Humanoid robots could build themselves, plus Gonzalez moves from Rockwell to B&R
Drives & Controls
The UK's leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission
Nozomi Networks, which protects critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, has just released its latest report on the state of OT (operational technology) and IoT security. It makes sober reading. For example, it finds that manufacturing is the most vulnerable sector to cyberattacks, with more than twice as many vulnerabilities as the next-highest sector (energy). It also looked at the 241 ICS (industrial control system) advisories issued by the US government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) over the past six months and found that critical manufacturing accounted for 75% of all of the CVEs (common vulnerabilities and exposures). A total of 70 ICS vendors were affected by the vulnerabilities. In a further alarming finding, Nozomi analysed more than 500,000 wireless networks worldwide and discovered that only 6% were adequately protected. Attacking these networks in industrial environments could disrupt production or cause safety hazards, the company points out. It warns that cyberattacks are on the rise and that we need to protect industrial systems against “a barrage of threats”, but to balance this against the need to operate safely at scale. We ignore such threats at our peril.
?
Apptronik, the US developer of humanoid robots that recently received a $350m cash injection, has announced a collaboration with the contract manufacturer Jabil, under which Jabil will build Apollo humanoids…
?
?
ABB has appointed Susana Gonzalez as chief sales officer in the Machine Automation Division of its B&R Industrial Automation subsidiary. Until recently, Gonzalez led Rockwell Automation’s sales in the EMEA…
The Trio Power 24 V power supply from Phoenix Contact sets a new standard in machine building. The plug-and-play solution for the control cabinet is optionally available with an integrated electronic circuit breaker. The power supplies are particularly space-saving due to their narrow overall width and capability of being mounted directly side by side. The low overall depth enables installation in 210 mm small housings. The power supply units also enable easy handling: Push-in connection technology allows for quick and tool-free installation. Integrated marking fields can be used to easily display equipment identifications and circuits. Due to an intuitive commissioning concept, the devices are quickly ready for use. The mechanical lock of the potentiometers ensures that the devices are also tamper-proof.
?
ANYbotics, the Swiss specialist in AI-driven robotic inspection systems, has launched an asset management platform that allows businesses to exploit the data collected by its ANYmal four-legged mobile inspection robots.…
VDMA Robotics +Automation (VDMA R+A), the German-based organisation that represents 415 automation companies across Europe, is calling for action to halt the sector’s loss of global competitiveness. “Europe’s industries are…
Leuze is expanding its product portfolio with LiDAR technology: New ROD 300 series of laser scanners for accurate contour measurement and ROD 500 for precise AGV navigation. Whether on a conveyor or an automated guided vehicle system, when sensors are used to detect contours, precision and attention to detail are what count. Leuze is launching two new laser scanner series that are perfectly suited for this. The devices of the ROD 300 series reliably detect contours during fast production and logistics processes. Thanks to their high scanning rates and angular resolution, the laser scanners of the ROD 500 series are optimally suited for navigation tasks. Another advantage is the sensors' integrated window monitoring, which detects if the optics window becomes dirty. This enables predictive maintenance and contributes to high system availability. Perfection in precision The devices of the ROD 300/500 series scan at a frequency of up to 80 Hz. This means that moving objects are reliably detected and the data quality remains optimal even at high speeds. With their high angular resolution of 0.025° at 10 Hz, the laser scanners of the ROD 500 series can determine the contour of the parts even with high-gloss or matt surfaces. The new laser scanners can be integrated into almost all production processes. Their rugged design with IP 67 housing, high-quality aluminum base and the built-in laser diode make the ROD 300/500 laser scanners resistant to external influences. The sensors also work in temperature ranges from -30 °C to +60 °C. This makes them suitable for applications in both the deep-freeze sector and for high-temperature requirements, such as in battery production. Natural Navigation made easy The new laser scanners can also be used for navigating driverless transport systems (DTS). They create a very precise map of the environment, such as the material storage area. In logistics operations, a scanner from the ROD 500 series enables collision-free AGV navigation via natural navigation. Another benefit is the compact design of the laser scanners. With dimensions of 80 x 80 x 80mm, the sensors can be integrated even into the small installation spaces of mobile vehicles.
?
A UK-based AI and robotics startup is aiming to develop the world’s leading, commercially scalable, and safe humanoid robots. London-based Humanoid (also known as SKL Robotics), founded in 2024 by…
?
The German engineering plastics and automation specialist igus has added an AI chatbot to its RBTX.com online robotics market. The digital assistant helps users with little experience to put together…
?
The German sensor-maker Sick has teamed up with the Danish cobot-builder Universal Robots to develop a technology that ensures safe, collision-free and close collaboration between robots and humans. The laser-based…
?
The CNC machinery specialist Danobat has entered the robot market with a family of precision robots that, it says, set new benchmarks in accuracy and efficiency, combining the flexibility of…
?
?
?