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Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, or KAIST, have developed an ultra-thin actuator for soft robotics. The artificial muscles, recently reported in the journal Science Robotics, were demonstrated with a robotic blooming flower brooch, dancing robotic butterflies, and fluttering tree leaves on a kinetic art piece. Actuators are the robotic equivalents of muscles, expanding, contracting, or rotating like muscle fibers in response to a stimulus such as electricity. Engineers around the world are striving to develop more dynamic actuators that respond quickly, can bend without breaking, and are very durable. Robotic muscles could have a wide variety of applications, from wearable electronics to advanced prosthetics. Artificial muscles use super-thin materials The team from KAIST‘s Creative Research Initiative Center for Functionally Antagonistic Nano-Engineering said it developed a very thin, responsive, flexible, and durable artificial muscle. The actuator looks like a skinny strip of paper about an inch long. The researchers used a material called MXene, which is class of compounds that have layers only a few atoms thick. Their chosen MXene material (T3C2Tx) is made of thin layers of titanium and carbon compounds. It was not flexible by itself; sheets of material would flake off the actuator when bent in a loop. That changed when the MXene was “ionically cross-linked” — connected through an ionic bond — to a synthetic polymer. The combination of materials made the artificial muscles flexible, while still maintaining strength and conductivity, which is critical for movements driven by electricity. This particular combination performed better than others reported. The actuator responded very quickly to low voltage, and it lasted for more than five hours moving continuously. KAIST demonstrates wearable art To prove that the tiny artificial muscles work, the KAIST team incorporated the actuators into wearable art: an origami-inspired brooch mimics how a narcissus flower unfolds its petals when a small amount of electricity is applied. The researchers also designed robotic butterflies that move their wings up and down, and tree sculpture whose leaves can flutter. “Wearable robotics and kinetic art demonstrate how robotic muscles can have fun and beautiful applications,” said Il-Kwon Oh, lead paper author and professor of mechanical engineering. “It also shows the enormous potential for small, artificial muscles for a variety of uses, such as haptic feedback systems and active biomedical devices.” The team next plans to investigate more practical applications of MXene-based soft actuators and other engineering applications of MXene 2D nanomaterials. The Robot Report has launched the Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum, which will be on Dec. 9-10 in Santa Clara, Calif. The conference and expo focuses on improving the design, development and manufacture of next-generation healthcare robots Source: www.therobotreport.com

Automation and AI-driven technologies are changing the face of Middle East’s warehousing industry, pushing advanced inventory control high up the industry agenda and sharpening cost-control, space optimization and competitiveness, according to a UAE sector pioneer. Fadi Amoudi, Founder and CEO of IQ Robotics, one of the exhibitors at Materials Handling Middle East, the region’s dedicated warehousing, intralogistics and supply chain solutions show, said, “The robotics industry is dramatically changing the global business landscape. Within the Middle East region, governments are focusing on digital transformation and the opportunity for fast-paced development, leveraging the potential offered by robotics. The UAE is already at the forefront in driving this change, with a clear strategy for the advancement of automation and next-generation technology development. IQ Robotics is one of the pioneering businesses in the region that is using the advantages offered by robotics to support business growth. We will showcase how this is transforming the logistics sector at Materials Handling ME 2019, which is the ideal platform to highlight advancements in robotics for business.” The show’s free-to-attend Scalex supply chain and logistics forum, which will run Sept. 3-4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), will this year focus on the technology which is transforming the industry with the challenges of e-commerce fulfilment among topics experts will address. Digitalization and automation of inventory control is making its presence felt in the UAE with Aramex this year launching a new, partially automated fulfilment center in Dubai to support the rapid growth of its e-commerce business with B2B retailers. The 60,000 square meters, temperature-controlled center in Dubai Logistics City features new technologies including a ‘Pick to Light’ system, which uses light-directed picking technology to improve accuracy and efficiency, and an automated conveyer belt system. Meanwhile retailing giant Majid Al Futaim says it plans to continue to invest in and expand its Carrefour FMCG regional distribution centre in in the coming two years, which will be fully automated and staffed by the latest in retail industry robotics. Furniture and interiors retailer IKEA says it will pilot test the use of drones for inventory management in its Dubai South distribution center. Materials Handling ME organizer Messe Frankfurt says several key factors are driving ‘smart warehousing’ demand in the region. They include the need to get ‘faster to market’ to serve customer demand, desire for increased efficiencies, surging regional e-commerce growth and the UAE’s bid to become a global transhipment hub for Chinese exports as part of the new Belt and