Sensor Readings May 2018

The monthly magazine for the robotics and automation industry Issue 13 May 2018

It’s a nasty world Epic TV show Westworld returns for second series

Watch-making robots An overview of the global watch market and how robotics is making a difference

Minute instruments World’s leading microtechnology event returns for another year

Big money in small tech A closer look at Germany’s place in the microtechnology market

Toyota’s driverless dream Automotive giant to pour billions into self-driving technology

Sensor Readings

At the centre of events worldwide

Abdul Montaqim Editor

S

ince RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com was launched a couple of years ago, we’ve learned a lot. One of the things we’ve learned is that there are many interesting trade shows around the world related to the industries we cover.

The technologies within robotics and automation are present in just about every industry and business sector on Earth, so our content could be highly diverse, but we tend to concentrate on manufacturing and logistics, although not exclusively – we do take a look at other areas part of the time.

But staying with manufacturing and logistics for a moment, we find that there are many trade shows in different parts of the world which are very large and have an international audience – and are exciting to attend. We visited Hannover Messe and CeMAT last year and we intend to visit those events again this year, and many more.

Budgets permitting, we would also like to visit EPHJ in Switzerland, Industrial Transformation in Singapore, Logisware and Robotex in Malaysia, Automatica in Germany, Manufacturing Technology Show in the Philippines, Connected & Autonomous Vehicles and International Manufacturing Technology World – both in the US. There are many more, a number of which are listed on our Events page, but those are the most interesting to us, partly because most of them have chosen Robotics and Automation News – along with our relaunched magazine, Sensor Readings – as an official media partner.

For us, partnering with such prestigious events is a sign of our progress as a source of information that we want to be interesting and useful to our readers. Our audience has grown tremendously and, despite having to compete with much larger publishing companies, we are at the centre of events worldwide – both in terms of the trade shows mentioned above and, more importantly, with regard to the newsworthy developments in the industry.

We do our best to bring to our audience news and information about companies, technologies, markets and anything else that is relevant to their work and business.

And, working together with our readers and partners, we hope to continue to provide the best coverage we can of the robotics and automation industry, perhaps branching out beyond manufacturing and logistics into new areas such as computer networks and artificial intelligence, which are becoming increasingly critical to all industrial operations today. l

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Editorial

Contents

Watchmaking robots: It’s a small world

Exhibition EPHJ to highlight watchmaking and medicine innovations

Jewellery PalExpo to showcase jewellery making expertise

Art & Culture: Westworld is set to return

Microelectronics: A closer look at the German sector Trump threatens to tax Europe’s cars Femtoprint signs up new partners

Toyota to develop $3 billion in driverless car company Marketplace

Sensor Readings magazine

Editorial & Production

Managing Editor Anna Schmidt Editor Abdul Montaqim

Art Editor Mark Allinson

Email annaschmidt@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Email abdulmontaqim@roboticsandautomationnews.com Email markallinson@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Marketing & Advertising

Advertising Manager Maria Santiago Email mariasantiago@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Advertising Executive Sam Francis

Email samfrancis@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Marketing Director David Edwards Email davidedwards@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Monsoon Media, London, United Kingdom Subscriptions: £10 per year (digital only) Single issue: £1 (digital version)

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Microelectronics

A closer look at the German microelectronics sector

Microelectronics: Germany is Europe’s leading semiconductor production location. Here Sensor Readings analyses the size of the German market, the number of people it employs, and the make-up of its various segments

M

icroelectronics, as the name suggests, is all about tiny electronics systems, whether we’re talking about a self-contained device or a component.

But mostly it’s about silicon-based components and devices, typified by microchips, which are known collectively semiconductors.

Obviously, microelectronics is a subfield of the larger electronics sector so the two intersect at the basic level.

For example, the smallest, most fundamental components of both fields are: l transistors; l capacitors; l inductors; l resistors; l diodes; editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

l insulators; and l conductors.

There are probably some we’ve not mentioned, but those are the main ones, and even those of us who are not engineers will recognise some of the above words and may even know what they refer to.

Transistors, for example, are the fundamental building blocks of microprocessors. A transistor can be in an “on” or “off” state. Hence, binary computing systems which use 0 for off and 1 for on.

The more transistors a microprocessor contains, the more calculations it can make, generally speaking.

Micropressors and their cousins, microcontrollers, are often found on what are called integrated circuits, which can be found in almost all electronics devices today.

From washing machines to industrial robots, from alarm clocks to, of course, computing devices, integrated circuits – or ICs – are everywhere.

Integrated circuits can be divided into two types: l digital ICs, which mostly contain transistors and are to be found mainly in computing devices; and l analogue ICs, which contain more of the components on the above list and are to be found in a variety of devices, appliances and machinery where mechanical www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Microelectronics

Features as a business sector.

But one other materials science related development worth mentioning perhaps is the idea that gallium oxide is being shown to have properties that might make it suitable for microelectronics.

Researchers suggest gallium oxide will enable engineers to design systems which use less power and generate less heat than typical silicon-based technologies. (See this article on AIP.org for more.)

Work is continuing in this are as it is in many others in the general area of materials science.

DNA – yes, the building blocks of human and other forms of organic life on Earth – has also been shown to have potential for microelectronic circuitry, by researchers at New York University, but speculating about the macabre direction that might take is definitely beyond the scope of this article.

movement is often required.

Among the most widely-used materials in microelectronics are: l silicon, usually as semiconductor material because it can either conduct electrical charge or stop it; l 1graphite, which is often used because of its ability to absorb intense heat without expanding or melting and sticking to other materials.

The materials sciencey bit Both silicon and graphite are found in nature, with silicon being available in relatively large quantities, but there are some forms of artificial graphite currently being formulated.

Artificial graphite is said to have a melting point of 3600ºC, which is said to be one of the highest of any engineered material.

Graphite in its natural form has been used in pencils for many generations, but only recently has it been analysed for its potential applications in electronics.

According to the Georgia Tech University in the US, graphite could provide a “new foundation for circuitry” and become the basis for “a new class of nanometerscale electronic devices”.

But this is really referring to graphene, the ultra-strong material derived from graphite by slicing ultra-thin, oneatom-thick sheets of graphite, which itself starts out brittle like coal.

Graphene is said to hold the promise of a whole new generation of electronics devices, but we won’t go into that right now because we wrote about graphene a while back and this article is more about the microelectronics editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Die hard facts If you were to search online for top microelectronics companies, as we just did, the results returned would all be about semiconductor companies – that is, Intel, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Texas Instruments, and so on, those being the biggest.

None of these companies is German, and yet the industry body Germany Trade & Invest claims Germany to be “a major microelectronics force”.

