Developments

Autonomous Mobile Disinfectant Robot

Autonomous mobile robot company SESTO Robotics has launched a dual-function Autonomous Mobile Disinfectant Robot. Addressing the urgent need for tiptop hygiene standards and minimum environment infection risk during Covid-19, the robot can efficiently and effectively disinfect facilities 24-hour, round-the-clock, with its dual functionality, eliminating 99.99% of bacteria, germs and viruses. SESTO HealthGUARD is designed to self-navigate and manoeuvre around tight places, avoiding obstacles and people, making it suitable for many indoor facilities. The robots are versatile and safe, and automate labour-intensive and repetitive tasks in healthcare and manufacturing facilities. There are no “off-days” or “after hours” for viruses. And the self-navigating, fully-autonomous robot is ready for round-the-clock thorough facility disinfection. Powered by SESTO’s proprietary user interface, operators can easily set up cleaning missions, schedules and deployment on a tablet or laptop. This means operators can conveniently change and update the robots’ cleaning routine as necessary. The robot provides an industry-leading utilisation rate of up to six hours on a single charge, auto-returns to its charging station when required and battery hotswap in less than five minutes. Responding to the growing concerns around environmental infection and community spread with the outbreak of Covid-19, the team at SESTO Robotics conceptualised the product in less than four weeks, integrating the disinfectant unit on its industry-adopted mobile robot platform. The proof-of-concept was rolled out in mid-April to much interest across industries ranging from retail malls, bus operators, hotels and healthcare facilities. Manual cleaning and disinfection may be inadequate and subject to human error, especially in large spaces. During operational hours with human traffic, SESTO HealthGUARD can disinfect the environment with hospital-grade disinfectant from its multi-nozzle sprayer, eliminating 99.99% of bacteria, germs and viruses. The multi-nozzle sprayer targets high-touch surface areas and enables facilities owners and operators to disinfect large surfaces more efficiently and thoroughly. […]

Covid-19: How past crises are helping the world’s cities to respond and rebuild

The lockdowns have lead us to adapt to some rather unimaginable scenes in some of the world’s major cities. Officials are harnessing networks and tools devised for responding to better-known risks like climate change to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. The crisis is paving the way for more futuristic cities, resilient to future pandemics. Green travel solutions have also been at the heart of many cities’ plans to rebuild. In early 2018, parched by a severe drought, Cape Town rallied its residents and businesses to slash water use and stop its taps running dry. Now, lessons from the water crisis are helping the South African city respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Megaphones are being used in communities with limited online access to make residents aware of the need for social distancing and good hygiene, just as they were deployed during the drought to encourage people to conserve water. Videos on the city’s social media channels honour frontline workers in the COVID-19 crisis and urge efforts to deal with it together – messages similar to those applauding water-saving efforts two to three years ago. And networks set up to engage businesses in a joint push to use water efficiently have been resuscitated to help them safely continue operations while containing Covid-19. Gareth Morgan, Cape Town’s director of resilience, said the city of about 4.6 million people was benefiting from what he called “crisis muscle memory”. Many of the same planners who worked on the drought response are now dealing with COVID-19 and using similar tools, such as building an index to show who is most vulnerable and developing a dashboard of metrics to track the situation. “It is not uncommon for our city team members to regularly say in our planning meetings that we learned something during the drought and we should be cognisant […]

