When the first MakerBot appeared in 2009, the idea of 3D printing was a bit foreign to all but the most advanced fabricators. Company founder and CEO Bre Pettis says he used to get asked: “So what, do you have to wear special glasses to see it?” More »
No one would characterize existing factory robots as especially warm and fuzzy: they’re usually disembodied limbs that are more likely to cut you than hug you. Rethink Robotics wants to put a friendly face on those machines, both figuratively and literally. Its about-to-ship Baxter worker robot carries a touchscreen face that’s as much about communicating its intent as giving humans something more relatable. Likewise, it’s designed to be easily programmed by its organic coworkers and react appropriately — you guide Baxter by one of its two arms to tell it what to do, and its combination of cameras and a quad-core processor let it adapt to real-world imperfections. Even the series elastic actuators in its arms give it a softer, subtler movement that’s less likely to damage products or people. While Baxter isn’t as ruthlessly quick as most of its peers, the relatively low $22,000 price and promise of an SDK for its Linux brain in 2013 should make it easier to accept than the six-digit costs and closed platforms of alternatives. We just hope we’re not being lulled into a false sense of security as lovable robots invade our manufacturing base ahead of the inevitable Robopocalypse.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Rethink delivers Baxter the friendly worker robot, prepares us for our future metal overlords (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 03:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
It’s assumed that one day factory line robots will eventually take over all aspects of manufacturing, freeing humans from the monotony of repetitive tasks. But integrating a robot into an assembly line is incredibly expensive and complicated—and Rethink Robotics hopes to eliminate those roadblocks with Baxter. More »
While folks are waiting for their precious new iPhones to arrive on their doorsteps, word has it that the leaky iPad mini has unsurprisingly entered mass production, but with a twist. According to today’s front page news on Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, reports from two local securities firms claim that Pegatron’s managed to nab a staggering 50 to 60 percent of iPad mini orders from Apple, meaning Foxconn is finally no longer the sole assembler of iPads. Together (plus component suppliers Foxlink, AUO, TPK and others), both companies will apparently be able to churn out up to 5 million iPad minis monthly.
Then there’s the iPhone 5 as well: the paper says at least 53 million units are expected to be shipped this year, therefore Apple’s adding Pegatron to the assembling front line as early as Q4 in order to maintain a steady supply of products. Obviously we can’t use this information alone to deduce whether Apple is moving away from Foxconn, but as long as people get their iDevices then it’s all dandy.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets
Pegatron reportedly nabs 50 to 60 percent of iPad mini orders, breaks up Foxconn’s monopoly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Canon could be facing a costly drop in production of both its digital cameras and laser printers, following reports that widespread protests in China have forced it close most of its factories in that country. It’s a similar story at Panasonic, which is said to have had one of its plants “sabotaged” by Chinese workers. The anti-Japan protests concern the status of disputed islands in the East China Sea and were triggered by the Japanese government’s move to purchase some of the land in question — check the More Coverage link below for a more detailed explanation.
Filed under: Cameras, Misc, Home Entertainment
Canon and Panasonic halt production in China amid anti-Japan protests originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The guys at Re-Char, a small startup that makes carbon-negative products, were faced with a problem. They wanted to ship products to Kenya, but the options available were wasteful, costly, and not nearly as efficient as simply manufacturing near to the customers. To do it, in a place with little industry or infrastructure, Re-Char designed something new—a fully functioning, off-the-grid factory inside a shipping container. More »
Samsung faced some serious allegations surrounding the plants of its Chinese contractor HEG Electronics earlier this month, including potentially dire accusations that HEG was employing child labor. The Korean firm promised audits to set the record straight, and we’re seeing the first fruits of those inspections today. The results were decidedly mixed. While there weren’t any underage workers when Samsung visited, it did find HEG staff working excessive overtime, some unsafe practices and a system that punished late workers with fines. Samsung’s response will go beyond just asking HEG to shape up, though: it plans to finish auditing all 105 of its exclusive Chinese contractors by the end of September, determine whether inspections of non-exclusive contractors are needed and set up a long-term audit schedule past 2013 that includes tougher requirements. While there’s no certainty that the reforms will lead to the intended results, we’re glad to hear that Samsung wants to turn things around at such a rapid pace.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment
Samsung finishes initial Chinese factory audits, plans long-term solutions to labor woes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Not even a full moon cycle has passed since Sharp’s president, Takashi Okuda, trumpeted the fact that his firm was one of the chosen few selected to provide screens for the new iPhone. Now, according to Reuters the troubled company has slipped behind on production, with The Wall Street Journal going as far to say mass production hasn’t started at all. The nearest thing to a reason given for the situation is “manufacturing difficulties.” If you were worried this might delay the reveal of Apple’s next flagship, the WSJ also reminds us that Sharp is still one of three suppliers, though it’s unclear just how big a slice of the production-pie Okuda’s brigade has been given. At the very least, those on the production line can likely enjoy some much appreciated overtime.
Filed under: Mobile
Sources claim Sharp’s production of iPhone screens delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looks like we’ll be finding in-cell touch displays in our devices sooner rather than later: LG Display has confirmed that it’s been mass-producing the thinner LCDs since earlier in August. CEO Han Sang-beom also notes that manufacturing has been going as smooth as, well, glass. Despite the complexity of building touch input directly into a display, the company expects to keep the supply going “without any fail,” according to the executive. As to who’s making the orders? LG Display isn’t naming its customers on the record, and production could be as much for its sister company’s phones and tablets as anyone else’s. It’s hard not to pinpoint Apple as the 800-pound gorilla in the room, however. Apart from Apple representing one of LG Display’s biggest existing customers, multiple rumors and component leaks point to an iPhone with an in-cell display being in the works. The timing raises a distinct possibility that we’ll know more about the screen manufacturer’s clients in less than a month.
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays
LG Display starts volume production of in-cell touch screens, we have a hunch as to who wants them originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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