Road accord signed between the two nations. “The growth fundamentals are there and it is now vital that logistics and distribution gear up to satisfy them,” said Jasmeet Bakshi, Group Director of Other Services at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Materials Handling Middle East “The UAE-Chinese accords could see bilateral trade via Dubai rise by 33 percent to $70 billion next year while the Middle East’s e-commerce market, driven by increasing demand from the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s strong millennial population, is expected to grow by 16.4 percent over the next three years to be worth $48.6 billion in 2022, according to BMI Research. “Ability to seize the opportunities will lie in smart logistics capabilities, including ‘smart warehousing’ driven by the implementation of the Internet of Things and the associated training which underlines this transformation. The possibilities seem endless - ranging from the automation of picking tools, storage and retrieval systems, guided vehicles inventory control platforms, warehouse management systems and collaborative robots.” Messe Frankfurt has co-located SPS Automation Middle East, the exhibition and conference for innovative automation solutions alongside Materials Handling Middle East, which runs at DWTC from Sept. 3-5. “The co-location gives all professionals in the logistics sector the opportunity to understand not just the automated solutions of today, but those that will drive business tomorrow,” explained Bakshi. Materials Handling Middle East has attracted several national pavilions and more than 120 exhibiting companies from 20-plus countries. Source: saudigazette.com

The drive to better understand robotics and artificial intelligence now includes a cool little robotic race car thanks to researchers in the Personal Robotics Laboratory at the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. MuSHR, or Multi-agent System for non-Holonomic Racing, looks a bit like the kind of radio-controlled car you might want to launch off some sweet jumps in the backyard. But it’s actually an open-source, full-stack robotics platform, and the easy-to-assemble, low-cost nature of it all makes it a fit for advanced robotics research and education — or plain old hobbyists and hackers. Allen School professor Siddhartha Srinivasa called MuSHR an ideal test platform for some of the tough challenges in robotics, including those involving autonomous vehicles. “Beyond research, we also need to think about how we prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers for an AI-driven future,” Srinivasa said. “MuSHR can help us answer that challenge, as well, by lowering the barrier for exploration and innovation in the classroom as well as the lab.” MuSHR, with a name derived from the UW’s Husky mascot and sled-dog racing terminology, is built using off-the-shelf and 3D-printed parts. Everything needed to assemble and operate one is detailed on the MuSHR website. And the UW is particularly proud of the fact that it’s bringing the technology to the public for a much lower cost than competitors. According to Allen School News, a more complex system such as Georgia Tech’s AutoRally can cost upwards of $10,000. MIT RACECAR, the platform that inspired the UW team’s project, is more budget friendly at $2,600, with basic sensing capabilities. A MuSHR race car with no sensing can be assembled for as little as $610, while a high-end car equipped with a multitude of sensors can be built for around $930. The MuSHR team believes its system rises above simple, educational platforms that have very little functionality while also being way less expensive and easier to use than complex, research-oriented platforms. At an Amazon cloud technology conference last fall, the tech giant unveiled a first-of-its-kind global autonomous racing league called AWS DeepRacer using mini race cars designed to help developers learn more about machine learning. Read more about MuSHR on the Allen School website. UW researchers this week unveiled a separate toolkit that helps developers build privacy and security features into augmented reality apps. Source: www.geekwire.com

The soft wearable could prove useful for military applications, emergencies and medical rehabilitation A pair of fitted shorts may not look much like the high-tech robotic exoskeletons of Hollywood films. But this seemingly simple device, which tugs on the wearer’s legs with each step, probably represents the first exosuit capable of significantly assisting humans in both walking and running. Until recently, no exosuit design had succeeded in reducing the amount of energy required for both types of motion. Earlier generations of such suits, also known as wearable robots, had stumbled in that challenge because of the different biomechanical actions required for walking versus running. Now researchers have developed a soft device that can automatically detect whether the wearer is walking or running and provide the appropriate assistance for either movement. “After wearing the system for 15 minutes or so, you start to question if it’s really helping at all, because you just feel like you’re walking,” says David Perry, a robotics engineer at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. “Once you shut it off, however, your legs suddenly feel heavy, and you realize how much it was helping. It’s a lot like stepping off the end of one of those moving sidewalks at the airport.” To quantify the difference between moving with pure leg power and using robotic assistance, the researchers put wearers on a treadmill and calculated how much oxygen they consumed while breathing, a measure known as metabolic cost. The exosuit showed it could reduce the metabolic costs of walking by 9 percent and of running by 4 