one or two of their manufacturing strongpoints, particularly if they have some connection with the US. Smartphones, chips of all kinds, battery technology, and automotive parts are among the major product categories in which US companies works with Apec countries, so any change in the trading environment will have profound and perhaps disruptive effects on many markets and economies around the world.

And as much as Trump and many others may like companies such as Apple to move its manufacturing operations from Asia to the US, and has made it clear that this is what would be desirable, it’s questionable whether this is economically feasible or even technically possible.

But from an economic analyst’s point of view, these are probably the most interesting times in modern history.

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The global financial crisis had a dramatic effect on US exports to Apec countries. In 2009, they dropped to about onetenth of what they were in 2008, according to data collated

by Trading Economics.

The US and Apec The global financial crisis had a dramatic effect on US exports to Apec countries. In 2009, they dropped to about one-tenth of what they were in 2008, according to data collated by Trading Economics.

Things gradually returned to normal by around 2012, although there’s been a slight dip since 2016.

In January this year, exports to Apec from the US were valued at $75 billion. That equates to almost $1 trillion over the course of 2018. The average monthly figure between 1992 to 2017 has been calculated at more than $50 billion.

The most recent statistics available from the US government – highlighted in the map and tables above – shows that American goods and services trade with Apec economies totalled $2.8 trillion in 2016. Exports totalled $1.2 trillion. Imports totalled $1.6 trillion. Therefore, the US goods and services trade deficit with Apec economies was $448 billion in 2016. The US goods trade deficit with Apec economies was $576.5 billion in 2016. The US has a services trade surplus of $128 billion with APEC economies in 2016.

Meanwhile, the US foreign direct investment in Apec countries amounted to $1.3 trillion in 2016.

The investments were concentrated in “non-bank holding companies”, manufacturing, and financial sectors.

Sum of the parts The old phrase, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”, supposedly coined by Aristotle, probably does not hold true for trading blocs, since one of their intended

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functions is to enable smaller economies to compete on equal terms.

This kind of arrangement probably has more of a social function in that it helps smaller countries develop and build their markets and economies within a stable trading environment.

But does it weaken, undermine or hold back the larger economies? It could be argued that it does, and that countries like the US and China would do better to pick and choose between the countries to get the best deals.

Some might call this the “divide and rule” tactic, and that it does not provide the long-term stability required to make large investments in infrastructure, arguably the foundation for industry. However, it remains to be seen what the US will decide and how it will affect each of the countries in the Apec region.

Australia Mining, which is categorized as “continuous” manufacturing, is huge in Australia. from gold to coal and other metals and minerals, the country has an abundance of riches under the surface.

In terms of discrete manufacturing, the country has seen a structural decline since the 1960s, but the sector www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Trade

still accounts for around 10 percent of GDP. Other notable exports include agricultural products, such as meat, as well as wool and wine.

Oil is its biggest import, along with coffee and gold, which is odd when you consider that the country mines and exports so much of it.

Canada The US’ giant neighbor to the north is currently a priority subject for Trump, who looks to be trying to persuade it to renegotiate Nafta. Canada exports a lot of oil, vehicles, and machinery to the US. In total, it exports about $270 billion worth of goods and services to the US a year, which is about the same as it imports from its slightly less giant neighbor to the south.

Chile The long strip of land on the left side of South America as you look at the map imports about $60 billion worth of goods and services a year.

As with most of the countries on this list, its main trade is in mineral fuels, including oil, machinery, including computers, and vehicles and electrical goods. It’s also a big importer of knitted clothes because it can get cold in large parts of the mountainous country.

Its biggest exports are copper, ores and other products of mining, accounting for more than 50 percent of revenues earned.

Other significant exports include fish and fruits.

China How to summarize China. A country of 1.4 billion which has gone from being a largely agrarian economy to,

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Features

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China’s economic growth does, however, open up many opportunities to sell a massive range of technological goods and services.

arguably, the world’s leading manufacturer in the space of a single lifetime.

Some statistics would place the US as still being the world’s leading manufacturer, but status symbols are probably not helpful in understanding what is going on now and how things might progress in the future.

The US has imposed sanctions on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods from China, and China has responded in kind. Not only are the two countries competing for industrial markets, China is also quickly developing its “tech” sector, which most people understand to mean computer technology, as well as new areas of artificial intelligence and so on.

The US is still way ahead in many sectors, but the trade deficit it has with China – which totals around $400 billion a year – rankles with many in the country for some reason.

After enjoying years of clothes that are so cheap you wonder how anyone could make anything other than a loss on selling them, you might have thought Americans and others would celebrate China’s emergence on the world economic stage. And those super-advanced smartphones may never have happened if it weren’t for cheap yet sophisticated manufacturing services.

But business is business, and America is nothing if not competitive. Clearly, Trump is not willing to see the US manufacturing sector completely erode like it has in, say, Australia. And by pressuring Apple and others to reconsider the US as a manufacturing base and make more investments in the country, Trump is looking to reverse the trend of advanced manufacturing operations apparently setting up anywhere except the US. However, even though robotics and automation hardware and software makes the playing field more level in that they cost almost the same everywhere, it will be interesting to see whether a recent “reshoring” trend – of bringing back jobs and operations to the US – will continue because there are genuine economic benefits or if it’s just politics.

And that’s not even considering China’s abundant wealth in rare earth minerals which are essential for most electronics gadgets of today.

China’s economic growth does, however, open up many opportunities to sell a massive range of technological goods and services. And if you can make them as good as, say, Apple’s, Google’s, Mercedes’ and so on, growth could be continuous for almost everyone for the foreseeable future.

Hong Kong The residents of Hong Kong always speak with relief when they talk of the freedoms they enjoy because they are not totally controlled by Beijing. It’s probably partly because of the autonomous political structure that the island has seen much more innovation in its industrial sector than its counterparts on the mainland.

However, China is by far its largest trading partner,

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Features accounting for almost half of its exports. The US is in second place, buying around 13 percent of Hong Kong’s exports. In recent years, this has mostly consisted of machinery and apparel.

For a relatively tiny place, Hong Kong exports a huge amount – more than $550 billion worth. The biggest categories are integrated circuits and telecommunications technologies.

In terms of imports, electrical machinery, precious metals, and computers are the biggest categories, and they account for approximately the same amount as exports in dollar terms – actually, slightly more, at around $590 billion.

Indonesia The sprawling archipelago that is Indonesia, with its 260 million population, could be considered a sleeping giant.

At the moment, it mainly exports commodities such as fuel oils and cooking oils – which amount to about 35 percent of total exports. Its exports of machinery account for a fraction of that, at around 5 percent.

It’s a fairly diverse economy with sectors such as clothing, vehicles and forestry products each exporting anywhere between $4 billion to $9 billion worth of goods.

There’s relatively strong demand for computers and electrical items in the country, and China, US and Japan its main trading partners.

Japan Until China came along, Japan was the big worry for the US economy. In the 1980s and 90s, Japanese companies enjoyed global profiles. They still do, but the country is not seen the same way now.