In its latest report on the microelectronics industry, GTAI says Germany is “Europe’s leading semiconductor production location”, and that the sector is the secondlargest in manufacturing in terms of the number of people employed.

GTAI’s latest figures, which are are for 2015, suggest that the microelectronics sector in Germany has a turnover of around $223 billion annually and employs approximately 85,000 people.

That’s the supply side of the German economy when it comes to microelectronics.

On the demand side, if we look at figures produced by the German electrical and electronics industry association ZVEI, which GTAI cites, we are told that microelectronics consumption will reach $180 per person in Germany by the year 2021.

This is some way behind Japan, where they spend $293 per person, and the USA, where the average person spends $202.

Per capita microelectronics consumption in China is forecast to reach $91 in the same period, but when multiplied by the 1.3 billion population, that’s a lot of people consuming microelectronics.

Semiconductor sales in China reached $108 billion in 2016; in the US, it was $60 billion; and in South Korea, it was $46 billion.

In Europe, however, GTAI claims that Germany is in a very strong position, with one in three chips produced being German-made.

“

Microelectronics consumption will reach $180 per person in Germany by the year 2021.This is some way behind Japan, where they spend $293 per person, and the USA, where the average person spends $202

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Microelectronics

The global market for microelectronics and semiconductors is expected to grow at a rate of more than 5 per cent, and GTAI expects German producers to benefit from growing demand from across the industrial sector.

The above pie chart, produced using data from Marketline, shows the semiconductor market share of leading countries in Europe.

Computers on wheels The three specific industrial segments from which GTAI expects significant increases in demand for microelectronics are: l automotive; l industry; and l medical.

The automotive sector is particularly hungry for microelectronics components and devices. It is said that the typical new car now packs as many as 600 chips.

Cars and vehicles of other types are increasingly becoming primarily electronics systems – like smartphones and computers – with mechanical operations being reduced to the bare essentials.

The German auto industry is, of course, massive, accounting for a turnover of more than $500 billion in 2016.

Some researchers suggest that semiconductors account for around 80 per cent of the innovations in modern vehicles, which now offer mobile internet access, digital driving controls, and electronic assistance systems, or advanced driver assistance systems.

Automotive is the main customer for the semiconductor industry in Germany, accounting for 45 per cent of sales.

The industrial sector, with its various industrial internet or Industry 4.0 initiatives, wherein all machinery is being connected to computer networks and the internet, is also a huge customer for semiconductor components and devices suppliers.

Second only to the automotive sector, industrial companies collectively account for 24 per cent of sales.

Improve efficiencies While many still remain unsure how best to use all this connectivity technology and data analytics to improve their factories and other facilities, even the simplest applications can help improve efficiencies.

Among the simple applications industrial internet is good for is network visibility – you can see all your machines and what they‘re doing on one screen if you want.

From there, you can either manually switch off machines when are not being used or program the software to do the same thing – probably more efficiently than you could.

The medical sector in Germany is the largest in Europe, which is understandable since the country has the biggest population on the continent, with more than 82 million inhabitants.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

A new generation of medical devices is emerging which requires semiconductors in their operations.

These devices include sensors and monitoring devices, many of which are mobile and connected to a computer network so medical staff can monitor patients’ health from remote locations.

Though not currently among the largest buyers of microelectronics, the mecial sector is expected to increase its use of internet-connected devices significantly over the next few years.

Important technological advances in electronic component miniaturisation, autonomy and communication are said to be enabling the development of intelligent and networked medical devices.

The range of these devices will include electronicsbased diagnosis systems for hospital patients, wearable electronics that monitor vital signs as well as specific conditions, and sensor systems for mobile diagnosis and therapy.

The above pie chart, using data from ZVEI, shows the main segments which buy the most semiconductors. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

17thh EDITION JUNE 12 1 TO 15 2018 PAL ALEXPO GENEVA www.ephj.ch W W W. E P H J. C H

Features

Watchmaking

Watchmaking robots: It’s a small world

Watchmaking: Only the big companies have so far developed the peripherals and systems to work in the miniature world of watches. So who is leading the way?

W

hen Apple wanted to launch a watch, most people may have thought the company would name it iWatch, to go with iPhone, iPad and iLife.

However, Swatch raised a legal objection on the grounds that it had the rights to a product called iSwatch, and Apple’s iWatch would be too similar. Now the courts have agreed and banned Apple from using the name.

But Apple had already changed its mind some time ago, and went with Apple Watch, which has gone on to sell 13 million units in its first year, estimated to be a editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

faster sales rate than the iPhone.

But as a total, 13 million is barely a drop in the ocean of the global watch market.

According to SatisticBrain.com, 1.2 billion watches are sold annually worldwide. Of those, around 77 per cent are mechanical, and the rest are electronic.

Before the electronic watch era, Switzerland virtually owned the global market for timepieces. Swiss watches and clocks were probably the most ubiquitous mechanical device on Earth, and they were all minimasterpieces of intricate assembly of many tiny components.

Then in 1960s, quartz technology was invented.

Quartz is a battery-driven electronic system which the Swiss shunned because making mechanical watches had www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Watchmaking

Features become bound up with national identity and pride. But quartz was embraced by the Japanese, in particular by Seiko and Citizen, partly because quartz can make the battery last several years.

And as inexpensive quartz timepieces became more and more popular globally, the Swiss watchmaking industry came under more and more pressure.

Employment in the sector fell from nearly 100,000 to around 30,000 in the 20 years starting in 1970.

The Swiss, then, were faced with losing the watchmaking business entirely or adapting to the new, non-mechanical world. The choice was obvious: adapt.

Swatch was the signal that Swiss watchmakers were willing to compete globally using new technology.

Established in 1983, Swatch was a collaboration between leading Swiss watchmakers, and their plan was to regain market share lost to the Japanese and at the same time maintain the prestige of Swiss watchmaking.

Top three watchmakers Now, a couple of decades later, a quick look at the pie chart using data from StatisticBrain.com shows Swatch as the world’s largest watch manufacturer.

Richemont, which takes second place, and Rolex, in third, are both Swiss watchmakers. Together, the top three watchmakers – all Swiss – have around 40 per cent of the global market. Add to that the other Swiss watchmakers further down the order, and it seems Switzerland is still the world’s watchmaker.

And if you think greater use of robots might give other countries and companies a competitive edge, Swatch is already on the case. In recent years the company has embraced robotics in a big way.

Robotics in watchmaking is at least 30 years old, having been pioneered by Seiko Epson on its production lines in the early 1980s.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Seiko’s classic advertising slogan – “Some day, all watches will be made this way” – can be better understood with their production processes in mind.