percent. Such effects, the researchers say, are equivalent to feeling 16.3 pounds lighter while walking and 12.6 pounds lighter while running. That result could benefit anyone who needs to travel quickly across long distances on foot: rescue workers searching a large disaster area, U.S. Army soldiers or Marines on the march, or even hikers out for fun. It could also provide steady medical assistance to people with illnesses or injuries that restrict walking. Perry and his colleagues detailed their prototype in a paper published this week in Science. The wearable robot relies on soft textile materials and weighs just 11 pounds—a relatively low weight that helps reduce the metabolic cost of running with an extra load. Electric motors worn on the lower back apply force to cables connected to soft leg wraps worn around the thigh of each leg. A battery strapped around the waist provides enough power to help the wearer cover about five miles between charges. Previous studies have tested portable hip- and ankle-assist devices, finding the latter can help with walking and the former can do so with either walking or running. But the scientists who developed the new exosuit say no individual apparatus until this one has demonstrated the ability to aid both types of motion. “This study builds upon the research team’s prior success in developing ankle-assist devices by showing benefits can also be achieved through hip assistance,” says Karl Zelik, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University and chief scientific officer at HeroWear, a company that is currently developing lift-assist exosuits. As an expert who did not participate in the recent study, he described its results as “promising.” To help the exosuit automatically switch between walking and running modes, the team installed sensors capable of measuring force and angular motion. It trained a control algorithm to detect walking and running patterns, based on feedback from these sensors. The algorithm eventually learned to tell the difference between how the human body’s center of mass moves while walking—in which it acts like an “inverted pendulum,” where the hip swings over the planted foot with each forward step—and while running—in which it does so like a “spring-mass” system, where each leg bounces in the manner of a spring attached to the hip. Beyond the main treadmill experiments, which took place at a minimal incline and constant speed, one male study participant performed additional treadmill testing that mimicked more realistic conditions. The results suggest that the exosuit also helps with uphill walking and with running at varying speeds on a flat surface, says Philippe Malcolm, an assistant professor of biomechanics at the University of Nebraska Omaha and a co-author on the study. “The exciting progress we have made and results we see in this study set up other studies where we can evaluate the device in other outdoor environments, such as hilly and mountainous terrain,” Malcolm says. Much original funding for the exosuit came from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, through its Warrior Web program, which is aimed at lightening the load for U.S. troops during marches or foot patrols. Because most American soldiers are male, the system’s early design and testing centered on the body shapes of men. But the researchers have been developing new versions of the exosuit for women and a broader range of possible wearers, such as those with a variety of disabilities. Perry and his Harvard colleagues have filed patents on exosuit components and established a licensing agreement with ReWalk Robotics, a medical device company focused on bionic systems. The company has already released one commercial ankle device to help rehabilitate stroke patients and is exploring medical applications based on the hip exosuit system. The researchers are also developing a new version of the exosuit that will weigh 60 percent as much as the current model and will tailor its assistance to best fit each individual wearer’s shape and gait. Personalized gait assistance is particularly difficult in the case of stroke patients or elderly people, who walk and run in less steady and predictable patterns, says José Pons, scientific chair for the Legs + Walking Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a translational research hospital in Chicago. He was not involved in the new research but did write an opinion article on the study in the same issue of Science. Even the gait-detecting algorithms in advanced exosuits such as this one may find it challenging to detect when less predictable movement is about to shift. “Ideally, the movement intent should be detected before the movement is actually executed so that assistance can be synchronized to the desired movement,” Pons says. “Otherwise, the assistance could be felt as opposing the movement rather than assisting it.” In his opinion article, Pons suggested that instead of relying on algorithms, future exosuits will need new neural interfaces to directly detect human intentions through nervous-system signals. Technology like that, he says, could help exosuits take their next big step forward. Source: www.scientificamerican.com