As technological sectors, automotive and robotics go together, which probably explains why Japan has excelled in both for decades.

Not having a lot of natural resources of its own, Japan is a big importer of oil. But after that, it’s mostly machinery and technology.

Its main export – surprisingly – is cars, accounting for 20 percent of foreign revenues. Computers and electrical machinery are also big earners.

South Korea While South Korea does not have as many global car brands as its neighbour across the water Japan, it does boast the highest density of robots per 1,000 workers.

This is probably because of the absolutely massive electronics sector in the country, as well as its shipbuilding and machinery sectors.

Like Japan, South Korea needs to import a lot of oil, but relatively speaking, its not as much. South Korea’s machinery imports are larger than its oil imports, if you combine all types of machinery.

Machinery is the main export, followed by automotive products, as well as ships and boats. It also has a big iron and steel sector. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Trade Malaysia Although the US has in the past criticised Malaysia for its financial policies, it remains one of the country’s biggest trade partners.

Malaysia has a good amount of oil to export, and the sector vies with electrical machinery, including computers, for top export.

It’s a similar picture when it comes to imports, although plastics makes an appearance near the top, as does vehicles.

Mexico America’s southern neighbor has grown very fast in the past decade and is now one of the world‘s leading manufacturing nations, welcoming a global automaker almost every year.

Audi has set up what is considered to be its most advanced manufacturing plant outside Germany in Mexico. And it’s probably quite well known that Mexico exports a huge number of cars to its northern neighbour.

In a recent development, Trump has apparently renegotiated Nafta with Mexico. It‘s not clear where this leaves Canada and Nafta itself, but talks and trade are ongoing.

Vehicles, unsurprisingly, are Mexico’s biggest export, followed by machinery and a significant amount of oil.

Furniture, plastics and agricultural products also earn big money.

Machinery accounts for Mexico’s biggest import spend, with iron and steel also figuring prominently.

Peru Home to some of the most mysterious megalithic structures in the world, Peru probably earns a huge amount in tourism, which counts as exports.

In fact, tourism earns Peru more than $4 billion a year, a figure which is rising steadily.

Other exports include mining products, such as gems and ores, and oil. These sectors together earn the country almost $30 billion a year. Its largest imports are oil, chemicals and plastics, and color television sets.

The Philippines The Philippines’ economy probably has the most room to grow since other countries in the region have become large trading partners for the big nations – the US, China, India and so on. Geographically, it’s a large country, and it has a population of just over 100 million. Its GDP places it around the middle of this list, but it could be argued that its strategic location provides advantages that it may not have yet maximized.

The country’s main exports are machinery and electrical items, accounting for more than 50 percent of total revenues earned.

Its imports are also mainly machinery related, with vehicles and iron and steel figuring prominently. As well as oil, of course.

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Audi has set up what is considered to be its most advanced manufacturing plant outside Germany in Mexico. And Mexico exports a huge number of cars to its northern neighbour.

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Trade

Russia Russia is so massive it not only qualifies as an AsiaPacific country but also a European country. But while Russia is not in the European Union, it has found a place in Apec, unlike India, which was rejected because it doesn’t have a Pacific coastline.

Most people probably think Russia’s main exports are oil and gas – and they’d be absolutely correct. Mineral fuels account for almost half of all export revenues.

Iron, steel and other metals are also big export earners, as are precious gems – Russia being home to probably the largest natural reserve of diamonds in the world. Machinery is also a big export, and so is agricultural products.

Its imports are mainly machinery and vehicles, with pharmaceuticals, plastics and aerospace also figuring prominently.

Singapore Like Hong Kong, Singapore is a tiny island nation, although probably more independent. Both are known as great financial centres, but they also have large industrial sectors as well.

Singapore imports more machinery than it does oil.

Other significant imports include gems, aerospace products and plastics. Its exports are similar – mainly machinery and gems, but also some mineral fuels including oil. Perhaps notably, Singapore also imports a lot of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Thailand Thailand is fast becoming one of the most advanced manufacturing nations in Asia, and has attracted a large number of automakers and computing device manufacturers to the country. Its main imports are machinery and oil. Precious metals as well as iron and

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Features

steel are also among the top imports.

Automotive products figure prominently in its exports, as does machinery. Other big exports include rubber products and gems and precious metals. Seafood also brings in significant revenues.

United States Still the biggest economy in the world, although some may argue with that, the US is probably the reason why Apec was established in the first place.

US companies needed a more structured approach to outsourcing and finding the best places to set up manufacturing operations, and to that extent, Apec has probably been useful. Apec facilitated the creation of a co-operative environment in which long-term plans could be made and big investments placed in countries that would otherwise not have been on the list.

However, with China growing so fast and vying with the US for top position, large sections of the American electorate are looking for ways to regain their clear lead, and many think leaving trade blocs such as Apec is the way to do it. Statistics about US-Apec trade are provided above, in an earlier section of this article.

Vietnam Vietnam is probably one of those countries which has benefited most from being in Apec. The country has seen significant investment from the US, and is now a hub of advanced manufacturing activity.

More than 40 percent of Its total export revenue comes from machinery sales, something that may have been unimaginable a couple of decades ago.

The country is also a huge exporter of apparel.

Its imports are similar – machinery, plastics and oil, with metals and vehicles following. l

Singapore (above) imports more machinery than it does oil

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Vietnam is probably one of those countries which has benefited most from being in Apec. The country has seen significant investment from the US, and is now a hub of advanced manufacturing activity.

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Features

Country Insight

Philippines economy ‘entering golden age’

The Philippines: The country’s economy is forecast to expand at around 7 per cent a year in 2018-19 and the Asian Development Bank says the it is entering “a golden age for economic growth”.

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he Philippines is a large, archipelagic country located approximately 3,000 kilometres from China.

Its population numbers more than 100 million and its main two ethnic groups are Visayan and Tagalog, each of which accounts for around 30 per cent of the population.

The other eight or so sizeable ethnic groups go from around 10 per cent to 1 per cent of the population.

The Philippines’ estimated total nominal gross domestic product for 2018 is almost $400 billion, which obviously works out to be $4,000 per person.

This makes the country’s economy the 34th largest in the world.

And while it has been making headlines because of its controversial president, Rodrigo Duterte, the country is generally thought of as stable, and a good place to establish businesses.

The Philippines economy is forecast to grow at around 7 per cent a year this year and next, and according to editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

the Philippines Star, the Asian Development Bank says the country is entering “a golden age for economic growth”.

Among the reasons for the optimism is the way the Philippines has embraced new technology.

In its report, Asian Development Outlook 2018, the ADB says that more than half of all new types of jobs in the Philippines – and India and Malaysia – have been created in the information technology sector.

Consumer optimism The ADB adds that consumer optimism in the Philippines is rising along with expectations for improved peace and security, as well as hopes for the government’s newly announced investment in infrastructure and affordable housing.

And while industrial production has remained relatively stable, the predicted increase in consumer spending is expected to combine with government investment to drive growth in some sectors. It may be largely an agrarian society, but the Philippines’ biggest export earnings are from high technology.