In fact, Epson Robots as a company, or business unit at least, was established as a result of the parent company’s successful development of assembly robots for watchmaking.

The video above provides a glimpse into Epson’s early watch production processes, subsequently adopted by Swatch, which has gone even further by launching a range of watches designed specifically for robotic assembly.

The Swatch Sistem51 is a mechanical watch made of 51 parts – half as many components as a conventional mechanical watch, and is assembled entirely by robots.

New concept Speaking last year to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Pierre-André Bühler, of the Swatch management board, says: “The concept for this product was completely new.

We started with a blank sheet and wanted to produce a mechanical watch for 150 francs ($155).

“The biggest challenge was to do this using a fully automatic production system. This is a world premiere.

Nothing like this has ever been done before.

“Before, we worked with 55 different machines. Now, with our five high-tech production lines, we can manage with a minimum number of employees, whose job it is to assist the robots, take charge of production and develop software, so we can reduce production times enormously.”

Given that these days, a high-end mechanical watch can set you back thousands of dollars at least, a highquality mechanical watch made by the Swiss for around a couple of hundred dollars seems a bargain.

Good, clean fun Watches, like many electronics products, are manufactured in dust-free environments, or “cleanrooms” as they are called.

Robots used in cleanrooms are required to have the appropriate classifications, such as the cleanroom classification acquired by Universal Robots for its machines.

But while many robots from all the major robot manufacturers have cleanroom classifications, not all of them have the necessary grippers and extensions for use in watchmaking, which uses parts so small they can hardly be seen with the human eye, requiring the use of magnifying glasses and tweezers to handle.

When put together, the position, proximity and movement of watch components can be measured in nanometres. Perfect job for a robot, but only the big companies have so far developed the necessary peripherals and systems to work in such small worlds.

But with so many smaller-scale makers of electronics gadgets, it’s probably only a matter of time before such peripherals become more widely available. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

watchmaking and medicine Features

Exhibition

Microtechnology exhibition to showcase innovations in

Microtechnology exhibition: Now in its 16th year, EPHJ is being held on 12-15 June 2018 in Geneva. It is described as is described as “an unmissable event for high-precision manufacturers, with exhibitors from the worlds of watchmaking and jewellery, microtechnology and medtech

I

t’s not one of the most famous exhibitions in the world, and not the biggest, but that’s probably appropriate for EPHJ, because it’s all about small things, or – more accurately – what’s called the “microtechnology” sector.

Microtechnology includes such things as watchmaking, jewellery making, and precision instrumentation for medicine, all of which are relatively large business sectors in Switzerland, where EPHJ is being held, on 12-15 June 2018 – Geneva, to be exact.

Now in its 17th year, the event is described as “an unmissable event for high-precision manufacturers, with exhibitors from the worlds of watchmaking and jewellery, microtechnology and medtech”.

Although the market has become more complex, with various unknown factors, companies in all three sectors see the show as a high priority.

“The number of exhibitor registrations is already on a par with the same period last year,” says project manager Alexandre Catton. “The 2016 Show brought together 881 Swiss and international exhibitors. We see that as the upper limit, because it puts the available space at full capacity, and we want to maintain the same level of quality in our use of the venue.”

Visitor interest remains high: 20,000 professional visitors came to Geneva for the 2016 Show. “Every year, we attract visitors from new countries who want to see what the Show has to offer,” says Catton.

“But it’s not all about the numbers. Visitor quality is also important: their decision-making powers, their ability to make deals and sign contracts. That's the appeal of our show.” editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Arranging letters in the correct order The full name of the event is the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT Show, and although watchmaking, jewellery and medicine are particular areas of interest, exhibitors showcase a wide range of products and services for sectors such as: l robotics and automation; l the watchmaking and jewellery business; l aeronautics and automotive sectors; l metrology and laser technology; l nanotechnology; l optics and photonics; l logistics management; l implants and prostheses in medicine; l machinery large and small; l research, development, design and production; and many more Of these, watchmaking is, of course, is a particularly important industry and a point of national pride in Switzerland, which could be said to be the leading watchmaking nation in the world.

Switzerland has some of the world’s largest and most lucrative watchmaking businesses – Swatch Group being the biggest – and it has always been innovative in the technology of timepieces, although now it’s faced with a quite different threat from “smartwatches”, produced by tech companies such as Apple and Samsung.

Watches have become smart and changed their name to ‘wearables’ Apple recently announced that its wearables business – which includes the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats headphones – has generated $5 billion in revenue.

And, according to Strategy

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Exhibition

Features

occasionally as historical antiques.

Swiss mechanical watches have seen off the threat of numerous newfangled technologies, including digital watches, which, though popular, have still not usurped mechanical watches.

Analytics, Apple shipped the largest number of units in the wearables market.

Switzerland has always held on to the art and craft of making mechanical watches, many of which to this day need winding by their wearers in order to work properly.

There are a lot of watch models which are self-winding, but it’s the mechanical aspect of timepieces that the Swiss have held onto.

Had they not done so, mechanical watches may have been gone from the world forever, only appearing

“

It’s in China that the next wave of timepiece technology is taking root, and one of the fastest-growing segments is smartwatches.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

The most precise measurement available of the timepiece market According to SatisticBrain.com, 1.2 billion watches are sold annually worldwide. Of those, around 77 per cent are mechanical, and the rest are electronic.

StatisticBrain also collated data which shows Swatch as the world’s largest watch manufacturer. On the following page is a pie chart made using their data.

Richemont, which takes second place, and Rolex, in third, are both Swiss watchmakers. Together, the top three watchmakers – all Swiss – have around 40 per cent of the global market. Add to that the other Swiss watchmakers further down the order, and it seems Switzerland is still the world’s watchmaker.

Digital watches have been around a long time, but Smartwatches are essentially tiny little computers, and this is a new threat which requires new skills and perhaps a new world view.

Chinese smartwatches could be taking over the world While there may be a variety of studies into the wearables market showing a variety of different results, one thing we can all agree on is that there’s a lot of people in China.

And it’s in China that the next wave of timepiece technology is taking root, and one of the fastest-growing segments is smartwatches. www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

“

Exhibition

That’s according to George Jijiashvili, wearables analyst at CCS Insight, who says: “We’ve witnessed explosive growth in the kids watch segment in China and estimate that 16 million units were sold in 2016 alone.

“Companies such as BBK, Huawei, LeEco, ZTE and others have shipped significant numbers, and we expect growth to continue, with shipments rising to over 25 million by 2021.”

