Rethinking Automation with Robots

2015




Up to 90% of manufacturing tasks still can’t be practically automated. But that number is falling steadily. Smart, collaborative robots that adapt to real-world variability, excel in semi-structured environments and change applications quickly have arrived. And they are becoming the solution of choice for companies looking to boost flexibility, efficiency and quality in their operations.

An industry that once looked to automation to drive volume production is now seeking to gain an edge in flexibility.

These days, a lot of companies are calling their robots collaborative. Or intelligent. Or safe

Baxter Robots

http://www.rethinkrobotics.com/products-software/

Sawyer
HIGH PERFORMANCE COLLABORATIVE ROBOT
Introducing Sawyer – revolutionary new high performance collaborative robot designed for machine tending, circuit board testing and other precise tasks that are not practical to automate with traditional industrial robots.  Sawyer will be sold in North America, Europe, China and Japan, with limited availability beginning in the summer of 2015.

Baxter

With no safety cages, complex programming or costly integration required, not to mention a game-changing $25,000 price point, Baxter is a  collaborative robot useful for plants of all sizes.  Powered by the Intera platform, Baxter is a technology that improves itself over time.

Baxter Research Robot

What happens when you combine an industry-tested automation solution loaded with embedded features with an open source ROS API?  You get Baxter Research Robot – a safe, affordable, robust platform that is quickly becoming a must-have for labs and schools around the world.

The Intera Platform

A robot is only as good as its operating software.  With the Intera platform, your robots will always be improving their performance, adapting to meet your needs and updating to the latest technology available.

Accessories

Need to get a grip with our versatile end effector options? Want to put your robots on a pedestal? Rethink Robotics offers a complete range of versatile accessory options you’ll need to get up and running quickly and easily.  Whether it’s standard accessories or the platform to support a fully customized solution, Baxter provides you the right tools for your job.

Automobile - Car - Product Development - Design

2015

The design related aspects self-driving vehicles are an important issue in this year.

Gerry McGovern is , the design director and chief creative officer for Jaguar Land Rover. He was debuting the 2016 Range Rover SV Autobiography, the company's latest limited-edition luxury vehicle in New York Auto Show  2015.

THE BACKSEAT WILL GET MORE LOVE
The office of the future may be the backseat of a self-driving car. The car designers are planning on making the back seat  more comfortable. The roomy backseats feature calf rests, coolers to chill drinks in, and tables that pop out of the arm rests for eating or working in comfort.

LOOKING GOOD WILL (STILL) BE A TOP PRIORITY
"That’s a 22-inch wheel," is now accepted and welcomed.  "Twelve years ago the theory was that people wouldn't want a bigger wheel, because the tire wrapped around it would by comparison look smaller and thus not as safe. That hasn't proved to be true. It made the vehicle better looking,On the first model that Range Rover offered with an option of a 20-inch wheel compared to an 18-inch one, 80% of customers opted for the larger size. The power of aesthetics has to be understood. We tend to like to talk about technology features because we think it’s more worthy, but actually design in itself, the aesthetics, should be celebrated.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/3044443/innovation-engine/jaguar-land-rover-design-chief-on-creating-tomorrows-most-desirable-cars

Robots in Manufacturing - 2015

http://www.rethinkrobotics.com/baxter/


China may have the largest number of robots by 2017.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/04/01/why-china-may-have-the-most-factory-robots-in-the-world-by-2017/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/japanese-industrial-robot-maker-fanuc-ramps-up-production-1424055501


http://www.audiusa.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/2015/02/new-human-robot-cooperation-in-audis-production-processes

http://qz.com/196200/toyota-is-becoming-more-efficient-by-replacing-robots-with-humans/

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/530696/how-human-robot-teamwork-will-upend-manufacturing/

CHIMP Robot from NREC, Carnegie Mellon University 2013

It can walk on all four limbs or can walk on two limbs and use the other two limbs as hands. It is human size robot.


CHIMP's  normal mode of locomotion will be much like that of a tank, with the tracks of all four limbs on the ground. This configuration would offer a particular advantage when moving over debris and rough terrain. But CHIMP also can move on the treads of just two limbs when needed, such as when it must use its hand like limbs to open a valve, or to operate power tools.


Press Release of CMU
http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2013/march/march12_chimprobot.html

Honda S660 Roadster

Honda Motor Company will begin selling new S660 Roadster 2 two seater sports vehicle from 2 April 2015 in Japan. It will also sell a concept edition of S660 - only 660 numbers will be sold. The monthly sales target for the vehicle is 800. It costs 2,180,000 yen.

Its lead engineer is Mukumoto. He was 22 and into his third year making mockups at Honda's product development arm when he won an in-house competition for a car concept.


http://www.autoblog.com/2015/03/30/honda-s660-japan-official/

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/E377EDDD8F7F8489CA257E1900237970

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/honda-s660-roadster-will-be-built-will-it-come-here

USS Theodore Roosevelt - Huge Aircraft Carrier

It can  hold 85 airplanes.


https://uk.news.yahoo.com/huge-aircraft-carrier-anchors-off-south-coast-085941026.html  

Water House - A New Idea to Slash Energy Requirement of Houses

Matyas Gutai demonstrated a water house in the construction of which water is enclosed between two glass walls. This will be able to give desired temperature in the house with less external energy requirement.

http://phys.org/news/2015-02-japan-inspired-water-house-slashes-energy.html