The semiconductor and electronics products sector, for example, seems to be the Philippines’ largest exporter.

The country’s total annual exports generate about $60 billion revenue a year.

The leading categories of exports are: www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Country Insight

Features l integrated circuits, which accounts for 40 per cent of export revenue; l analogue or hybrid computers, accounting for around 7 per cent; and l diodes, which account for around 5 per cent.

The Philippines is described as a newly industrialised nation, but its electronics exports have increased from basically nothing 20 years ago to a record $33 billion in 2017, as calculated by the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc (Seipi).

Even more ambitious plans are being developed for this critical industry to generate $40 billion a year by 2025 and $50 billion in 2030.

Industry leaders say this can be achieved by adding services to the electronics products.

Seipi president Dan Lachica told the Philippines Star: “On one hand, we can continue what we are doing like the normal expansion with the normal evolution of products, but that hasn’t really taken us much beyond $30 billion.

“So what we would really like to do is to infuse giving new services to bring that to $35 billion, $40 billion and beyond.”

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The Philippines is described as a newly industrialised nation, but its electronics exports have increased from basically nothing 20 years ago to a record $33 billion in 2017 Seipi

Manufacturing growth Exactly what those services will be are probably the subject of much debate and discussion, but one of the fastest-growing sectors for electronics products and services globally is manufacturing because of the growing levels of internet connectivity.

Machines new and old are being connected to what’s called the industrial internet of things and generating a variety of data, most crucially perhaps about its condition and performance.

This has enabled the monitoring and management of large numbers of machines from a central location in a highly efficient way, even enabling predictive maintenance – addressing problems that the machine may be having before it causes a total failure of the entire production process.

The industrial sector in the Philippines employs approximately 15 per cent of the 40 million total labour force but generates around 30 per cent of GDP. Manufacturing output has been increasing steadily over the past few months because exports have been rising.

Global increases in the prices of raw materials may undermine some of the growth going forward, but according to economic analyst IHS Markit, “firmer sales prompted Filipino factories to scale up production”.

Scaling up, or increasing, production usually means more investment in robotics and automation, and manufacturers will be surveying what’s available on the market at trade shows such as Manufacturing Technology World.

Manufacturing Technology World is actually more than one trade show – it’s a series of three events in three different cities in the Philippines: Manila, the capital, Cebu

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and Davao.

Each one will feature a broad range of technologies which are used in manufacturing, and this year the organisers have added two new segments: l Automation & Robotics; and l Fluid Power.

In the Automation & Robotics segment, the show will feature the following technologies: l assembling systems and industrial robots; l assembly and handling systems; l automation systems, equipment and components; l connection / interface technology; l factory automation machinery; l image processing sensors; l industrial automation equipment; l lasers and related technology; l linear drives; l process analysis technology; l robotics and system integration; and other technologies.

The Fluid Power segment is divided into four subcategories, along with relevant technologies in each, as follows: l Industrial hydraulics: accumulators, actuators, clamps, conductors & connectors, fittings (adapters), feedback devices, gauges, heat exchangers, program sequencers, control (electronic) & software, filters, hydrostatic drives, industrial hydraulic safety products, plugs, power units, pumps, seals, valves-control. l Mobile hydraulics: reservoir, shaft couplings, shock absorbers, switches, cylinders, brakes (spring/hydraulic/multi-disc), conductors & connectors, portable filters, manifolds, mobile hydraulic safety products, variable placement pumps, lip seals, regenerative valves. l Water hydraulics: bladder accumulators, fluid maintenance, fluids, power take-offs, power units, pumps and gears. l Pneumatics: actuators/cylinders, grippers, air preparation components, after coolers, clamps, fittings, gauges, manifolds, motors, mufflers, switches, tubing, vacuum products, valves.

Registration for all three events is now open and last year, the show hosted approximately 400 companies and 22,000 registered trade visitors.

The organising company, Global Link, says: “Manufacturing Technology World is the largest and most comprehensive manufacturing technology trade show in the Philippines featuring Agritech Cebu and Davao; Metal, Hardware and Woodmach; and Philtronics [Philippines electronics].”

The venue for the show will be convention centres and hotels, while most of the high-tech and innovative companies are generally based at locations such as the First Philippine Industrial Park in Santo Tomas, Batangas (main picture). l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Country Insight

Features

Universal Robots eyes Vietnam

The Philippines: Danish manufacturer Universal Robots has identified major potential in Vietnam where the government has made Industry 4.0 a top priority and is accelerating plans for automated technology

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niversal Robots (UR) is optimistic about expanding its presence in Vietnam in line with the Vietnamese government’s increasing focus on Industry 4.0.

Frost & Sullivan estimates that the total automation and control market in Vietnam will be worth $184.5 million by 2021.

Present in the country since 2016, UR distributes cobots through its Vietnamese technology distributor and system integrator partners – Servo Dynamics Engineering and Tan Phat Automation JSC.

Cobot deployment In Vietnam, cobots are deployed in industries such as automotive, electronics, textile, footwear and food processing industries.

“Cobot demand is rising in Vietnam as businesses are recognising the importance of employing advanced technology and robotics to maintain a competitive advantage,” says Shermine Gotfredsen, General Manager, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

“Furthermore, the government has made Industry 4.0 a editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

top priority, developing action plans to accelerate the adoption of new automated technology, and attract more foreign investors,” she added.

In Vietnam, UR cobots are improving production efficiency and workers’ safety at Meiko Trading and Engineering Co., Ltd Vietnam, a PCB board manufacturer.

“The cobots’ small footprint, flexibility and safety relieved our operators from repetitive and strenuous tasks, providing ease of use and raising the level of work satisfaction in the company,” says Tuan Anh Tran, deputy Manager, automation and sales, Meiko Trading and Engineering, Vietnam.

Deployment of robots in Vietnam is still low in the region. In Southeast Asia, robot density is led by Singapore with 488 units per 10,000 employees, followed

by Thailand and Malaysia with 45 units and 34 units each.

Low ranking Early this year, Vietnam was named among the countries least prepared for the Fourth Industrial Era by a World Economic Forum report, ranking low in terms of innovation and technology. Refuting this claim, the government has been aggressively focusing on developing initiatives and legislations to speed its progress in the era.

Among the efforts include the 2011-2020 Strategy for Science and Technology Development to enhance economic competitiveness and speed up industrialisation, prioritising the importance of industrial robots and hi-tech automation.

The Vietnamese economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. The country recorded a 6.8 per cent increase in GDP last year on the back of a humming manufacturing sector. The economy in 2017 was worth $223 billion. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Insight

Ground Inc partners with HIT Robot Group Insight : Ground Inc has partnered with HIT Robot Group to develop a ‘next-generation logistics platform’ aimed at opimizing links between major cities under the One Belt One Road Initiative

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apanese supply chain technology provider Ground Inc is partnering with HIT Robot Group to develop what the companies describe as a “next-generation logistics platform”.