Mitutoyo Japan has announced the new CRYSTA-Apex V 500/700/900 series pf coordinate measuring machines designed for smart factories. The scope for application of precision measurement instruments is expanding, with increasing moves towards their introduction not only by quality control departments, but also in the processing workplace and related areas. Meanwhile, similarly to manufacturing equipment, with precision measuring instruments there is a growing trend to emphasize checking of operational status and of management and control of machinery frames using networks. In an effort to respond to such market needs, Mitutoyo developed the CRYSTA-Apex V 500/700/900 series using new Smart Measuring System (SMS) technology for online monitoring of operating precision measurement instruments, with three applications. SMS technology enables visualization of various information and makes online monitoring possible for operational status and accumulated records of key parts, etc. Moving forward, Mitutoyo will drive the installation of SMS technology not only in CNC coordinate measuring machines, but also in other CNC measuring instruments. Leveraging IoT, Mitutoyo will support the realization of smart factories that conduct sophisticated management of information regarding production and quality. The design of the CRYSTA-Apex V 500/700/900 series of innovative CNC coordinate measuring machines has been significantly updated from the company’s conventional CRYSTA-Apex series and include the following product features: Smart Factory support that consolidate information management of the manufacturing process through a network. Status Monitor (Smart Measuring System): Allows remote monitoring of the operational status of measuring instruments. Condition Monitor: Allows preventive maintenance through monitoring of current condition of coordinate measuring machine. MeasurLink: Reduces the production of defective parts through “Visualizing Quality.” High accuracy (1.7 μm) and high speed and acceleration (maximum driving speed 519 mm/s, maximum driving acceleration 2309 mm/s², maximum measurement speed 8 mm/s. Temperature compensation system that guarantees the specified accuracy within the wide range of 16℃-26 ℃ under certain environmental conditions. Source: metrology.news

Its latest cooperation with Taiwan will lead to the clustering of innovative technologies and strong commercial outcomes. A delegation composed of smart city and IoT companies gathered in Thailand for a Smart City Industry Forum and the Taiwan-Thailand Industrial Collaboration Summit (TTICS) among other activities. The Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and its Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) partnered with the Institute for Information Industry (III) and Thailand’s Internet of Things Association (TIOT). The aim is to foster collaboration between the two regions’ smart city sectors. A memorandum of understanding was also signed. It aims to create development trials in Thailand around smart city projects. This cooperation will lead to clustering of innovative technologies with strong commercial outcomes. Taiwan’s capacity to support smart cities is growing. The region is looking to work closely with partners to help the world innovate on the future of cities and tech. The potential for drone technology to improve smart city applications were also discussed. In addition, six other companies are attending the smart city week in Bangkok which aims to bring together the best technology in Taiwan to find the strongest partner projects around the world across six areas, including Smart Transportation, Smart Healthcare, Smart Security, Smart Energy Conservation, Smart Agriculture and Smart Retail, the platform brings together relevant partners to accelerate solutions. Thailand is pushing for more collaboration with its international partners. In related news, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Chair of ASEAN this year, noted that the group is now guiding 26 cities under the ASCN into becoming Smart Cities, which will create sustainability, economic and social opportunities and investment. Thailand already has three smart cities, namely Phuket, Sriracha and Bangkok and is in the process of developing other areas into smart cities. This year, national leaders will gather to share information, transfer technology to solve smart city problems and disseminates various case studies on becoming a smart city by following a sustainable pattern. The conference, now in its second year, will include activities include like ASCN Annual Meeting 2019, a closed meeting of 26 pilot smart cities to determine their framework, before summarizing all plans and submitting them to the 35th ASEAN Summit which will be held in November 2019. A smart city exhibition will feature 70 exhibitors including entrepreneurs and government and private agencies worldwide, who will showcase innovative technologies related to smart cities. In addition, experts and leaders in smart city development from Thailand and abroad will speak. To further push its smart city agenda, Thailand announced that plans are well underway on its smart city centre in Bangkok. The masterplan shows that the centre aims to become a new global landmark, attracting businesses, tourists and locals. It will include offices, retail, hotels, residences, cultural and social spaces – all based around a central 10,000 sqm Civic Plaza. The entire district will be enabled by a smart centralised infrastructure system, which the company says will be the first of its kind in Thailand for private development. Over 250,000 smart sensors will underpin facility management and preventive maintenance. First announced in 2017 and described as a ‘city-within-a-city’, almost half the land area will be devoted to green and open spaces. The centre’s master plan prioritises accessibility and ease of navigation. It will directly connect to the Metropolitan Rapid Transit System as well as six road access points, including the expressway. It will also promote walkability across the district. In this way, Thailand is pushing forward its smart city agenda across many fronts – international collaborations, hosting the ASEAN smart city summit and continuing the development of its new smart hub. Source: www.opengovasia.com