Jijiashvili says: “The Apple Watch has been the trailblazer for this category. Its success prompted traditional watchmakers to enter the smartwatch market.

Fossil, Guess Watches and TAG Heuer were among the first to embrace the opportunity.”

Another expert at Canalys, Jason Low, says the smartwatch market is likely to affect the traditional market for mechanical watches – both in terms of technology, and in terms of revenue.

“Connected watches appeal to buyers who want a watch first and a basic band second,” says Low. “With fewer people wanting to buy traditional watches, connected watches with limited functionality risk ending up like basic bands: being taken over by smartwatches by 2018.”

Low adds: “Watchmakers yet to take action need to switch their focus to smartwatches for long-term growth.

Basic bands have been eroding the low-end watch market and, despite being a nascent market, smartwatches have negatively affected the high-end mechanical watch segment.

“Global watch conglomerates, such as Swatch Group and LVMH, echoed similar sentiments. But companies such as Swatch are still slow to react to the change, and

According to Germany Trade & Invest... the global market for electrical and electronic products market is worth €3.7 trillion

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

have yet to take the next major step into smartwatch territory. Watchmakers’ survival will depend on creating competitive smartwatches.

“Forming partnerships with technology companies will be the first step. A well-formulated strategy to sell a watch will play a larger role as watchmakers have to appeal not only to watch fans, but consumers who are yet to buy a wearable.”

It’s not all about watches While some may worry about the possible erosion of the mechanical watch market, the truth is that whether it’s digital watches or smartwatches, they all tend to manufactured using the technologies showcased at EPJH – whether it’s robots capable of precise movements in tiny spaces, or laser devices measuring nano-spaces and nanotimes, microtechnology is not only required now, it’s likely to see significant market growth in the next few years.

Miniaturisation is a well-known phenomenon. Every technology gets smaller over time, and yet more powerful.

This is a trend that still has a long way to go.

According to Germany Trade & Invest, in its report The Microelectronics and Microtechnology Industry in Germany, the global market for electrical and electronic products market is worth €3.7 trillion.

As such, GTAI says it’s “the world’s biggest commodities market” – which means, obviously, that it sees much of electronics as consisting of commodity products.

Germany is said to be Europe’s largest market for this commodity, valued at approximately €109 billion, which is not surprising since cars use a lot of electronics and Germany’s auto sector is just massive.

GTAI, which says the sector is second-largest employer in the country, predicts significant growth for this market in every geographical region in the world.

The growth market which GTAI highlights, in particular, is printed electronics. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Exhibition

FemtoPrint signs up new partners ahead of EPHJ FemtoPrint, which specialises in the production or printing of 3D microdevices out of glass and other transparent materials, has signed up new partners ahead of EPHJ, one of the most important microtechnology exhibitions in the industry calendar.

F

emtoPrint has reached a distribution agreement with Japan Laser Corporation and, separately, a production deal with high-end mechanical watchmaker Ulysse Nardin.

The agreement between FemtoPrint and JLC involves a commercial collaboration which will result in the commercialization of FemtoPrint products and services into the Japanese market.

JLC is an established trading company specialized in laser technologies that offers OEM and branded products in the field of laser sources, material processing systems, metrology instruments and peripherals.

The companies say the agreement is “an important milestone” for the further expansion of FemtoPrint technology in optical, photonic, and life science applications in Japan.

Kyohei Tomita, sales engineer at JLC, says “JLC is very excited to start the collaboration with FemtoPrint and is convinced of the strong success in Japan. FemtoPrint technology will enable unprecedented applications to Japan precision industries.” editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Alexander Steimle, business developer at FemtoPrint, says: “We are proud to be listed among the leading brands commercialized by JLC and believe that the collaboration will set fundamental roots for the dissemination of novel 3D microdevices at high precision manufactured with our unique FemtoPrint micromachining platform.”

In the production deal with Ulysse Nardin, FemtoPrint technology played a crucial part in the watchmaker’s production of InnoVision timepiece range, the second version of which was premiered at the Geneva Watch Exhibition earlier this year.

3D glass sculptures InnoVision2 is said to be “a highly technical watch with unique 3D glass sculptures. When we saw the drawings, we were thrilled about the chance to work on it,” says a spokesperson for FemtoPrint.

“This timepiece is nothing like anything seen before.

Every part of this watch boasts great innovation; and FemtoPrint technology contributed to the success of the vision, bringing transparency, unique shapes, precision, less friction, amazing combination of fluidics, mechanics and aesthetics, with a perfect surface quality and the integration of new functionalities.

“The visual effect of this watch looks like nothing ever seen in horology.”

FemtoPrint technology uses a femtosecond laser that changes the properties of glass in the focal point with a sub-micron resolution, according to the company. l

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Together with HANNOVER MESSE 2018

Man. Machine.

Potential.

Hannover Germany hannovermesse.com #hm18

igital d w o See h logy is techno ing prorm transfo processes, n ductio y systems energ e way and th rk. we wo

Get new technology first 1

Features

Exhibition

Mecademic sells ‘almost 200’ of its industrial micro robots Microtechnology exhibition: Integrator partner Horosys will probably have one of the tiny robots on display at EPHJ

M

ecademic has sold “almost 200” units of its tiny industrial robot, according to a source close to the company.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source claims he spoke to someone at the company and that they told him that business was going “well”.

The startup company, which currently has fewer than 10 employees, is hiring more people to cope with increasing demand.

Mecademic is especially looking forward to trade events such as EPHJ, a watch- and jewellery-making technology exhibition in Switzerland, where its integrator partner Horosys will probably have one of the tiny robots on display.

Horosys specialises in small machines for the micro technology sector. As well as supplying and integrating the Mecademic robotic arm, it also supplies ultra-small robotic work cells.

Horosys also helps with the integration of Mecademic and other equipment into a manufacturing operation.

This integration can involve an individual robotic work cell or an entire assembly line.

The interesting thing about creating a production line editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

which features such tiny equipment means that the whole facility may not need to be any larger than an average room in an average house.

In fact, Horosys offers something it calls the “Desktop Factory”, which is self-explanatory really, but can be configured in any number of ways depending on the work requirement.

Connectivity Horosys also offers connectivity in line with what’s come to be known as “Industry 4.0” standards, complete with robots, sensors, monitoring tools, human-machine interfaces, and so on.

There are many people who have workshops perhaps fixing watches or making something. These sorts of craftspeople would probably find such systems attractive.

Such industries as watchmaking, jewellery-making and micro-electronics would be suitable for Mecademic’s robot, the Meca500 (units in main picture).

Mecademic recently claimed to have developed “the world’s smallest robotic work cell”.