HRG, one of China’s leading manufacturer of industrial robotics and automation systems, and Ground demonstrated their new solution technology recently, and say it is aimed at “establishing a next-generation logistics platform linking major cities under the One Belt One Road Initiative”. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

The so-called One Belt One Road Initiative is the communist Chinese government’s ambitious plan to create a giant, integrated logistics network that spans the entire Eurasian region – about half the world.

Ground Inc has been fanatically propagating what it claims is its “original concept” that robots and artificial intelligence are important components of “Intelligent Logistics”.

Optimizing logistics operations The system aims to optimize logistics operations through analysis of data on stock, resources, and other elements using Ground’s proprietary logistics AI software, DyAS, in addition to the application of state-of-the-art robots for practical operations.

In the collaboration, Ground and HRG will build a

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Insight

logistics platform for “Intelligent Logistics Centers”, which are next-generation logistics facilities that realize Intelligent Logistics, and conduct a joint demonstration of logistics technologies such as robots and AI. In the logistics platform that the two companies aim to build, diverse logistics data will be accumulated and utilized, enabling automation and quicker operation by robots while AI ensures proper operations and creates rules.

The companies plan to create a new service model, in which data will be linked between companies and between logistics facilities, and logistics assets will be liquidated, thereby enabling both software and hardware to be shared.

In addition, given the ongoing rapid growth of the Chinese e-commerce market, sweeping logistics reform is called for in the Chinese city of Yiwu, which is one of the major cities under the One Belt One Road Initiative and

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Through this collaboration, HRG will promote the establishment and operation of Intelligent Logistics Centers with the offering of state-of-the-art solutions Wang Hongbo, HIT Robot Group

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

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one of the largest wholesale markets in Asia.

Through the joint demonstration of logistics technologies such as robots and AI and the establishment of a logistics platform, Ground and HRG will promote the reform of the logistics infrastructure that supports Chinese wholesale markets, including the city of Yiwu, which plays an important role in the One Belt One Road Initiative.

Network development The companies aim to contribute to developing the global logistics network, including China, and improving its efficiency in the future.

Hiratomo Miyata, CEO at Ground, says: “At Ground, we aim to provide new values to the international logistics and distribution industry with Intelligent Logistics (R). It is, therefore, a great honor for us to collaborate with HRG.” Wang Hongbo, CEO at HIT Robot Group, says: “Through this collaboration, HRG will promote the establishment and operation of Intelligent Logistics Centers with the offering of state-of-the-art solutions.

“Therefore, it will contribute to the creation of a nextgeneration infrastructure in the logistics and distribution industry of China.”

Ground and HRG will share each other's technologies and expertise and strive to play a role in the reform of logistics infrastructure of China. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Insight

GreyOrange completes sector’s ‘biggest funding’ Insight: GreyOrange has raised $140 million in new funding, claiming ‘the biggest fundraising round in industrial automation sector

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reyOrange, a provider of warehouse robotics and automation systems, has raised $140 million in Series C funding, claiming it marks “the largest round ever raised by an industrial robotics company”.

Mithril Capital, co-founded by Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel, led this round, which included Binny Bansal and other existing investors including Blume Ventures.

They join Mitsubishi, Flipkart, and Project Verte as investors in the company.

Ajay Royan, co-founder and managing general partner of Mithril Capital, will join the GreyOrange board.

Proud partner Royan says: “As a global investor focused on emerging category leaders, Mithril is proud to partner with the GreyOrange team to advance our shared vision of a universal platform for flexible automation.

“As online and offline channels converge across a wide range of industries, we are excited to support robotic solutions that thoughtfully bridge the world of bits and the world of atoms, driving better health, safety and efficiency for workers and customers alike.”

Binny Bansal, Flipkart co-founder and group CEO, says: “As an entrepreneur myself, I have closely followed how

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Samay and Akash have built and grown GreyOrange to become an international technology company with customers across the world.

“I look forward to supporting and witnessing the new phase of their growth. The team will build on its strengths, especially in AI and machine learning, to launch new generation products for flexible automation.”

Founded in 2011 by Samay Kohli and Akash Gupta, GreyOrange is a global technology company headquartered in Singapore with offices in India, Japan, Germany and the US. The company operates major research and development Centers in India, the US and Singapore.

GreyOrange says the new funds will enable the company to “fulfill its vision of developing and deploying intuitive, flexible and scalable solutions for endto-end automation across the supply chain, from factories to fulfillment centers, and beyond”.

Expanding operations GreyOrange plans to build on the strong growth it has experienced over the past five years by expanding operations across Asia, Europe and the US. To that end, the company recently established its US headquarters and manufacturing facility in Atlanta, Georgia, and launched a major R&D center in Boston, Massachusetts.

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As an entrepreneur myself, I have closely followed how Samay and Akash have built and grown GreyOrange to become an international technology company with customers across the world. I look forward to supporting and witnessing the new phase of their growth. The team will build on its strengths, especially in AI and machine learning, to launch new generation products for flexible automation.

– Binny Bansal, Flipkart www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Insight

Samay Kohli, co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange, says: “We are fortunate to have an experienced management team and investors with a common vision to build the next generation of flexible supply chain systems.

“Having a veteran board member and strategist like Ajay Royan join the board will help fulfill that vision faster.

Fundraising events are important milestones in a company’s journey, and for GreyOrange, the funds will allow us to continue to invest in our R&D and supply chain to maintain our market-leading position.”

He adds: “GreyOrange offers robotics technology for operating flexible automated warehouses and has the largest market share globally in this space. We've grown rapidly in recent years and will accelerate the expansion of our regional teams, especially within the US. “We strongly believe in thinking global but operating local. As we continue to invest heavily in the R&D of our products, we will solve new problems for our customers and help transform the industry.”

With the ongoing e-commerce and omni-channel boom, more international and regional operators are accepting that intelligent, flexible robotics solutions offer the highest productivity and efficiency improvements, editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

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giving these businesses a competitive edge.

The GreyOrange Butler robotics solutions, using an AIfirst approach, have been contracted for many new sites in Asia, Europe and the US for customers in third party logistics, e-commerce, consumer electronics, fashion and fast-moving consumer goods, among other industries.

Supply chain optimization The goods-to-person Butler, an AI-enabled autonomous robot, optimizes the supply chain process from inventory storage and replenishment to order picking.

The Butler PickPal combines AI and Machine Vision to revolutionize automated fulfilment, working in tandem with the Butler to accelerate multi-fold the pick process in fulfillment centers. l

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We strongly believe in thinking global but operating local. As we continue to invest heavily in the R&D of our products, we will solve new problems for our customers and help transform the industry.

– Samay Kohli, GreyOrange www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

City visions Features

Smart cities

Smart cities: Enticing visions of super-clean, safe and high-tech cities are now envisaged – with every aspect of local informaton available on a smart phone

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mart cities promise enormous improvements in the quality of life and huge efficiencies in the way large, metropolitan areas are run.

Technologies are being developed and implemented now that can help monitor and manage almost everything in a smart city, from waste and energy, to traffic and crime.

