Automation

Finding an automation system that allows for growth and change can enable long-term savings and production increases. Manufacturers’ Monthly reports. For companies seeking to reap the benefits of an automated production lines one stumbling block has been the inflexibility of a system once installed. Whether that is in the path that the process follows or … Continue reading AGVs: Flexible solutions to fit into any site →

The Australian Space Agency has opened consultations for the design of its Robotics, Automation and AI Command and Control Centre. Input is being sought on the objectives of the centre, the mission types for potential users, and overall program design. The Centre will be located in Western Australia and is funded through $4.5 million from … Continue reading Industry invited to set objectives for space control centre →

Members of the instrumentation, control, and automation profession discussed how their field will be impacted by Industry 4.0 at the IICA’s Christmas in July event. As the sun set behind the Harbour Bridge and the towers of the Sydney CBD began to light up, members of the Institute for Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) gathered … Continue reading Promoting collaboration and communication in instrumentation →

While Industry 4.0 may seem to encourage the replacement of people with machines, when it comes to safety, having an understanding of the importance of people is paramount. In an exclusive interview, Susanne Kunschert of Pilz speaks with Manufacturers’ Monthly. The managing partner of automation technology firm Pilz, Susanne Kunschert, confesses, “I’m not so digital”. … Continue reading Understanding where people fit in Industry 4.0 →

Due to their flexibility, automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs) are one of the most important supply solutions in hospital supply logistics, writes Michael Dold, strategic industry manager of industrial vehicles, Global Industry Center Logistics Automation – Transport Logistics, SICK. Increasing digitalisation, with its ability to make the complex networking of logistic processes transparent and provide … Continue reading Optimal in the clinic: AGV systems count on “hospital-ready” sensor solutions →

Autonomous delivery business Starship Technologies has raised $40 million in funding to expand its business. The Estonian manufacturer, which is headquartered in the US, was established by Skype co-founders Janus Friis and Ahti Heinla and has garnered $85 million in support to date. The primary product of the company is a six-wheeled robot that are … Continue reading Autonomous delivery business expands with new funding →

With the adoption of working practices that bring humans and robots into ever closer collaboration, making these practices safe remains of paramount importance. IN workplaces, robots are now being configured to work alongside humans and can lead to savings in costs and increases in productivity. This is apparent not only in service applications, but industrial … Continue reading Safety systems ensure productive workplaces for humans and robots →

Earlier in July, the World Economic Forum named 2019 the year of the Robot Carer. Naming the top ten technologies that have the greatest potential for a positive impact on our world, the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network highlighted technologies that manufacturers are creating and driving forward. In addition to robot carers, or social robots … Continue reading World Economic Forum names top ten technologies →

An autonomous bus service has now begun operating in the suburbs north of Adelaide. Vehicles built by French autonomous vehicle manufacturer Easy Mile are operating the trial, launched by the state government of South Australia and the City of Playford. The trial will operate a service between the Playford Alive Township and the Munno Para … Continue reading Autonomous bus service begins in SA →

As robotics researchers, students and enthusiasts gathered at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, home-town teams from universities in Sydney were hoping for simulated and solid success. Two local universities came out with first place honours, University of Sydney (USYD) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), in the Soccer Simulation 2D League and the … Continue reading RoboCup results in wins for local universities →

Robotics teams and experts have converged on Sydney to compete in the 2019 RoboCup, aiming to claim the World Champion title. Held for the first time in Sydney, 170 teams including 1,200 participants from research laboratories and universities around the world will compete not only in soccer, but robotic urban search and rescue missions, manufacturing, … Continue reading 2019 RoboCup kicks off →

Siemens has announced the speakers and experts who will present at its annual conference Digitalize. To be held in Brisbane on July 23, the conference focusses on the process of digitalisation across industry sectors. The two visiting speakers are Martin Powell, head of urban development, and Gerhard Kress, vice president of data services. Kress has … Continue reading Siemens announces Digitalize 2019 →

In a paper accepted to the 2019 International Conference on machine Learning (ICML), CSIRO researchers have presented a new method of preventing attacks on algorithms and machine learning systems. Similar in principle to a vaccine, the innovation is designed to limit the effectiveness of hackers who target algorithms that could drive cars, identify spam emails … Continue reading CSIRO designs algorithm vaccination technique →

Adhering to a certain level of professionalism can be as simple as ensuring a website is well-functioning. Manufacturers’ Monthly finds out what one automation solutions provider deems as important in setting a company apart from others. “There’s nothing you sell or do that can’t be done by another organisation,” Andrew Godber from Bunbury Industrial Controls … Continue reading Setting high standards →

A fresh face in the logistics industry, Cohesio Group has been going from strength to strength since its initial inception in 2014. Nishan Wijemanne, CEO of Cohesio Group decided that the logistics industry needed an influx of innovation, and this vision drove him to create Cohesio Group – a solutions-driven technology provider. Wijemanne, who is … Continue reading Finding the gap in automated logistics →

Manual quality processes will always hold some room for error, but with the changing consumer environment is it worth the risk? insignia explains. Forty-five per cent of manufacturers acknowledge that there is considerable room for improvement when it comes to proactively preventing problems with assets within their organisation. Despite the recognition of this clear need, … Continue reading Protecting uptime through automated quality control →

Industrial companies can expect to pay less for their control system fault resolution, and bounce back from downtime faster, when they opt to use SAGE Automation’s newly launched national operations centre (NOC) for remote support. In an industry-first initiative, the NOC provides clients with remote monitoring services and direct access to a dedicated control system … Continue reading National operations centre cuts cost and downtime for industry →

With the increasing uptake of automation across a wide range of industries, strain gauges are an important device for accurately measuring deformations. A strain gauge is a sensor whose resistance varies with applied force. It converts force, pressure, tension, weight, and more, into a change in electrical resistance which can then be measured. When external … Continue reading Increase in uptake of automation makes precision more necessary →

The government of Western Australia is investing $3.7 million in capital works to enhance training facilities in the areas of health and social assistance, automation, cybersecurity, and building and construction. The funding will improve training facilities in some of the state’s largest growing industries at North Metropolitan TAFE’s Clarkson and Joondalup campuses. Joondalup campus will … Continue reading Revitalised TAFE facilities to grow cybersecurity and automation →

A Queensland high school is building an automation and robotics centre that will see more students learning about the latest technologies. Alexandra Hills State High School has started constructing the new $4.77 million Centre for Excellence in Automation and Robotics. Member for Capalaba Don Brown said the school’s future-focussed programs were becoming increasingly popular. The … Continue reading Queensland school builds centre for automation and robotics →