Faster transaction processing for manufacturers

ThinkSystem SR645 and SR665 two-socket servers feature enhanced performance and I/O connectivity for higher performance workloads. Many industries, such as manufacturing need faster transaction processing, improved data analytics, and greater grid-computing capacity, while still improving efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO). To address these needs, Lenovo focuses on delivering open, reliable, and secure infrastructure solutions comprising industry-leading servers, storage, and software. With the addition of the new ThinkSystem SR645 and SR665 servers featuring more CPU cores and a larger memory footprint, Lenovo can help customers accelerate higher performance workloads and improve efficiency. ThinkSystem servers are designed for workloads such as in-memory databases, advanced analytics, virtualisation, and AI. They feature: Next-generation technologies, including PCIe 4 support, which doubles I/O bandwidth eliminating potential bottlenecks found in previous generation servers increase networking capabilities essential for I/O intensive applications Increased GPU support (up to 8x 75W NVidia T4s) allowing customers to efficiently implement video analytics and inference solutions for artificial intelligence Increased onboard storage up to 40 2.5” drives or up to 32 NVMe drives allowing for dense software defined storage solutions The high core counts allow customers to buy fewer servers, saving them rack space and power, in addition to obtaining results faster. These benefits are material in multiple industries: In the financial services industry, typically, servers are in a premium space located near the exchanges so saving rack space is paramount In retail environments, faster video analytics results can identify high-traffic areas in stores to strategically place products In manufacturing, processes rely on efficiency, therefore the ability to quickly process analytics data allows for better quality control and improved throughput. This results in higher yields and better forecasting of warranty needs In high performance computing (HPC) environments like scientific research, higher throughput means faster results, yielding earlier discoveries The Lenovo SR665 […]

IOT the future of manufacturing

–Nathan Knight, General Manager ANZ, Lenovo DCG With Australia’s 5G networks set to go live this year, we can expect a new wave of possibilities in the manufacturing industry to usher in a new era of economic growth and hyper-connectivity. 5G isn’t just about consuming more content faster, but also how high-speed connectivity supports new work from home arrangements, smart vehicles, devices and factories where plenty of data are exchanged in the network every second. This looks set to propel the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and catalyse connectivity beyond recognition. IoT is the future of manufacturing IoT and 5G together are key for manufacturing companies to connect all stages of the planning-to-sales process, offering a holistic view of real-time benefits. They allow data to flow back and forth through multi-dimensional ecosystems, enabling suppliers, manufacturers and customers to conduct business more efficiently. IoT-enabled devices collect masses of data, allowing manufacturers to achieve higher product quality, better-informed decision making and greater foresight with predictive maintenance. At a supply chain level, IoT streamlines processes where various shipments coming in daily need to be synced into the production schedule and tracked until the final delivery stages. This entire process needs to be arranged with precision so entire factories are being IoT-enabled with smart devices that track the position of each employee and machine. While the benefits of the technology are vast, a quick summary of what enterprises can hope to achieve through the creation of IoT enabled networks includes: Identification of issues before they occur, for example, potential breakdowns Optimisation of supply and reduction of costs through closer observation of the production network Improved analytics and decision making through relevant, real-time data Enable efficiencies of scale in areas such as inventory, production, logistics, etc. Increased consumer loyalty through improved products Prediction of issues and optimisation of inventory management by closely monitoring materials and products throughout the manufacturing process Getting the most out of IoT with Cloud and Edge IoT generates mass amounts of data that manufacturers are required to store, secure, manage and analyse in order to gain business insights. Not only do cloud-based solutions perform these essential functions, but they also allow for better collaboration with developers and analysts who are able to store and access data remotely while managing workloads in response to operational cycle demands. Further to this, by incorporating IoT into the cloud, manufacturers can better connect different plants and storage clouds across a variety of locations, and the use of artificial intelligence in this network can help manufacturers capture new growth opportunities. It’s no wonder that manufacturers are now more interested than ever to leverage the cloud to intelligently […]

The next start-up cities to transform the global economy

During the past decade, much of the discussion about start-up ecosystems has been centred on the question of which city or region will become “the next Silicon Valley.” Although there are several places with promising growth trajectories, this view is short-sided. It implies there needs to be a new champion overshadowing the old one. In fact, there will be no “next Silicon Valley”. Instead, new research from Startup Genome’s 2019 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) points to there being 30 “next” hubs that will reach critical mass and reshape the state of the global economy. While none of them will be as big as Silicon Valley in the foreseeable future, each will thrive due to either regional dominance or start-up sub-sector leadership. Now, it’s not obvious which ecosystems will end up as the global change agents we predict, but we have some big clues. The first place to look to determine the next hotspots is at present start-up ecosystem rankings. 12 such ecosystems are: Greater Helsinki, Finland,Hangzhou, China,Jakarta, Indonesia,Lagos, Nigeria,Melbourne, Australia, Montreal, Canada, Moscow, Russia Mumbai, India, São Paulo, Brazil, Seoul, South Korea, Shenzhen, China, Tokyo, Japan. When it comes to specific start-up sub-sector leadership, Montreal emerge is one of the global hotspots for artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups. Since 2016, more than $1 billion has been invested in AI companies located there (including notable startup Element AI), and it has the largest concentration of AI academic researchers in the world. Montreal also hosts the NeurIPS conference, the largest AI event held annually in the world. Other “Challenger” ecosystems on the list have not created such a strong brand, or ecosystem identity, for themselves yet. But that is changing rapidly, partly due to aggressive government investment. In Asia-Pacific, for example, Seoul Metropolitan Government stands out with a recent pledge of $1.6 billion in funding for start-ups by […]