But, according to a McKinsey report, we are still currently “seeing only a preview” of what technology could eventually do in the urban environment.

In the future, and that’s as near-future as city leaders can make it, residents of and visitors to a smart city could all access all key local information – about traffic, health, safety, and so on – on their smartphones instantly.

And that’s the key – collecting vast amounts of data about how the city is operating and putting in the hands of people who need to know. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

There are so many things that technology can do nowadays that saves time and money. Here are some examples some people may already be familiar with: Sensors in bins which notify of the need for collection could save make waste management services more efficient.

Smart traffic lights could keep traffic moving instead of arbitrarily changing regardless of whether there are any vehicles around or not.

Street lights which can dim or switch off when they’re not required and brighten when they are.

Real-time and geo-spatially accurate information about car parking availability can be provided to motorists.

Far greater citywide internet connectivity for highbandwidth applications through 5G networks.

Advanced video analytics for automated image www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Smart cities

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processing from the many cameras that monitor city streets.

Better energy distribution systems and smart meters to make buildings more efficient.

Cheaper and more pervasive air quality monitoring systems.

McKinsey looked at 50 “smart cities” that have implemented smart city solutions and found that New York and San Francisco are among the most advanced in the US, and Moscow and London are ahead in Europe, while Seoul and Singapore are regarded as the most progressive in the Asia-Pacific region.

This is based on the number of smart city applications that they have implemented.

Most of the smart city applications – and most applications in general worldwide in every sector – depend on computer chips, or sensors and microprocessors. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

While sensors tend to have specific functions, the vast majority of processors are manufactured nowadays to be application-agnostic, if there is such a term. Meaning, they can be used for almost any application – they just crunch the numbers.

But, increasingly, chips are being made for specific applications. Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, are already an established part of the processor landscape.

However, that type of specialization is being applied to new processors to make them more capable of dealing with vast amounts of data that smart cities can generate, and the artificial intelligence that will inevitably be used to make sense of that data and turn it into information that people can use.

Because, after all, no matter how technologically advanced the smart city, the people need to be the centre of everything. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Vehicles

Features

Driving with a smart assistant Vehicles: You too can now pretend to be David Hasselhoff and talk to your car

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t’s taken more than 30 years, but carmakers are finally giving us all a chance to pretend to be David Hasselhoff in the Knight Rider television show from the 1980s.

Hasselhoff, it could be argued, played supporting actor to star of the show – a car called “Kitt”, short for Knight Industries Two Thousand.

Kitt, which was actually a Trans-Am in real life, could talk and hold conversations with Hasselhoff’s character, as well as drive itself, and thwart a variety of bad guys at the same time every week.

The new generation of talking cars emerging in real life now are not equipped to drive the car by themselves, but that’s probably only a matter of time.

At least two automakers are installing what are called “intelligent assistants” or “smart assistants” into their new production cars. vGroupe PSA, which owns marques such as Peugeot, Citroën and DS, is working with a speech recognition company and artificial intelligence developer called SoundHound with a view to installing talking systems into their cars within two years. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Groupe PSA says the digital personal assistant will be able to act on its own to perform a variety of tasks, such as finding a restaurant that meets several criteria – for example, open on Sunday evening, and activate vehicle functions and launching connected services.

It also claims it to be “the world’s fastest speech recognition technology”.

“With a single voice command, drivers will be able to simultaneously regulate temperature, ventilation and the direction of air conditioning,” says the automaker.

The company adds that the “unique Deep Meaning Understanding technology developed by SoundHound is the only solution that, like a human being, can instantly answer multiple questions asked in a single sentence”.

Meanwhile, BMW is set to bring talking cars to the market somewhat sooner, claiming it will have them ready before the end of this year.

Hey BMW The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is designed to respond to the words “Hey BMW”, which is reminiscent of the “Hey Siri” prompt used to activate Apple’s intelligent assistant.

BMW appears to have worked with Apple and Google in the past, but now seems to have gone with the competing Amazon Alexa system.

However, the company says its talking car can converse – or integrate – with other AI systems, and there are many on the market, including Google and Amazon, of course, but also Apple’s Siri.

BMW has invested heavily in information technology infrastructure, building a massive data centre to cope with the huge flow of data from its cars, and operates what it describes as an “Open Mobility Cloud” to run the AI applications.

Dieter May, senior vice president digital products BMW Group, says: “BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant teams up with the new BMW Operating System 7.0 to create a brand new, digital form of interaction with the customer’s BMW that redefines the whole driving experience.”

BMW’s personal assistant will be available to order for the new BMW 3 Series from November 2018 and will be included for three years. Other BMW models will be added early next year. l

BMW’s in-car intelligent assistant interface

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ThyssenKrupp wins elevators contract Features

Automated movement

Insight: ThyssenKrupp has agreed a big contract to maintain automated movement at Stockholm’s spectacular metro stations

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levators, escalators and moving walkways are so ubiquitous in urban environments – at metro stations, airports and other places – that most people probably hardly notice them and perhaps take them for granted.

Not everyone, however: some of us still actually feel a sense of enjoyment at strolling through transport hubs aided by these automated systems, even if it’s part of a daily commute to work.

It’s probably fair to say, however, that these automation systems are less complex than ones which involve movement in less straightforward, distraction-filled environments – like, say, those involving an autonomous car.

Nonetheless, they are all over the place and of vital importance to modern life. So much so that even small breakdowns can cause severe congestion at urban transport hubs and sometimes close them down temporarily, making everyone late to wherever they are going.

ThyssenKrupp Elevator is one of the world’s largest suppliers of such systems and has recently signed an eight-year contract to maintain the 440 elevators and escalators owned by Stockholm’s public transport editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

company, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik AB. And some of the settings for these systems, the stations they are located at, are quite spectacular to look at while being transported, as can be seen in the pictures of Stockhom stations used to illustrate this article.

Using the “Stockholms tunnelbana”, the capital’s metro system, may be a daily routine for the local residents, but it is definitely a fascinating experience for tourists and visitors.

The stations are well known for their unique collection of sculptures, artworks and exhibitions and are often considered to be the world’s longest art gallery.

To enjoy the experience – as well as to catch their subway – passengers need reliable and efficient elevators www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Automated movement

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Court House Metro Station in Stockholm, Sweden

and escalators. That’s why Stockholm’s public transportation company Storstockholms Lokaltrafik has signed a contract with ThyssenKrupp Elevator to maintain all of the approximately 220 escalators and 220 elevators at the 80 stations along the 110 kilometers long metro system.

The contract is one of the biggest of its kind in Sweden. Since this summer and for the next eight years, ThyssenKrupp Elevator is responsible for a seamless 24/7 operation of the more than 500 heavily used elevators and escalators.

Up to 270 million passengers use the Stockholm metro system every year. That corresponds to more than half a million people per day. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

The same high standard that is in place for the displayed art at the stations applies to the mechanical equipment.

No matter the manufacturer, every single transportation unit must run without down time.