· The core focus of Airports 4.0 is enhancing connectivity and real-time information · Huawei provides ICT solutions for over 60 airports, airlines, air traffic control authorities Malaysia Airports has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei Malaysia to support its digital transformation vision, as per Malaysia Airports’s Airports 4.0 initiative. Engineered by Malaysia Airports, Airports 4.0 initiative is the company’s digital transformation framework encompassing infrastructure enhancement, capacity development and digital innovation that aims to enhance terminal optimisation, operational efficiency, revenue generation and regulatory compliance, ultimately leading to enhanced customer experience. Based on the existing stage of the framework, the core focus of Airports 4.0 is enhancing connectivity and real-time information by connecting all stakeholders in one fully integrated digital ecosystem. At the core of the MoU, is the ‘Joint Innovation on Fully Connected Airport Initiative’ project which aims to strengthen the accessibility and efficiency via digitalisation of airports operated by Malaysia Airports. Through this collaboration, Huawei will leverage on new ICT solutions and expertise to support efforts in accelerating digital transformation of the aviation industry. Eman Liu, president of Global Transportation Business Department at Huawei said: “The concept of a smart airport is now becoming a reality as airports around the world adopt innovative technologies enabling digital and visualised flight services, passenger services, and airport operations. “Our solutions incorporate the latest ICT technology such as cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and a cloud-pipe-device collaboration, delivering a one-stop innovative ICT infrastructure platform to help Malaysia Airports build future-oriented smart airports. “It is our aim to bring substantial benefits to customers in terms of safety assurance, airport operational efficiency, and service quality, creating the best-in-class travel experience for passengers worldwide.” The focus areas of the collaboration for ‘Joint Innovation on Fully Connected Airport’ Initiative includes the study of implementing next generation network architecture design to consolidate wired network in the airports, the possibility of Wi-Fi 6 technology, Digital Indoor Solution (DIS) 4G and future 5G technology use case in airports to improve passenger experience and operation efficiency. It will also look into the feasibility of implementing suitable IoT solutions in respect to connectivity. Lastly, the collaboration aims to establish a Fully Integrated Network Communication Managed platform to manage above technology and integrated data to enable future big data analysis throughout the entire airport, further improving airport operation efficiency and reduce overall ICT cost. Huawei has provided a wide range of ICT solutions for airports, airlines, and air traffic control authorities across the world, enabling them to achieve digital transformation and improve their service capabilities, operational efficiency, and revenue growth. These ICT solutions include indoor/outdoor modular data centers, servers and storage devices, converged cloud platforms, Big Data analytics platforms, and integrated wired/wireless communications solutions. To date, Huawei has provided ICT products, solutions, and services for more than 60 airports, airlines, and air traffic control authorities worldwide. Source: www.digitalnewsasia.com

GNSS IoT sensors will be developed to provide cost-efficient constant and high-precision monitoring. Key industry and research partners are coming together to research on new satellite monitoring sensors for infrastructure design and construction projects. According to a recent press release, Mthing is an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) project that aims to lower construction costs, create safer building practices and boost jobs in Australian manufacturing and construction. About the initiative A Brisbane company of professional surveyors and geologists, has teamed up with researchers at the Queensland University of Technology and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) for this project. The 18-month project will use advanced Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signal processing techniques to record near-real time measurements of infrastructure projects that will be both more accurate and faster than using traditional manual measuring techniques. Moreover, the project aims to develop GNSS IoT sensors that will provide cost-efficient constant and high-precision monitoring that will connect to cloud services and provide instant alerts. Currently the cost of purchasing and maintaining precise positioning sensors restricts their viability for mass monitoring applications. However, the project aims to address this by producing sensors with a lower cost that will give them greater market potential for broader uses. The research was a step in the right direction for jobs in a knowledge economy and advanced manufacturing in Australia. Boosting the construction industry By preventing unforeseen downtime, the research could save the construction industry millions of dollars in lost productivity enabling, through time saved on more effective designs and monitoring of construction and building maintenance. While Australia is seen as a global leader in measurement, engineering and construction knowledge, Australian construction projects have become increasingly more expensive to build and maintain. Additionally, they are growingly reliant on imported technology products and manufacturing to deliver agile and lean processes. The research collaboration is invested in manufacturing a globally competitive monitoring IOT sensor system that will provide new opportunities for building