NVIDIA-Announces-Industry’s-First-Secure-SmartNIC-Optimized-for-25G

NVIDIA announces SmartNIC optimised for 25G

NVIDIA has launched the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC — a highly secure and efficient 25/50 gigabit per second (Gb/s) Ethernet smart network interface controller (SmartNIC) — to meet surging growth in enterprise and cloud scale-out workloads. ConnectX-6 Lx, the 11th generation product in the ConnectX family, is designed to meet the needs of modern data centers, where 25Gb/s connections are becoming standard for handling demanding workflows, such as enterprise applications, AI and real-time analytics. The new SmartNIC extends accelerated computing by leveraging software-defined, hardware-accelerated engines to offload more security and network processing from CPUs. Advanced Security Accelerated security features such as IPsec in-line cryptography and Hardware Root of Trust, and a 10x performance improvement for Connection Tracking, enable Zero Trust security throughout the data center. Best-in-class RDMA over converged Ethernet (RoCE), advanced virtualisation and containerisation, and NVMe over Fabrics storage offloads provide highly scalable and performant networking. The server industry is rapidly transitioning from 10GbE to 25GbE network speeds with very fast growth expected. With increasing requirements being placed on the network, more offloads need to be performed on SmartNICs. Key Features The Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx provides: Two ports of 25Gb/s, or a single port of 50Gb/s, Ethernet connectivity with PCIe Gen 3.0/4.0 x8 host connectivity Security features including Hardware Root of Trust, Connection Tracking for stateful L4 firewalls, and in-line IPSec cryptography acceleration GPUDirect® RDMA acceleration for NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) storage, scale-out accelerated computing and high-speed video transfer applications Zero Touch RoCE (ZTR) for scalable, easy-to-deploy, best-in-class RoCE without switch configuration Accelerated switching and packet processing (ASAP2), with built-in SR-IOV and VirtIO hardware offloads for virtualization and containerization, to accelerate software-defined networking and connection tracking for next-generation firewall services ConnectX-6 Lx is sampling now, with general availability expected in Q3 2020. Like all products in the ConnectX […]

How Omron keeps your production flowing

Flow sensors have been used throughout industry for many years. However, Omron’s new E8FC series introduces dual parameter sensing, where a single meter measures the temperature of a liquid, as well as its flow. The simultaneous monitoring temperatures means many more abnormalities can be detected than when only flow is measured. Typical applications are measuring cooling water used in moulding and welding. The water must not only flow, it must also be below a certain temperature to be effective. Faulty or substandard products could result if either is incorrect. Three different models are available, analogue only or analogue + IO Link (both with COM2 and COM3 baud rates). All models have a digital output for external alarm detection, which allows for easy replacement of existing units. The meter uses its IO Link channel to return the flow rate, temperature and a host of configurable alarm bits, set by threshold values. This allows users to keep a close eye on proceedings and even perform preventative maintenance functions if required. A four-digit high luminosity 7-segment display on the meter shows flow rate, temperature or percentages of what’s expected. It also has a large indicator that changes colour to alert users of potential flow and temperature problems. As the meter often needs to be mounted into a small or awkward space, it can be rotated up to 330° on its mounting. The display also has an “upsidedown” mode for when the meter needs to be mounted this way.