ThyssenKrupp Elevator says this is a “challenging task” – and has set up a new branch dedicated only to the Storstockholms Lokaltrafik and for the scope of the contract.

Sweden takes a pioneer position regarding future concepts of transportation and mobility.

Stockholm faces similar challenges of growing urbanization as other metropolises – including peoples’ demand to get from A to B as quickly and comfortably as possible.

In ensuring a trouble-free system of elevators and escalators at the metro stations thyssenkrupp Elevator will just do that.

Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator, says: “As city populations continue to grow, passenger crowding at metro station junctions and at peak hours are at a rise as well, so it is essential to offer transportation solutions that save time and meet the requirements of urbanization.

“We are very proud to play a relevant role in the development of the population’s mobility within the city of Stockholm. Marveling fantastic and impressive design of the Stockholm metro stations is a must.

“We are committed to continue this high level of quality through our expertise and experience. We ensure a safe and comfortable journey, where passengers can also take in the beauty of Stockholm’s artistic metro stations.” l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Deloitte issues digitalization warning to manufacturers Features

Manufacturing

Manufacturing: Many manufacturers are ‘falling behind’ in digital transformation, says Deloitte

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large number of manufacturers are “falling behind” in the race towards digital transformation, according to a new study by Deloitte, one of the world’s largest management consultancies.

Deloitte says that even though the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, was “born in the factory, many manufacturers were falling behind in adopting broader digital transformation initiatives that span the entire enterprise.

To provide a quick overview, digitalization refers to the practice of integrating operations technology, such as robots and other machines, with information technology, such as sensors, networks and, of course, computers.

Not only does digitalization of this type provide new and precise ways to monitor and manage machines, they can also include software that integrates the design and prototyping with production, making the manufacturing process far more efficient and productive.

Even more benefits of digitalizaton include enabling staff across many sites and departments with one platform to prevent duplication of work and greater collaboration. Some companies are even introducing artificial intelligence into the process to enable them to analyze vast amounts of data and help them make better decisions.

However, what the technology is available to make all of the above and more possible, according to Deloitte, only some companies are making the most of it.

Deloitte surveyed 193 C-level executives around the globe to identify frontrunner organizations in manufacturing that are leading on the path toward digital maturity and distinctive traits they possessed.

The report discovered these frontrunners demonstrated the following characteristics: l Adopting a long-term, dynamic approach to digital strategy: Frontrunners were nearly two times more likely to connect investments in advanced technologies to increase customer engagement than stragglers. l Using the power of the ecosystem: Frontrunners are 2.3 times more likely than stragglers to seek out ecosystem relationships that create new value for customers. l Confidence in leadership and workforce talent: editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Frontrunner manufacturers seem to have higher confidence in their ability to address these changes than overall respondents. l Customer-centric innovation powered by technology: Frontrunners are more likely to be adept at translating technology into innovation that delivers customer value.

Among the companies that Deloitte highlights are Airbus, Mitsui, and Deere (see below).

The move toward becoming a digital enterprise generally starts with successfully bridging what Deloitte calls the complex “physical-digital-physical” – or PDP – loop, a hallmark of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

This is a term that is somewhat similar to “cyberphysical systems”, which is another term used in manufacturing and industry to illustrate the OT-IT convergence.

At its most basic, says Deloitte, this complex PDP cycle enables real-time access to data and intelligence throughout the business, giving actionable insights to operational leaders for making game-changing decisions.

In manufacturing, this PDP loop has become common in the product life cycle, whereby developers create a “digital twin” of a physical product they are designing and then use real-time data and analysis to optimize the product design across a number of parameters before sending the product into production.

Airbus: Wise in the skies Airbus, a global aerospace and defense company, uses digital innovation to enhance value for its customers.

“Skywise”, an open-data platform created by the company, enables its customer to seek the support of 20,000 Airbus engineers throughout the lifespan of an aircraft.

This platform offers features such as fleet analysis, efficiency monitoring, and predictive maintenance along with data analytics tools to minimize fuel consumption.

Airbus’s customer-centric innovation has resulted in more than 12 airlines and 2,000 aircrafts connecting to its digital platform.

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Skywise, an open-data platform created by the company, enables its customer to seek the support of 20,000 Airbus engineers throughout the lifespan of an aircraft www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Manufacturing

Features Through digital innovation at the core, Deere & Company has been able to provide sustained value to its customers.

Mitsui: New role for new times Mitsui, a global industrial products conglomerate, focused on leadership and talent to enable and drive its digital transformation strategy.

It created a new role of the chief digital officer (CDO) to drive companywide precedence in digital transformation initiatives.

The new CDO set up a digital transformation strategy team consisting of existing employees from the company’s business innovation department and Mitsui Knowledge Industry as well as new employees with specialization in digital and cybernetics.

The digital transformation team works to identify business opportunities by applying AI capabilities to existing data and by using IoT to drive factory automation, predict system failures, increase efficiency, and forecast supply and demand.

John Deere: Down on the digital farm Deere & Company, an American construction and heavy equipment manufacturer, is among the frontrunners in integrating innovative designs and solutions to its products.

The company identifies innovation enabled by technology and data analytics along with connecting machines with people, technology, and insights as critical to success.

Deere & Company has built smart, connected products with features such as satellite guidance and live data monitoring. The data is collected through sensors and pulled into a cloud for analysis, thereby helping customers make informed decisions.

Through a web platform, the company is also able to remotely diagnose machines in the field and help its customers with predictive maintenance, thereby reducing downtime. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Deloitte noted that the paths between the frontrunners and stragglers diverged when it came to their investment choices

Money makes all the difference Deloitte noted that the paths between the frontrunners and stragglers diverged when it came to their investment choices.

Frontrunners look to technology’s long-term impact and they care how that technology will increase customer satisfaction and engagement.

Both factors reflect a broader view of how advanced technologies are part of a long-term digital strategy, one that is in lock-step with customer needs to maximize business results and deliver customer value.

Frontrunners were nearly two times more likely to connect investments in advanced technologies to increasing customer engagement than stragglers.

In contrast to the “long-term impact”, stragglers were four times more likely to invest in technologies based on their ability to show “quick wins”. Nonetheless, this shortterm approach is limiting, and can stand in the way of digital maturity.

Deloitte makes the following recommendations, which it says may prove helpful for frontrunners, followers, and stragglers: l Hone your digital strategy: At this point, most manufacturers should be finalizing their digital strategy and, in some cases, already executing against defined goals. l To succeed, ensure there are short-term projects with measurable return on investment that tie into longerterm “big wins” that have the potential to redefine the way an organization delivers value to the market. l Talent and workforce: As one of the biggest potential stumbling blocks for digital transformation in manufacturing, getting talent right could be critical. l Invest in identifying how your workforce might need to change in the face of digital transformation. This may involve building scenarios for the skill sets that will be necessary in five and 10 years, and working backward to develop training programs in addition to new recruitment tactics that align to the scenarios. l Technology: Advanced technologies can accelerate the pace of transformation in your organization. Rather than starting with a business process that is “broken”, apply advanced technology like AI and robotic process automation to a business process that is functioning well because the positive results will likely build trust and demonstrate the efficacy of technology in a wellunderstood business area. l Value creation: Digital strategy creates new growth opportunities as smart connected products enable a deeper understanding of the customers. l Prioritize and invest in technologies that add value to and enhance the customer experience. A more engaging and value-driven experience for customers is likely to help forge long-term relationships with them. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Vehicles

Cars take the road to take-off Flying cars: A ‘near-term’ vision of a world where people get around in electric and autonomous cars and drones

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irbus and the German car manufacturer Audi have teamed up to develop what they describe as “real, near-term urban mobility solutions”, which features electric and autonomous cars and drones – sometimes operating together as flying cars (main picture and video below).