and maintaining infrastructure in Australia. Harnessing technology According to the research leader from the University, connected GNSS with embedded intelligence and data analytics offered effective solutions to many industry challenges. Moreover, effective monitoring of civil structures required breaking new ground in technology, processes and services. The Internet of Things has opened up new possibilities for Australia’s manufacturing and construction industry. IoT contributes in collecting, analysing and incorporating infrastructure information into practical applications and services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of infrastructure design and construction projects. The Mthing project explores these possibilities and creates, with its next generation of cost-effective GNSS IoT solution, new avenues for other Australian construction and manufacturing businesses to investigate and adopt IoT into their operations. Doing so will future-proof and ensure sustained commercial outcomes for their business, both locally and through export. Source: www.opengovasia.com

Robotic process automation player to expand R&D centres. Automation Anywhere, a global leader in robotic process automation (RPA), has committed to invest $100 million in India in the next 3-5 years. The investments will go towards expanding its R&D centres, creating an ecosystem to build a digital workforce and enable its partners worldwide. The SoftBank-backed company that was valued at $2.6 billion during its fund-raise of $300 million last year, plans to open four new offices in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune to support customer and partner growth, while continuing to strengthen its presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Vadodara. At present, the company has three engineering centres – two in Bengaluru and one in Baroda. A new product engineering centre in Pune is on the anvil. RPA is a fast-evolving technology which uses software robots (bots) to automate business processes that have never been automated by traditional technology platforms. Today, these processes are managed manually by hundreds of thousands of human workers. Automation Anywhere’s Intelligent Digital Workforce Platform combines cognitive automation and analytics to drive productivity and business process accuracy. Software bots. “We are the fastest growing company in our category and have experienced a 200 per cent growth rate YoY in IMEA (India, Middle East, Africa). Our enterprise-grade platform that combines RPA, cognitive and embedded analytic technologies, uses software bots that work side by side with people to do much of the repetitive work across industries. Globally, we have deployed 1.4 million software bots and plan to deploy over three million software bots by 2020,” said Mihir Shukla, co-founder and CEO, Automation Anywhere. He said the company’s global customer roster of 3,000 plus customers in 120 countries includes 90 per cent of the world’s top healthcare companies, 85 per cent of the world’s top technology companies, more than 85 per cent of the world’s top banks and financial services companies and 80 per cent of the world’s top telecommunications companies. Gartner estimates that by 2021, 90 per cent of the large and mid-size organisations will have at least one process supported by RPA. According to equity research firm KeyBanc Capital Markets, RPA has emerged as a $100-billion market opportunity. “As organisations seek to lower operating costs and improve employee productivity with RPA, India possesses a tremendous business opportunity for our company. Over the next, we anticipate deploying over one million bots across India and Middle East to help companies discover, deploy and scale RPA to drive extraordinary human potential,” said Ankur Kothari, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Automation Anywhere. Interestingly, India is second to the US in revenue contribution for the company. The San Jose-headquartered firm with 42 offices around the world will end 2019 with 3,000 plus employees worldwide and an additional 300 digital bot workforce. “We see India emerging as the automation hub of the world in the near future. This is a huge opportunity for India much like China is the manufacturing hub of the world,” said Shukla. Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com

To achieve all of this, a wide range of real-time information is required directly from the machine. Intelligent sensors which collect data, interpret it, generate information from it, and then communicate this, are in a position to enhance this valuable data and to use it to create effective packaging machines and high-performance packaging processes. With its Smart Sensor portfolio, however, SICK goes even further and uses the intelligence of the sensors for additional Smart Task functionalities which can be used to carry out different checking and automation functions directly in the sensor. Examples include the adjustment of switching thresholds when detecting contrast marks or transparent films and containers, the automated activation of object, format, or configuration-related detection profiles, or the automated differentiation of objects, object edges, and gaps in a material flow. Logic functions integrated into the sensors for processing signals form the basis of this, building on proven sensor technologies with best-in-class detection capabilities. These make it possible to carry out defined tasks autonomously and remotely, meaning that automation systems and networks of packaging machines can be relieved effectively in the case of edge computing. What sets Smart Sensors apart? Sensors are generally the sensory organs of machines – in the context of digitised manufacturing, they are also the initial contact