Web sites
Article Type: Web sites, patent abstracts and book review From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 38, Issue 1
European Factories of the Future Research Association
The European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA) is a non-profit association that promotes the development of new and innovative production technologies by engaging in a public-private partnership, entitled“Factories of the future”, with the European Union.
EFFRA’s web site details its: organization, including its strategic objectives; research priorities which contain pages on sustainable manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, high-productivity manufacturing, and new materials in manufacturing; membership, which provides a directory with links to its research and industry members (ABB and RU robots are among these);news articles; and events.
Kiva systems
This is the corporate web site for Kiva Systems, headquartered in Massachusetts, USA. Kiva has developed a state-of-the-art technology called the Mobile Fulfillment Systems, a next generation robotics-based order fulfillment system that radically transforms warehouse operations with an automated and integrated inventory storage, quality control, and order fulfillment system.
Kiva’s comprehensive web site provides a wealth of details on its approach, products, and applications. The Resource Library features videos of:the Kiva solution in action, a tour of a Kiva warehouse, and customer case studies; additionally, there are analyst briefings and White Papers. The news link includes its extensive press coverage, including TV and radio, and an article in which KIVA was ranked number 6 in the 2009 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America.
Heartland Robotics.com
Heartland Robotics, founded in 2008 by iRobot Co-founder and former MIT Professor Rodney Brooks, is developing a revolutionary new generation of intelligent, intuitive robots to increase worker productivity and revolutionize the use of robots in production activities.
The company is funded by Charles River Ventures and Bezos Expeditions –the personal investment company of Jeff Bezos (founder and president of Amazon.com).
The web site reflects the company’s early stages, but this is definitely one to save to “Favorites”.
Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), a collaborative research partnership with the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, performs research on bio-engineering and intelligent autonomous systems to create autonomous devices capable of working independently, with each other, or with people.
The BRL homepage features information on its more than 30 research projects,which includes a link to the project web site, Cooperative Human Robot Interaction Systems (CHRIS).
There are also links to BRL’s research, publications, and news.
Chalmers UniversityDepartment of Product and Production Development
This is the homepage for the Department of Product and Production Development at Chalmers University of Technology. Research at the Department focuses largely on shortening the lead-time from needs to finished products while simultaneously achieving added value for the customer.
The web site highlights the Department’s three divisions: Design and Human Factors, Product Development, and Production Systems, which studies humans, robots, machines, and IT systems in production. Other pages on the site include: news, organization, research, education, collaboration, and upcoming events.