Beginning this summer, Airbus – through its ondemand helicopter platform Voom – will partner with Audi to deliver an end-to-end transportation service, starting in São Paulo and Mexico City.

This partnership will provide premium ground transportation serviced by Audi vehicles and helicopter transport via Airbus’ Voom service, allowing customers to have a seamless and ultra-convenient travel experience.

Airbus-Audi partnership Airbus CEO Tom Enders says: “This important partnership with Audi addresses both current and future challenges for urban mobility.

“As a first concrete milestone in the cooperation we are developing, we will be offering multi-modal transportation solutions to the world’s most congested cities.

“The world is rapidly urbanizing, and ground infrastructure alone cannot meet the demands of tomorrow.

“Increased congestion is pushing the cities’ transport systems to the limits, costing travellers and municipalities editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Airbus and Italdesign are partnering on Pop Up, a full electric auto-piloted and modular concept including a capsule connected to either ground or air module.

valuable time and money.

“Adding the sky as a third dimension to the urban transport networks is going to revolutionise the way we live – and Airbus is ready to shape and build that future of flight.”

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler says: “The Audi Group is committed to improve mobility in cities by introducing smart, innovative ideas.

“To find the best solutions for our customers, we therefore showed in 2018 the first modular system for Urban Air Mobility together with Airbus and our subsidiary Italdesign.

“Today we are going the next step entering into a service with Airbus and Voom to offer premium mobility for customers.

“By doing this, we will learn even better how we can ensure seamless, multi-modal transportation with the best partners for our customers.

“Together with Airbus, we will develop this cooperation further.”

Accessible helicopter travel Airbus has already carried out successful trials in São Paulo of its helicopter ride-hailing service Voom, which aims to ease congestion by making helicopter travel more accessible and affordable. Since March 2018, the service is also available in Mexico City.

Airbus and Italdesign are partnering on Pop Up, a full electric auto-piloted and modular concept including a capsule connected to either ground or air module.

Elsewhere, teams are working to create entirely new vehicles: CityAirbus, ready to fly before the end of 2018, is a technology demonstrator of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle for up to four passengers.

Vahana aims to create a similar mode of transport for individual travellers or cargo. It completed its first fullscale flight in January 2018.

In Singapore, the company is working with the country’s National University on the Skyways project to test a parcel transportation system using autonomous drones. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Strong autonomous vehicle market growth Vehicles

Features

Vehicle market: The autonomous vehicle market is projected to grow by 40 percent a year

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he global autonomous vehicle market is expected to be valued at $54.23 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $556.67 billion by 2026, registering annual growth of 39.47 percent from 2019 to 2026.

This is according to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Global Autonomous Vehicle Market by Level of Automation, Component, and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

Elimination of accidents The predicted elimination of accidents caused due to manual errors and reduced carbon dioxide emission from autonomous vehicles are expected to fuel the growth of the market.

In addition, less battery capacity and less consumption of gas by autonomous vehicles and high penetration in the automotive sector also contribute to the market growth.

However, low consumer acceptance ratio and the burgeoning threat from hackers in the driving operation hamper this stated growth.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Some of the key findings of the report include: The level of automation segment is estimated to generate the highest revenue in the global autonomous vehicle market in 2019 In 2019, the level 3 segment is projected to be the highest revenue contributor in the level of automation segment Europe is anticipated to exhibit the highest annual growth during the forecast period In 2019, North America contributed the highest market share, followed by, Europe, Asia Pacific and LAMEA The vehicle manufacturers profiled in the report are: l General Motors l Daimler l Volkswagen l BMW l Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance l Volvo-Autoliv-Ericsson-Zenuity alliance l Groupe SA l Volvo l Toyota Components and systems suppliers highlighted in the report include Bosch, Aptiv, Continental, and Denso.

Technology providers mentioned include Waymo, Nvidia, Intel Corporation, Baidu, and Samsung.

Also, autonomous vehicles as a service – or carsharing – providers looked at include Uber, Lyft, and Didi Chuxing. l

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

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Factories

Features

Factory automation market predicted to reach $368 bn Factories: Allied Market Research report forecasts annual growth of 8.8 percent from 2018 to 2025

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he global market for factory automation is predicted to grow $368 billion by 2025. This is according to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled Factory Automation Market by Control and Safety System, Component, and Industry Verticals: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2025.

The global factory automation market accounted for $191 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach $368 billion by 2025, registering annual growth of 8.8 percent from 2018 to 2025.

In 2017, the factory automation market in Europe dominated the global market share in terms of revenue by accruing 35.5 percent share, which was followed by AsiaPacific.

Enhancing productivity and quality Factory automation comprises a set of technologies and automatic control devices that are used to enhance the productivity and quality of products and simultaneously decrease the production cost.

The market is driven by factors such as rise in demand for mass production in manufacturing industries that minimizes operational cost.

Moreover, adoption of Industry 4.0 to promote smart manufacturing units that have minimal energy requirements has supplemented the market growth.

However, limited inflow of funds, high investment in implementation of factory automation systems, and scarcity of professionals are expected to hamper the growth of the global factory automation market. editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

The supervisory control and data acquisition system segment accounted for the highest share of about 22 percent in the global market in 2017 and is expected to grow at growth rates of around 9 percent during the forecast period.

Among industry verticals, the automotive manufacturing sector is expected to be the leading revenue contributor in the coming years, owing to the increasing trend of automating processes to reduce human intervention, improve accuracy, reduce errors, and optimize redundant tasks.

The industrial robots segment accounted for a major share of about 31 percent of the global market in 2017.

The adoption of industrial robots has increased in developing economies owing to factors such as rapid urbanization, technological advancements, availability of cheap labor, and low manufacturing costs.

Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest growing regions in the global factory automation market. It is expected to witness higher growth rate during the forecast period, owing to supportive government policies, increased investment by key companies for expansion of business, and low manufacturing & labor cost.

Some of the key findings of the study are: l In 2017, the automotive manufacturing segment dominated the global factory automation market, in terms of revenue, and is projected to grow at growth rates of 9.5 percent during the forecast period. l The supervisory control and data acquisition system segment is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 9.1 percent during the forecast period. l Asia-Pacific is projected as one of the fastest growing markets for factory automation, and is expected to witness significant growth rate in the near future.