with and link to Industry 4.0. Whereas the aim in the past was to simply collect data and make simple decisions, today’s sensor intelligence also enables data to be prepared, further processed, and interpreted. Sensors therefore no longer just “sense”. Within the scope of digitisation, they are also starting to “think”. As a result, sensors convert data into valuable information. The intelligence of these Smart Sensors is supplemented on the one hand by the option to communicate this information. In other words, they can exchange information with the control of a packaging machine or a cloud-based application. On the other hand, these sensors are capable of completing defined tasks autonomously – in the form of the Smart Task functionalities that have already been mentioned. Sensor intelligence supports the commissioning and condition monitoring of packaging machines The advantages offered by the intelligence of Smart Sensors and their communication capabilities are a recurring theme throughout the entire life cycle of packaging machines. Various parameter settings can be visualised, tested, and optimised from the integration and initial commissioning of the sensors in the machine – on the device as well as via the control. What’s more, various sensor parameter sets can be stored here on an order-specific or format-specific basis and loaded to the Smart Sensor during operation. This option enables flexible settings to be made for any number of sensors simultaneously by downloading parameters directly from the control, such as the sensing distance, hysteresis, or switching threshold. This saves time, eliminates errors, and means that the settings can be documented at any time. At the same time, this makes the packaging machine so intelligent that products, product variants, or packaging formats can be changed autonomously, quickly, and reliably. The Smart Sensors perform permanent condition monitoring autonomously while the packaging machines are operating. Alongside this, they also keep an eye on the packaging process and provide information in real time on whether there is a functional impairment or whether one is to be expected, as well as on whether maintenance may be required (predictive maintenance). This enables the service intervals of the packaging machine to be optimised in line with the cycle – and therefore intelligently – for example by using scheduled machine downtime as an opportunity to carry out sensor cleaning or maintenance. Smart Sensors provide added value that packs a punch Intelligent sensors which are able to communicate offer key properties and therefore advantages for packaging machines right from the outset. They also become smart – and that is the unique selling point of Smart Sensor Solutions from SICK – as a result of the logic functions integrated directly into the sensors for processing signals. Depending on the requirement and task, the advantages of Smart Sensors for packaging technology can cover up to four areas: Enhanced Sensing, Efficient Communication, Diagnostics, and Smart Tasks. The Enhanced Sensing feature of the Smart Sensor Solutions provides extra detection performance if required. The contrast sensors from SICK’s KTS, KTX, and KTM product families offer dynamic adjustment of the switching threshold. This enables even faded print marks and optical markings to be detected quickly and reliably. As a result, processes such as the correct positioning of packaging material, the perforation or folding of the packaging at the right point, or the control of table top inserters are becoming much more powerful and reliable – improving the productivity of the packaging machine. When producing bottles, different product variants are often conveyed in the same system. These must be reliably detected and counted in the flow of bottles to enable them to be transferred smoothly to a packaging machine, for example. The challenge for the sensor comes from the huge differences that are found in the shape and surface of the bottles – i.e., their optical appearance. Photoelectric sensors such as the WL12-G, the W4-3 Inox, or the WLG16 with ClearSens technology are Smart Sensors which are able to master tasks of this nature, as they offer the option of storing bottle-specific sensor settings as pre-defined detection profiles and retrieving them automatically to match the bottle variant. This means that the sensors always work with the optimum parameterisation, ensuring maximum detection reliability. Shiny and reflective packaging also requires particular detection capabilities as it reflects the sensor’s light back in different directions – which can lead to switching errors when using conventional sensors. In contrast, photoelectric sensors such as the W16 with their TwinEye-Technology achieve the highest levels of operational safety as detection is carried out using two logically linked receivers in the sensor. The sensor only switches to the output state when both “eyes” come to the same evaluation. Efficient Communication is the second feature of Smart Sensors and comes into play with the digital transmission of analog values. It is based on the bidirectional IO-Link communication standard and is carried out via standard M12 cables in parallel to the usual IO communication in the packaging machine. Smart Sensors such as the WTT12L Powerprox enable individual sensor parameter sets for different packaging formats or configurations to be loaded into the control via IO-Link during commissioning and then stored there. During operation, they are then loaded via IO-Link into the sensor to match the relevant secondary packaging. As a result, the connectivity of Smart Sensors opens up intelligent and – again and again – new possibilities for enhancing the productivity of packaging machines. At the