The Meca500 has a payload of 500 grams, the robot itself weighs a total of 4.5 kg, and has a reach of 260 mm and the arm has a reach of 330 mm when fully extended.

The company claims that its robot is “the most precise six-axis robot arm, boasting a repeatability of 5 μm [5 millionths of a metre]”. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Logistics 4.0 meets Industrie 4.0 Hannover Germany cemat-hannovermesse.com #HM18 #CeMAT

D I G I TA L T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

T CeMA e t her g o t now NOVER N A H h wit MESSE

P L AT F O R M S

MAN -MACHINE PAC K AG I N G LO G I ST I C S 4 .0 A U T O M AT I Z AT I O N IN COMMERCE

World’s leading trade show for intralogistics & supply chain management

PalExpo to showcase jewellerymaking expertise Features

Jewellery

Jewellery making: EPHJ will feature a number of exhibitors that specialise in materials and technologies for jewellery making. Here they are put under the microscope

T

he world of high-quality jewellery- and watchmaking has always been labour-intensive, requiring many people with intricate skills all along the manufacturing process.

And while making jewellery still involves many people, increasingly sophisticated instruments, robotics and automation technologies, as well as new materials and additive manufacturing are taking the sector to a whole new level.

An industry event in Geneva, Switzerland, called EPHJEPMT-SMT describes itself as “the only trade show in the world [which showcases] all high-precision skills in the areas of watchmaking and jewellery, microtechnology and medical technology”.

It's not just skills on show, of course, but also the materials and equipment, although you do need some level of verbal skill just to say the name of the event.

The shorter name for it is “PalExpo Geneva”, and this year the event is set to host to around 850 exhibitors and more than 20,000 visitors.

Switzerland, as most will know, is famous for watchmaking, and jewellery is closely connected with the sector, especially since jewels feature in many highquality watches.

In fact, some people judge the quality or value of a editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

watch based on how many jewels it has.

By jewels, they mean rubies, which are often used in the joints of the mechanical parts within the watch, the core of which is called the watch “movement”.

Rubies are used as bearings for pivots to reduce friction. It’s generally thought that the more jewels a watch has, the less friction it generates with its mechanical motions.

But jewellery-makers obviously do more than just make rubies for watches. To give you a better idea of the sector, below we highlight some of the exhibitors at the EPHJ which specialise in materials and technologies for jewellery-making.

Alfatool Alfatool specialises in the production of micro-cutting tools in tungsten carbide with a high precision and finishing.

Tungsten is one of the hardest and rarest metals found naturally on Earth.

Alfatool’s tungsten micro-cutting tools are used in watchmaking, jewellery, medical, eyeglass manufacturing, aircraft and other sectors. www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Jewellery

CooksonGold CooksonGold is a supplier of direct metal 3D printing systems which use advanced metal powders.

These metals include a type of platinum, silver, and two types of gold.

The company partners with Electro-Optical Systems, which enables it to provide the jewellery- and watchmaking industry a unique e-manufacturing solution.

Design Engineering Design Engineering offers a range of 3D computer-aided design software based on the well-known Rhinocerous application.

Its software is specially configured for the design of jewellery, watches and accessories.

It also offers design and prototyping services, as well as training in how to design jewellery using its software.

IonBond IonBond provides thin-film coating which are used in a huge variety of industries, including aerospace.

For its medical customers, the company can provide biocompatible coatings for medical

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

implants and instruments.

Its main coatings are PVD (physical vapour deposition), PACVD (plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition) and CVD (chemical vapour deposition).

Mikisa Mikisa is primarily a retailer of certified diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewellery.

If you own a massively expensive watch which contains diamonds, they were probably supplied by this company.

The company manufactures and supplies full-cut and single-cut diamonds from 0.5 mm up to 3.6 mm to highend jewellery and watch brands.

Nevacril Nevacril specialises in producing accessories in leather, wrapping, boxes, displays and shop in concept shop for watches and jewellery.

Nevacril does not seem to supply equipment to watchand jewellery-makers but provides manufacturing services. It also offers custom-made furniture for jewellery stores. l

“

The more jewels a watch has, the less friction it generates with its mechanical motions.

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

v

News

Sensor Readings

Economy

Trump threatens to tax cars from Europe if EU retaliates over steel tariff

U

S President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a new tax on imported cars from Europe if the European Union takes retaliatory measures over the newly announced steel tariffs.

Speaking through Twitter, Trump said: “If the EU wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on US companies doing business there, we will simply apply a tax on their cars which freely pour into the US. “They make it impossible for our cars )and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!”

Trump has previously been highly critical of multilateral trade deals which he claims are unfair to the US. He called the North American Free Trade Agreement “the worst trade deal ever”, and generally called US international trade deals “very stupid”.

One of the first decisions he made as president was to take the US out of the TransPacific Partnership, which counts China and Japan among its member nations.

Observers are saying exiting Nafta – which includes Canada and Mexico – could be next.

Parts manufacture US automakers manufacture a lot of cars and vehicle parts in Mexico, and Trump has discouraged big automakers from investing there and encouraged them to invest in the US instead.

He said he is considering imposing a 35 per cent import tariff on Mexican autos and parts.

In the latest move, Trump has introduced a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports in an attempt to rebuild the US metals industry.

In comments reported in the Financial Times recently, Trump said: “We’re going to build our steel industry back and we’re going to build our [aluminium] industry back.

“

“We’ll be signing [an order imposing tariffs] next week. And you’ll have protection for a long time in a while. You’ll have to regrow your industries, that’s all I’m asking.”

Trump was speaking after a White House meeting with industry chief executives.

Trump has been known to speak directly to bosses of manufacturing companies to try and persuade them to move more of their operations to the US. In one instance at least it seems to be working, with Apple repatriating billions of dollars it had been holding overseas back to the US, and suggesting it would increase its manufacturing base in the US. However, individual companies may be easier to deal with that entire industries, and steel and aluminium are among the most

If the EU wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on US companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the US. They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2018

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

widely used materials in industry, affecting virtually all manufacturing businesses.

While higher tariffs may or may not help US steelmakers, it could increase the prices of metals for US manufacturers.

Retaliatory measures.

That’s even without the EU, China or any other country introducing any retaliatory measures.

Speaking for the EU, Jean-Claude Junker, European Commission president, said: “We strongly regret this step, which appears to represent a blatant intervention to protect US domestic industry and not to be based on any national security justification.

“The EU has been a close security ally of the US for decades. We will not sit idly while our industry is hit with unfair measures that put thousands of European jobs at risk.”

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: “If other countries follow in the steps of the US, it will harm global trade.