OnRobot takes robot compatibility to the next level

New Digital I/O Converter Kit and Quick Changer for OnRobot end-of-arm tooling (EoAT) dramatically simplifies automation with a single platform for a full range of collaborative and light industrial robotic systems. OnRobot, a global leader in end-of-arm tooling (EoAT) for collaborative robot applications, has introduced two new products – the Digital I/O Converter Kit and Quick Changer – which together with other OnRobot EoATs, creates a unique One-System Solution that dramatically simplifies automation. OnRobot’s Digital I/O Converter Kit allows OnRobot EoATs to work with a full range of leading collaborative and light industrial robot brands. Building on that initiative, all OnRobot products now have a unified mechanical and communications interface based on the OnRobot Quick Changer, which is now an integrated part of all OnRobot products. An additional Dual Quick Changer incorporates these same new capabilities while allowing the use of two tools in one cycle, mixing and matching to suit application needs and maximising robot utilisation. Now, with a single robotic system, single platform for programming and training, and single vendor relationship, manufacturers have access to a full range of tools, full robot compatibility, and virtually unlimited possibilities for collaborative applications. This new one-system solution speeds deployment so manufacturers save time and money and can quickly realise the benefits of automation. Manufacturers are demanding more from their robotic applications, and end-of-arm tooling has become the key to optimising their investments. This integration of the Quick Changer across the current product lineup makes it easier than ever to switch between tools and robot types, allowing flexibility and reducing downtime for more efficient production and faster automation ROI. This is another step closer to a unified OnRobot one-system solution that makes it easy, fast and cost-effective for manufacturers to build collaborative applications, no matter which robots they choose.” Unified platform across […]

We should learn to work with robots (and not worry about them taking our jobs)

David Tuffley,Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and Sociotechnical Studies, School of ICT., Griffith University We have all heard the dire predictions about robots coming to steal our jobs. Some would even have us believe these silicon bogeymen are coming to kill us. It plays straight into people’s darkest fears about technology. When futurists talk about things that haven’t happened yet, they are free to parade educated guesses as fact. But before we take their word for it, we might remember the adage: … in God we trust, all others bring data. In a recent article, the MIT Technology Review tabulated the results of “every study we could find on what automation will do to jobs”. The results show that the expected impacts depend on what you measure. Many predictions, little agreement Of the 19 reports considered in the review, there was enormous variation. Some predicted that a few million jobs would be replaced, while others spoke portentously of tens or hundreds of millions over similar time frames. Some were decidedly upbeat, others quite gloomy. One futurist went so far as to forecast that a billion jobs will be lost to automation by 2022. Contrast this with the more sober prediction from the research and advisory group Gartner of 1.8 million jobs lost by 2020, but with 2.3 million created in the same period – a net increase of 500,000 over the next two years. Why such a big difference? In truth, no one knows how many jobs will be lost and found in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The situation is too complex for simple answers. Variations in predictions can be likened to the parable of the five blind men encountering an elephant. By touching different parts of the elephant’s body, each came to a different conclusion as to what the beast is. Technology anxiety is nothing new […]

Machines can’t dream

People are concerned about robots. Ever since a computer system defeated chess champion Gary Kasparov 20 years ago, public perceptions of progress in artificial intelligence (AI) research have been defined in terms of high-profile competitions pitting human against thinking machine. Anxiety is high about what the ultimate consequences could be. In the wake of Deep Blue’s triumph, other machines powered by AI have racked up momentous victories against human opponents in the game show Jeopardy and, most recently, against the world champion Go player. The latest version of Google’s AlphaGo software taught itself to play the strategy board game without any human help at all. The debate among leaders, technologists, futurists, employees of all stripes is on the profound impact AI will have on our workplace, our societies, our lives. The scale of this impact is hotly debated. Could machines replace us? Could they actually take over? There are smart minds on all sides of this issue. Some, like Professor Stephen Hawking, believe AI’s rise represents an existential threat. He told a BBC radio audience: “I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” Others believe the rise of automation represents a veritable utopia made possible by smart machines. Optimism is a free stimulus in any country. In that spirit, this evolution could create massive potential for the human race. Any way you look at it, one thing is clear: there is nothing to be gained by hand-wringing about a dystopian future that we have the power to avoid. Let’s create the future we want to live in. Even in divisive times like these, we see human qualities such as ingenuity, kindness, innovation, and creativity rise up, take hold and gain unstoppable momentum. It is possible to create a world where AI benefits humanity, […]

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