same time, the sensors deliver important process information via the communication interface which can be used for statistical purposes, documentation, cloud applications, or visualisation on stationary and mobile devices – which is where the area of Diagnostics comes in. The Diagnostics functionality of the Smart Sensors – which would be virtually unthinkable without its communication capability – is used first of all for the purposes of self-monitoring. On top of this, the sensors check the quality and reliability of their signals independently. In digitised packaging processes, diagnostics functions also provide the possibility to significantly improve the availability of packaging machines through condition monitoring. A welcome “side effect” for the machine manufacturer is the fact that the sensors provide the edge data and additional function at no additional cost and enable it to be used in the machine itself as well as in the cloud – for example for big-data-based predictive maintenance applications. The smart WLG4SC-3 photoelectric sensor is also capable of monitoring itself autonomously. To do this, it evaluates its signal strength and any changes that may have occurred due to deposits forming, and uses its AutoAdapt function to adjust the switching threshold dynamically in response to the gradual contamination of the optical surfaces of the sensor. From the perspective of the packager, this too is an intelligent machine function which significantly extends the cleaning cycles, increases availability, and reduces service costs. In addition, cleaning and maintenance work can be scheduled in such a way that it does not have any negative impact on the productivity of the packaging machine. The decentralised computing power of Smart Sensors, combined with their flexible programmability, lays the foundation for a multitude of Smart Tasks, which make the packaging machines even more flexible, dynamic, and efficient. When using the “Object and Gap Monitor” Smart Task, objects and gaps can be detected and measured within the sensor. The Smart Sensor only sends corresponding signals to the control if there are deviations from set target values – otherwise, there will be “radio silence” that protects the network between the sensor and the automation system. At the same time, the connectivity of the intelligent sensor offers the option to directly control an actuator using its signal delay and buffering functions and thereby to manage the removal process autonomously – without having to go via the control and the network. These and further functions can be carried out independently by Smart-Task-enabled, intelligent sensors. They are also able to network with other sensors or actuators directly to resolve partial applications relating to edge computing autonomously, quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively without extensive PLC communication. Smart Sensors: more efficiency thanks to autonomous action Intelligence and communication capabilities – on the one hand, the potential of Smart Sensors is oriented toward gradual increases in efficiency for the tasks at hand, such as downloading parameters for fast changeover, easy device replacement, formula management, and condition monitoring. Smart Tasks raise the value of these sensors to a whole new level – with their remote intelligence, they are able to generate new, higher-quality detection information, network, and carry out defined Smart Tasks autonomously. All of this makes SICK’s Smart Sensor Solutions a highly forward-facing technology for the packaging industry – enabling users to overcome the challenge posed by digitised packaging processes in a technically and economically efficient manner. Source: www.manmonthly.com.au

He said as the government moves towards the digital economy and embraces Industry 4.0, there is a need to embrace these technologies to bring agriculture to a higher level. He said the ministry recently set up two committees — one for agro technology and another for the digital economy in agriculture — to bring new technologies such as IoT and mechanisation into the sector. “We are also looking to create demand for agricultural produce by creating platforms via the digital economy to address the rise in prices of food products at the consumer level and the suppressed farm level prices resulting from the middle person reaping too much profit,” he said in a press conference at the Maxis IoT Challenge Pitch Day Programme in Kuala Lumpur. He said the agriculture sector also needs to be more business-friendly to attract more investment in the bid to achieve the government’s aim of raising agriculture’s contribution to GDP to 7.8% in 2020. “With the Internet and new technologies, we can create higher income jobs and attract the younger generation into new growth areas such as agriculture,” he added. Meanwhile, Maxis Bhd CEO Gokhan Ogut said the pitch day programme is a celebration of creativity and innovation. “For us, it was exciting to see the challenge unlocking potential on two fronts — that is of participants as well as technology. “It is clear that there is a need to accelerate digital technology across many industries, and we want to play a role helping to advance this agenda,” he said. The challenge, launched in May this year in partnership with Malaysia Digital Economy Corp, aims to promote the ecosystem development of IoT solutions among companies in a bid to spur Malaysia’s digital economy. Ogut said in the challenge, 20 finalists pitched their solution prototypes yesterday to panel industry judges, with nine finalists presenting ideas on smart cities, seven on agriculture and four on manufacturing. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of RM15,000, RM10,000 and RM5,000, he added. Source: themalaysianreserve.com