“China urges the US to abide by multilateral rules and to make contributions to the trade and economic world order.” l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Sensor Readings

News

Economy

Toyota to invest $3 billion in driverless car company

T

oyota is establishing a new company to develop autonomous driving technologies and says it will invest almost $3 billion into it.

The new company will be based in Tokyo and will start operating later this month. It will be named “Toyota Research InstituteAdvanced Development” (TRI-AD), and will accelerate the company’s efforts in “advanced development for automated driving”.

To enable the new efforts at TRI-AD, Toyota Motor Corporation, Aisin Seiki, and Denso have reached a provisional agreement on the joint development of fully-integrated, production-quality software for automated driving.

Joint development contract Going forward, the three companies will hold further discussions, aiming to conclude a concrete joint development contract.

Together, TMC, Aisin and Denso plan to invest more than $2.8 billion in TRI-AD. The new company is targeting a staff of approximately 1,000 employees, including external recruitment and staff from TMC, TRI, and Toyota Group Companies Aisin and Denso.

Toyota is in the process of selecting a editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

location in Tokyo that is competitive in terms of accessibility and recruitment.

Dr James Kuffner, currently TRI chief technology officer, will lead TRI-AD as its CEO. Dr Kuffner says: “Building productionquality software is a critical success factor for Toyota’s automated driving program.

“This company’s mission is to accelerate software development in a more effective and disruptive way, by augmenting the Toyota Group’s capability through the hiring of worldclass software engineers. We will recruit globally, and I am thrilled to lead this effort.”

The automotive industry is now in an era of profound transformation. High-quality software development and big data from connected vehicles will be crucial to success.

To respond to such changes, Toyota established Toyota Research Institute in North America in 2016 to conduct research in the areas of artificial intelligence, automated

“

Building production-quality software is a critical success factor for Toyota’s automated driving program

Dr James Kuffner, TRI-AD

driving, and robotics.

Toyota, together with Aisin and Denso, decided to establish the new company with the aim of strengthening its competitiveness even further.

TRI, TRI-AD and TMC will have a streamlined relationship, resulting in a fasttrack, truly integrated development model, says Toyota.

The key objectives of the new company include the following: l Create a smooth software pipeline from research-to-commercialization, leveraging data-handling capabilities. l Strengthen coordination with TRI and efficiently link research results to product development. l Strengthen the collaboration within the Toyota Group in the domains of research and advanced development. l Recruit and employ top-level engineers globally, while cultivating and coordinating the strong talent within the Toyota Group.

Dr Gill Pratt, TMC Fellow, TRI CEO and chairman of the new TRI-AD board of directors, says: “Toyota is known for the quality and efficiency of the Toyota Production System (TPS).

“I have no doubt that we can translate the fundamental ideas of TPS from the production of hardware to the production of software, and dramatically enhance Toyota’s software capabilities.

“That’s what TRI has been working for, and that’s what the new company will push even further.” l

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Art & Culture

Westworld set for a dramatic return T

Art & Culture: With Westerworld set to return for a here’s something nasty at the heart of Westworld, but then, you probably already knew that. The second series, David Edwards revisited series one to massively popular, much-discussed US television recap on what has gone so far, and what can be expected science ďŹ ction drama series is being scheduled for a from the new series

second run, starting in April, with a trailer already released.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Art & Culture

Features

In preparation, we thought we’d dust off the box set of the first series and watch all 10 episodes in one go so we can tell you something about it.

It’s difficult to know where to start because it’s such an epic show, with an obviously massive budget, legendary film stars and big sky pictures reminiscent of traditional western films of old.

But manufactured glimpses of John Wayne country notwithstanding, Westworld is far more gritty, gory, disturbing and, to be honest, dazzling in scope, script and star power than anything The Duke was ever in, although he did carry many classics such as The Searchers and True Grit, which still have the capacity to unsettle audiences and disturb their minds.

For Westworld, it is critically acclaimed and longestablished actors Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, and Thandie Newton who lead the large cast. And if that wasn’t enough, younger audience members will no editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

Art & Culture

doubt appreciate equally accomplished performances from Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, and Angela Sarafyan.

Hopkins and Harris dominate the screen whenever they appear, delivering their lines with all the bitter cynicism and cold contempt one can expect from grizzled old screen veterans. But the character played by Wright probably encapsulates the essential ambiguity which seems to be one of the main messages of the story – the personification of the idea that we have all gone from some semblance of security, certainty and security in our lives to total emotional chaos, and are none the wiser for it.

“

Simulated universe Many people say that we, human beings, are living in a simulated universe. While most people probably don’t subscribe to this interesting concept, some say that our world is controlled and micro-managed to within an inch of its life – and that final inch is very much under threat.

When we started this arts and culture column, we knew it would be difficult to talk about television shows, films and books without spoiling something for someone.

We’ll try our best not to, but we suggest people watch what we write about before actually reading.

That way, it will feel like more of a discussion rather than a preview or review, and there’s no chance of us spoiling it for you.

But Westworld is complex and rich enough that if we give away some storylines and themes, it will hardly be any the poorer for it.

For those who have not seen the first series, we recommend Westworld as one of the best television series ever. It is well worth binge-watching several times over.

While Westworld does deal with themes and storylines

While Westworld does deal with themes and storylines that are “archetypal” or that you may have seen some version of before, it does so in a thoroughly contemporary way and with the aplomb that the subject matter deserves.

that are “archetypal” or that you may have seen some version of before, it does so in a thoroughly contemporary way and with the aplomb that the subject matter deserves.

And although it is based on the 1973 film of the same name, its look and feel seem to borrow more stylistic elements from Deadwood than anything else.

The feeling of tension, creepiness, shock and psychological horror the original Westworld film – written by horror meister Michael Crichton – engendered in audiences in the 1970s is probably not achievable in this day and age when most people have already seen hundreds if not thousands of robots in films and TV shows by now. Also, audiences these days are difficult if not impossible to shock.

Graphic violence What the producers seem to have decided to go with is graphic violence. So you get a lot of blood and guts and some sexual violence.

Like I said, it’s a nasty piece of work.

It is in that sense – of casual, gory violence – that it’s quite like Deadwood, but Westworld has the added dimension that only science fiction can offer.

So not only do you get dialogue about virtualexistential crises and time-dilation traumas, you also get copious amounts of hi-tech imagery – the inside of glasswalled labs, robotic 3D printing of bodily tissue, super-sophisticated tablet devices and so on.

Much of the hi-tech operations are obviously behind

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.comwww.roboticsandau-

Art & Culture

the scenes, only accessed by those who program and fix the robots in readiness for the next round of damage caused to them by paying guests who visit Westworld.

