Robotics play a critical role in the world of industrial processes and manufacturing thanks to their ability to rapidly perform repetitive tasks at speed. But while robotic platforms can be highly beneficial, they are often extremely expensive to purchase and difficult to code requiring inverse kinematics and closed-loop feedback systems to ensure that the robot is able to account for unexpected variations. Recognising the challenges faced by robotic systems, Ally Robotics is developing a robotic platform that is not only dead simple, but also requires no coding whatsoever to control and deploy. What challenges do robotic systems face, how does Ally Robotics aim to solve this, and how would no-code robots change the world?
Top Stories This Week
- Ally Is Building A Dead-Simple, No-Code Robot Arm
- Stability AI Announces $101 Million in Funding for Open-Source Artificial Intelligence
- BT Collaborates On The Use Of Robotics And IoT To Transform And Automate Agriculture
- Autonomous Truck Company Kodiak Moves Supplies To IKEA Frisco
- SpaceX Rolls Out Starlink Aviation Product For Satellite Internet To Private Jets
- Tesla To Remove Ultrasonic Sensors, A Recipe For Disaster?
- 4 Cybersecurity Considerations For Smart Factories
- 11 More Crash Deaths Are Linked To Automated-Tech Vehicles
- MIT Researchers Develop General Optimiser Tool For Any Autonomous Robotic System
- 3D Printing With A Drone Swarm
- Google’s Open Source KataOS Operating System Supports RISC-V Architecture
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Hardware Business News
Stability AI Announces $101 Million in Funding for Open-Source Artificial Intelligence
Of all technologies to have been invented by man, none have received as much attention as AI. In less than a decade, AI has jumped from simple neural net research projects by universities to full-fledge applications that power numerous everyday tasks including predictive text, speech-to-text, and even self-driving systems. However, while AI has many advantages, it is extraordinarily difficult to start new AI projects due to the lack of standardisation across the industry. As such, a startup company called Stability AI has recently raised $101 million to develop open-source AI platforms that enable engineers to accelerate AI projects. What challenges does AI face, who is Stability AI, and how will their solution help engineers?
BT Collaborates On The Use Of Robotics And IoT To Transform And Automate Agriculture
When it comes to automation, robots and autonomous systems have proven to be extremely beneficial in the field of logistics including warehouses and factory floors. But one industry that robotic engineers have been heavily focusing on is agriculture as an automated agricultural industry would present numerous opportunities including the ability to be independent of pesticides and fertilizers, reduce water usage, and reduce food prices. Recognising these advantages, BT has delivered a robotics platform and management system as part of the Innovate UK-funded ‘Robot Highways’ project that will explore the use of IoT and robotics in smart agriculture to drive automation, increase efficiency, and improve environmental sustainability. What challenges does automation face in agriculture, how does BT intend to help solve these challenges, and should robots take over the agriculture industry?
Autonomous Truck Company Kodiak Moves Supplies To IKEA Frisco
On the topic of automation, another industry that would highly benefit from autonomous driving is trucking. Drivers face numerous challenges when transporting cargo over long distances including exhaustion and distraction, and regulations limit the number of hours that drivers can operate. But if a truck could be made autonomous, it is possible for entire journeys to be done non-stop with no human intervention whatsoever. That is the goal of one company in the US, Kodiak, which has recently provided IKEA with a fleet of autonomous trucks to test out their capabilities over a 300-mile journey. What challenges does the trucking industry face, who is Kodiak, and how do their self-driving trucks work?
SpaceX Rolls Out Starlink Aviation Product For Satellite Internet To Private Jets
While there are growing doubts surrounding the practicalities of Starlink, SpaceX continues to push its deployment. To help find new sources of revenue, SpaceX is exploring other uses for its satellite constellation with one recent example being the current crisis in Ukraine. Now, SpaceX has announced that it will be providing its internet service to passenger jets and hopes to provide a download speed of around 350Mbps, a charge of $150,000 for the hardware, and an approximately $20,000 a month subscription fee. What challenges does internet access face in passenger jets face, how does SpaceX hope to solve this, and is this a desperate attempt to generate revenue?
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Hardware Engineering News
Tesla To Remove Ultrasonic Sensors, A Recipe For Disaster?
In order for autonomous vehicles to function, they require absolute situational awareness which is often achieved with the use of numerous sensing technologies including LiDAR, RADAR, SONAR, and cameras. By using multiple sensors, a vehicle is able to paint a very good picture of its surroundings in different environmental conditions (such as rain and snow) that may otherwise affect some sensors. Despite every other autonomous driving company using multiple sensors, Tesla recently announced that it will be removing ultrasonic sensors on its vehicles and moving towards total reliance on its vision-based AI. Why do cars utilise different sensing technologies, why is Tesla moving towards vision-only, and will this be a disastrous move?
4 Cybersecurity Considerations For Smart Factories
While internet technologies have helped to accelerate modern technology in consumer electronics, it has also helped to provide numerous capabilities to industrial processes. From centralised controls to remote maintenance, internet technologies are rapidly being integrated into industrial environments to speed up processes, improve efficiency, and introduce advanced technologies such as AI and predictive maintenance. However, for all the advantages that internet technologies provide, they also introduce cybersecurity challenges as outside forces attempt to disrupt industries either for monetary gain or for strategic purposes. In this article, learn about the 4 cybersecurity considerations you should make when deploying smart factories!
11 More Crash Deaths Are Linked To Automated-Tech Vehicles
While automotive manufacturers around the world continue to pursue self-driving vehicles, there are growing concerns about their safety and the ethical questions raised regarding responsibility. But while most companies are still internally developing self-driving features, Tesla has been particularly famous for pushing out features that are still being worked on. Now, a new report has shown that autonomous driving systems may have been responsible for 11 deaths from vehicle crashes in the US over a four-month period. What challenges do autonomous driving system face, was the autonomous system at fault, and should they be rolled out?
Hardware R&D News
MIT Researchers Develop General Optimiser Tool For Any Autonomous Robotic System
Robotics has undoubtedly transformed the manufacturing industry thanks to the ability of robotics to perform repetitive tasks efficiently and the lack of salary needed by robotic platforms. However, one of the most prominent challenges engineers face is that robotic platforms are almost always designed from scratch, which not only slows down development but can require unique coding solutions. Recently, researchers from MIT announced the development of an optimiser tool that can be applied to any autonomous robotic system. What challenges does robotics introduce to engineers, what did the MIT researchers do, and how will the development of generic platforms help to accelerate robotic development?
3D Printing With A Drone Swarm
Even in technical disciplines such as engineering, there is much we can still learn from nature. After all, the endless experimentation and trials of life give rise to some of the most elegant solutions to problems. With that in mind, a large team of researchers took inspiration from the humble (if rather annoying) wasp, specifically its nest-building skills, to create a drone that can 3D print structures while in flight. What challenges do typical 3D printing technologies face, how does the drone print while flying, and how could it be used in the future?
Open-Source Hardware News
Google’s Open Source KataOS Operating System Supports RISC-V Architecture
RISC-V is a promising processor architecture thanks to its open-source nature, allowing engineers to develop their own implementations of the processor while keeping all unique RISC-V designs code compatible. But while RISC-V has seen massive strides in development, it still lacks in the field of software support due to its young age. Recently, Google announced that it has made its KataOS available on GitHub while also announcing support for RISC-V platforms. What challenges does RISC-V face, what is KataOS, and how will it help the deployment of RISC-V?