abb

Foxconn to build Taiwan 'robot kingdom'

iPhone maker Foxconn aims to manufacture its own robots and automation equipment at a new production and R&D facility at the Central Taiwan Science Park to replace some of its human laborers.

Chairman Terry Gou has signed a letter of intent with Taichung Mayor Jason Hu outlining the company's plan to build an "intelligent robotics kingdom" in the park over the next few years, according to the Focus Taiwan news agency.

The robotics and automation facilities may generate some $4 billion in production value in the next three to five years and create about 2,000 jobs, Gou was quoted as saying.

Gou also attended a ground-breaking ceremony for a robot research facility and inaugurated a plant for automation equipment maker Foxnum Technology, part of the Foxconn group.

Earlier this year, Gou said Foxconn wants to replace some human workers with more than 1 million robots to fight surging labor costs. They will perform tasks such as spraying, welding, and assembly. … Read more

GM, ABB rewire Volt battery for backup power

General Motors and grid equipment supplier ABB this week showed an early version of an energy storage system using battery packs from the Chevy Volt electric car.

The two companies are partnering to build a prototype which they say can be used either for large-scale grid storage or backup power for consumers. They estimate that 33 repurposed Volt battery packs could supply 50 U.S. homes for four hours during an outage or brownout.

Batteries lose their storage capacity over time, but used car batteries are still viable for grid storage. GM estimates that once used car batteries have 70 … Read more

Frida factory robot won't crush your fingers

Swiss automation firm ABB is showing off a concept factory robot called Frida that's more humanoid than the typical one-armed drones on the assembly line.

The two-armed Frida is being billed as a "harmless robotic co-worker for industrial assembly." Of course, any robot described as being "harmless" should be treated with extreme caution.

It has seven-axis arms, flexible grippers, and camera-based parts location and runs via ABB's IRC5 controller. It's designed as a lightweight, portable complement to human parts assembly.

Frida stands for "Friendly Robot for Industrial Dual-arm Assembly," but I reckon the first word in that name won't sit well with some people. Still, it has padded arms and can sense when a human hand gets too close, as seen in the video below. … Read more

GM eyeing ways to reuse Chevy Volt batteries

A new project from General Motors will examine ways that Chevy Volt batteries could get a second life helping provide renewable energy.

Joining forces with power grid supplier ABB Group, GM will study whether it can reuse batteries that formerly powered Volt electric cars to store energy created by wind and solar power generators. The goal is to find cost-effective and creative ways to improve the efficiency of the country's electrical grid, the automaker said today in a statement. The Volt, priced at $41,000 before a federal tax credit, is set to launch later this year.

Specifically, the … Read more

Gadgettes 88: The 'scaring the bejesus out of us' episode

They're creepy, sometimes crawly, and some might classify them as ooky. Then there are people like Kelly who don't seem to be afraid of the dark like the rest of us. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 88

Robometer concept device promises to help you feel happy http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ robometer-concept-device-promises-to-help-you-feel-happy/

BAE Systems working on spider-bots, other ways to scare you to death http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ bae-systems-working-on-spider-bots-other-ways-to-scare-you-to-d/

Coffin sofa brings creepy furniture to new extremes http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/coffin_sofa_bri.php

Push-kun, the cute robot with the … Read more