Guests who enter the Westworld theme park are allowed to kill the robots at will and do other unspeakable things to them all in the name of “finding themselves”, or finding meaning in their lives, or some crap like that.

This pursuit of self-discovery always seems to involve violence, which is understandable, given what we all know about human nature.

That’s not to say, however, that the violence completely eclipses the psychological elements of the story. There are enough twists and turns in the story to bend your mind to a new reality, if only for a little while.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Features

It’s fortunate for filmmakers and audiences that human beings have long been utterly preoccupied with questions about consciousness, and the meaning and purpose of our lives, because addressing these questions in a stylish and ambitious way are what makes for great fiction, great science fiction in particular – even if no one has any real answers.

But in reality, it’s not Westworld the TV show or the evil characters played by big-name movie stars or anything contained within the production that is the most nasty thing. The nastiest thing is the feeling that this is the reality of our world, out here, IRL; elite groups of rich and powerful people playing games with the lives of those less capable – or completely incapable – of defending themselves.

No accidents These symbolic and metaphorical aspects of Westworld, however, cannot adequately be discussed because, like the robots in the show, we don’t have enough awareness of what’s going on in the kernel of society as we know it.

Like the character played by Wright, we don’t know what to think or do, and our options are limited by design, through programming. And every time we think we’ve found a way through the maze, someone blocks our path.

And it’s probably no accident that Wright always seems to play characters that are difficult to warm to – or dislike particularly – because of their overly officious, technocratic nature yet sort of reliable matter-of-factness.

Like the Harris character says, there are no accidents in Westworld. l www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

The Inaugural Edition of the Mala aysia International Robotic & Automation E Exhibition Robotex 2018 is coming to town!

www.oneinternational.com.my ORGANIZED BY

ONE ROBOTEX SDN BHD No. 2-3, Jalan Kuchai Maju 11, Kuchai Entreprene e eurs Park, 58200 Kuala Lumpurr..

T: +603-7987 1668 F: +603-7987 2668 E: enquiry@oneinternational.com.my

CO ORGANIZER CO-ORGANIZER R

Sensor Readings

Marketplace

Marketplace: companies Associati A i tiions: Robotics and Automatiion

British Automation & Robot Association bara.org.uk 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

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 ffor an nnouncing i heir research and d exchanging echnical informattion.

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

euRobotics AISBL is a Brussels based internationaal non-profit association 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 continue the coopeeration abetween members of these two community 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 Industries 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.

d

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, 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 L eu robotics net eu-robotics.net

b ti

Acttuation t ti

t

ti

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

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 patented p 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

dit i l@roboticsandautomationnews.com b ti d t ti

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Marketplace

Sensor Readings

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 ucts—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 aand 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 technology, which mean ns robots connect through Eth hernet/IP with software and d service i e interfaces i t f that simplify dessign, operation and maintenancce efforts to improve machine and nd overall line OEE. rockwellautomation.com tomation.com

Adept Adep pt has cultivated and main ntained key partnerships with indusstry-leading integrators, OEMss, and machine builders acrosss the globe and throughout numeerous 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 validate v 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 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 yyour requirements. evanaautom mation.com

NewB Botic 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

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

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 robottic waterjet cutting systems like n nobody else. genesis-systems.com

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Sensor Readings

Marketplace

Marketplace: companies Microcon Mi ntrollers t ll & Microcchips

Freescale Freescale F l Semico S i nductor d t enables bl secure, embedded d processing solutions for the In nternet of Tomorrow. Freesccale’s solutions drive a more innovvative and connected world, ssimplifying our ives and making u us safer. reescale.com

Atmel Atmel Corporation n is a worldwide eader in the desig gn and manufacture of microcontrollers, capacitive touch soolutions, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio requency compon nents nents. atmel.com

Silicon Labs Silicon Labs is a team of hardwarre and software innovvators dedicated o solving our custtomer’s oughest g embeddeed design g challenges. silabs.com

S nsors Se Ranesas

Alphasense

Renesas Eleectronics Corporation, the world’s n number one supplier of microcontrollers, m is a premier su upplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontroollers, SoC solutions and a broad rang ge of analog and power devices. renesas.com m

Alphasense has established a reputation as a reliable sourcee for a wide range of gas sensorr technologies. We supply high-quality Oxygen,CO2, toxic and flammable Gas sensors to many of the world’s leading industrial OEMs. alphasense.com

STMicroelectronics

4D Te echnology

Sensiron

A world lead der in providing the semiconducctor solutions that make k a positive iti contribution n to people’s lives, both today and in n the future. st.com

4D Technology echnology designs and manu ufactures laser i t fferometers, interf t surface roughness profilers and interfferometry accessories.

4dtecchnology.com

Sensirion is a leading sensor manufacturer, providing relative ve humidity sensors and flow sensor solutions with unique performance. sensirion.com

Infineon

Sano

Hansford Sensors

We provide semiconductor and system solutions, utions, focusing on three centraal needs of our modern society: Eneergy Efficiency, Mobility and Securityy. infineon.com m

Sano is a biomeetric sensoor and software company with a paten nted, breakthrough sensor that w will help people understand what’s happening inside their bodiees through continuously monittoring important markers in their bodies’ chemistry. sano co sano.

At Hansford Sensors, we design, gn, develop and manufacture a wide range of high performance ce industrial accelerometers, vibration transmitters (loop powered sensors) and ancillary ry equipment. hansfordsensors.com

Texas Instruments

EMX

TI’s microcoontroller platform offers innovvative devices with integrated on-chip o architectures, unique intelllectual property, system expeertise in key markets, and a comp prehensive ecosystem y of software, tools and support. ti.com

EMX is one of the world’s leading ing innovators of specialty sensorss in the factory and process automation markets. Our sensors sors are used in automotive, packaging, ging, labeling, g, metal stamping, p g, paper er and wood processing, plastics,, electronics and pharmaceutical al manufacturing. g emxinc.com

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Synap ptics Synap ptics is a world leader in capacitive pacitive touch sensing p g techn nology. This patented techn nology is at the heart of our indusstry-standard TouchPad products ucts and other solutions. synap ptics.com

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Marketplace

Sensor Readings

Marketplace: companies Kawa ada

Kawasaki

SynTouch

For over 40 years,, Kawasaki has been improvin ng technology to meet the high demand of assembly applicattions. Kawasaki’s innovative hardwaare and software can help you solvee your complex assembly challenges. kawasaki.com

SynTouch LLC developed and makes the only sensor technology in the world d that endows robots with the ability to replicate - and sometimes exceed - the human sense of touch. uch. syntouchllcc.com

3D Robotics 3DR helps people see th heir world from above. As North Am merica’s largest personal drone company, c 3DR is a pioneer in making advanced, easy-to-use drone d technology.