Prominent players highlighted in the report include: ABB Mitsubishi Electric Siemens Honeywell Emerson Electric Schneider Electric Omron Corporation Rockwell Automation General Electric Yokogawa Electric These companies have focused on developing new products and acquiring small businesses to sustain the competition and expand their market presence, says the report. l l l l l l l l l l l

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Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest growing regions in the global factory automation market. It is expected to witness higher growth rate during the forecast period www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Marketplace

Sensor Readings

Marketplace: companies p Associati A i tiions: Robotics and Automatiion

Robotics Society of o Japan sj.or.jp The Robotics Socieety of Japan promotes progress in academic ields and providess specialists with ith a venue for f an nnouncing i heir research and d exchanging echnical informattion.

euRobotics AISBL L eu robotics net eu-robotics.net

British Automation & Robot Association bara.org.uk

Acttuation t ti

The aim of the BARA is to promote the use of, and assist in the development of Industrial Robots and Automation in British industry.

In 2009 BARA joined forces with the PPMA (Processing & Packaging Machinery Association) to become a special interest focus group.

International Federation of Robotics ifr.org The purpose of IFR shall be to promote and strengthen the robotics b ti iindustry d t worldwide, ld id tto protect its business interests, to cause public awareness about robotics technologies and to deal with other matters of relevance to its members.

PHD PHD is a leading manufacturerr of industrial automation actuators, rs, designed to help companies across all industries optimize their manufacturing processes. s. phdinc.com

Witte enstein

ATC

From m machine tools or woodworking oodworking and packaaging machines through robotics and handling equip ipmentt tto ffood d processing, i pharm maceutical and medical techn nology or intralogistics, Wittenstein actuators keep you one step ahead of the competition. witten nstein-us.com

The Actuator Technology Company operatess independently and is located close to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. rt.

W are acclaimed We l i d and d appreciated i t d for offering vital design support during FEED and detailed design stage (EPC). atc-actuators.com

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society ieee-ras.org

euRobotics AISBL is a Brussels based internationaal non-profit ssociation for all stakeholders n European robotics. euRobotics builds upon the su uccess of the European Roboticss Technology Platform and the academic a network of EURON N, and will ontinue the coopeeration between members of these two ommunity driven organisations.

Our Mission is to foster the development and facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge in Robotics and Automation that benefits members, the profession and humanity. Our Vision is to be the most recognized and respected global organization in Robotics and Automation.

Robotic Industriess Association obotics.org

China Robot Industry Alliance cria.mei.net.cn

The Robotic Industtries Association RIA) drives innovaation, growth, and safety in manu ufacturing and service industtries through g education, promottion, and advancement of roobotics, related automation technoologies, and companies deliverring integrated solutions.

CRIA is a non-profit organization composed of enterprises, manufacturers, universities, research institutes,, regional g or local robotic associations, related organizations as well as organizations in the fields of R&D, manufacturing, application and services of the robot industry.

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Ham--Let More than half a century of excellence servicing the high purityy and process industries with designing, developing, producing and marketing of fluid system comp ponents. ham-let.com let.com

The Valve and Actuator Co We realise there is an urgent need to provide experienced technical support with competitive pricing.

We carry an extensive stock of electric and pneumatic actuators and general valves. valveandactuatorcompany.co.uk

Rethink nk Robotics Our p patented SEA technology uses springs to advance the robot’s motioon control solution from one of rigid positioning to one of force contrrol. rethin nkrobotics.com

Parker Parker actuators come in a wide de range of construction types, ranging g g from compact p light g duty aluminum air actuators, motorized electric actuators, to heavy duty hydraulic designs. parker.com

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Sensor Readings

Marketplace

Marketplace: companies Computing C ti & Software

Arduino Arduino is an open-source computer hardware and software com mpany, project and user commun nity that designs and manufacturess kits for building digital devices and d interactive objects that can sense and control the physical world d. arduino.cc

IIntegr t ration ti & Proce ess

Cogn nex No matter m what the machine vision n application, Cognex offers a complete mplete family of vision products—from standalone vision systeems to 3D vision software— that p provide unparalleled accuracy and repeatability. cognex.com

RoboDK

Raspberry Pi

Rockwell Automation

Offline programming has never been easier thanks to RoboDK. You don’t need to l learn b d brand-specific ifi lan l guages anymore. RoboDK handlles the robot controller syntax and a outputs the right program for your robot. robodk.com

The Raspberry Pi is a series of credit caardsized single-board d computers develooped in the UK b the by th Raspberry R b Pi Foundation F d ti with the intention of promoting the teaching of baasic computer science in schoolss. raspberrypi.org

Preferred in ntegration starts with using plug-and-play -and-play technology, which means ns robots connect through Ethernet/IP hernet/IP with software and d service i e interfaces i t f that simplify design, sign, operation and maintenance ce efforts to improve machine and nd overall line OEE. rockwellautomation.com tomation.com

Adept Adept pt has cultivated and maintained ntained key partnerships with indusstry-leading integrators, OEMs, and machine builders acrosss the globe and throughout numerous erous application segments. adept.com

Evana Auto omation

KUKA.WorkVisual Dassault Systemes Robotics Programmer p provides a 3D environment wheree robot programmers can create, program, simulate and vvalidate an entire robot workcell.

3ds.com

Programming. Coonfiguration.

Loading. Testing. Diagnosis.

Modifying. Archiving. KUKA. WorkVisual group ps all the steps of a project together in a homogenous offline development, online diagnosis and a maintenance environment environment. kuka-robotics.com m

Evana specializes alizes in designing and implementin ng robotics automation solutions thaat fit your specific manufacturing ing needs. Let our robotics eng gineering and robotics manufacturing ing experts develop a custom robotics otics automation solution that meets your requirements. evanaautom mation.com

NewBotic Corporation NewB Botic is a robotic systems integ grator, best known for its sp pecialized engineering services that designs advanced transsformative manufacturing and wareehousing processes for a wide variety of industries. industries newb botic.com

FANUC Autthorized Integrators

Aldebaran by Softbank ABB RobotStudio Aldebaran enables both novices and experts to use its roobots with ease. To do this,, an SDK has been developed to support creation in the best way possible: 3D simulator, simple and intuitive programming software, C++ libraries, Python, .Net. aldebaran.com

RobotStudio provides the tools to increase the p prrofitabilityy of your robot system m by letting you perform tasks succh as training, programming, and optimization without disturbing g production. abb.com

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An Authorized zed FANUC Integrator is ready to analyze your system requirements nts and provide a robotic solution olution that will improve quality, ality, throughput, and productivityy to g p give yyou the return on investment ent you are looking for. fanucamerica.com ica.com

Gene esis Systems Geneesis Systems Group designs, builds and implements p robotic arc welding w systems, assembly autom mation systems and robotic toolin ng, material handling solutions, non-d destructive inspection cells and robotic tic waterjet cutting systems like n nobody else. genesis-systems.com

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NEXT ISSUE

The monthly magazine for the robotics and automation industry Issue 19 November 2018

SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES The giant autonomous trucks used in the mining industry