3dr.com

Hond da Robotics

DENSO Robotics Yaskawa Yaskawa Motoman offerrs a wide range off industrial i d t i l robot b ttic ti arm models for high-speed p precision assembly and small parrt handling including high-performaance sixaxis robots; flexible seveen-axis manipulators; dual-arm m robots with 15 axes; and more. motoman.com

Universal Robots Universal Robots is a ressult of many years of intensive research in robotics. The product portfolio includes the collaborativve UR3, UR5 and UR10 robot arm ms named after their payloads in kiilos. universal-robots universal robots.com com

Vecna Vecna’s robotic logisticss solutions are a familyy of autonomoous mobile robots, built to operate within human-centric environments. vecna.com

Cutting edge technology, class leading prod ducts and groundbreaking systems ystems are only part of what you can expect when you choose h DENSO Robotics.

R b ti densorobotics.com m

”Servving society throu ugh technology,” b has been Kawada’s mission since its inception in 1922. Our mission has been accomplished through techn nological innovations in a vast rangee of operations, including projeects involving transportation, energ gy, and information, all basic necessities of society. globaal.kawada.jp

Hond da has further advanced intellligence technologies enabling its ad dvanced humanoid robot ASIM MO to act autonomously and perfo form uninterrupted i t t d service i tto officee guests. hond da.com

SCHUNK SCHUNK iss one of the largest manufacturer f t rer for f automation t ti components, s, toolholders and workholding equipment. schunk.com m

Epson

iRobo ot

With over 45,000 robots installed in factories throug ghout the world, many of the top manufacturing companies rely on n Epson Robots every day to reducce production costs, improve prooduct quality, increase yields an nd help increase their bottom line. epson.com

iRobot’s ot’s home robots are revollutionizing the way people clean n – inside and out. More than 10 million home robots have been sold worldwide. www w.irobot.com

Robotiq Our goal is to enable all manufacturers rers to take full advantage of robotics. We work with robot manufacturers, system integrators and end-users to automate applications pplications that require fexibility fexibility. robotiq.com m

TEUN

Future Robot

TEUN is a compreehensive concept, based on n a smart unmanned machine, the PIQR. The concept has been developed to offerr a solution for the frequently q y com mplex p laborintensive and expeensive way of unloading contain ners. teun.com

We, Future F Robot, aim to create an exxemplary service robot markket. We deal with Coupon Advertising Robot, Mobile Infotaainment Service, Robot Event Serviice,, and manyy more.

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Honeybee Robotics Since 1983, Honeybee has completed p over 300 p projects j for NASA, the U US Department of Defense, accademia, industry and artists. honeybeeroobotics.com

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

Sensor Readings

Marketplace

Marketplace: companies Brain Corpo oration Energid

Stäub bli Stäub bli is a mechatronics solutions provider with three dediccated divisions: textile, connectors ectors and robotics, serving customers omers who want to increase their productivity in many indusstrial sectors. staub bli.com

Energid Technolog gies develops dvanced softwaree and robotic ystems for the aeerospace, griculture, manufacturing, ransportation, deffense, and medical industriess. energid.com

Brain Corpooration develops software, haardware, and cloud services forr consumer robotics.

Our goal is to t make intelligent and useful m machines a part of everyday lifee with the world’s first training-bassed operating system for robots – BrainOS. braincorporration.com

Ekso Bionics

Bosch Robo otics

DMG Mori Ellison

Ekso Bionics helpss urvivors of strokee, pinal cord injury aand other forms of low wer extremity weakness k to t walk lk again. i ntl.eksobionics.coom

We are workking on Personal Robotics and the enabling technologies. Our interdisciplinary team conducts research on topics such h as mobile bil manipulation, i l ti navigation, p perception and semantic an nalysis of 3D data. bosch.us

DMG Mori Ellison Technologies is a provider vider of advanced machining solutions to North American metal-cutting manufacturers and th i global their l b l affiliates. ffiliates. ellisoontechnologies.com

ASI

DAIHEN

Autonomouss Solutions is a world leeader in vendor independentt vehicle automation systems. Frrom our HQ in Utah, we serve clients in the mining, agriculture, automotive, governmentt, and manufacturing industries w with remote control, teleoperatioon, and fully automated solutions solutions. asirobots.coom

The D DAIHEN Group makes it our m mission to provide products and services indispensable to primaary industries around the world d, including first and foremost the poower industry or so-called “lifeline” of society. daiheen.co.jp

Dyson Dyson recently invvested in a oint robotics lab with w Imperial College London too investigate ision systems and d engineer a generation of houssehold robots. dyson co uk dyson.co.uk

Clearpath Roboticcs

Axium m

We build the world d’s best unmanned vehiclees for research nd development. Our products will save time, money and headaches on your next project. learpathrobotics. p .com

Axium m designs, manufactures and in nstalls a complete range of autom mated solutions for robotic material handling (palletizing, depallletizing, case packing, and perip p pheral equipments) q p and transformation of plastic products. axium msolutions.com

Aethon Aethon is beest known for its TUG autonomouss mobile deliveryy robot which transports medications, meals and materials m through hospitals. aethon.com

editorial@roboticsandautomationnews.com

Aurotek Aurotek delivers high valueadded services and solutions, and helping customers achievee greater value through its introduction of advanced and quality components, acquirement ment of new technology concepts. robot.com.tw

Apex Automation and Robotics Apex Automation A A t ti and d Robotics R b ti s is an Australian company specialising in the design and manufacture of custom-built automation machines and robotic otic systems. apexautomation.com.au

Adept Adept systems provide unmatched ched performance and economic value throughout the production on lifecycle, enabling customers too achieve precision, quality and productivity in their assembly, handling and packaging processes. sses. adept.com

Reis Experts know REIS as creative pacemaker for process-oriented d system y solutions. Since 1957 our ur way has been going dynamicallyy up.

The fundamentals: Inventive genius, nius, competence, innovative power, and reliability. reisrobotics.de

www.roboticsandautomationnews.com

NEXT ISSUE

The monthly magazine for the robotics and automation industry Issue 14 June 2018

View from the top ABB boss provides his view of the future of robotics

Hannover Messe and CeMAT overview Notes from the world’s leading industrial technology shows

Hannover in Asia Hannover is taking its Messe to the Asia-Pacific region

Logistics: The way you move Overview of logistics robots market – and a list of suppliers

Global software update Software taking over hardware and the world