Hiwin Technologies Corp (上銀), one of the nation’s leading machinery makers, yesterday said it will start mass production of its new automated robotics with 3D vision next year.
The new robotics will be outfitted with 3D depth sensors developed by local chip designer Etron Technology Inc (鈺創), Hiwin chairman Eric Chuo (卓永財) told reporters at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Hiwin already uses Etron’s 2D sensors in its industrial robotics.
Chuo said he expects strong demand in the near future for “smart” machinery tools and 3D sensors, which are the key components for upgrading machinery to Industry 4.0.
He was speaking at a news conference held by the nation’s four major machinery and semiconductor industry associations after they signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop “smart” machinery.
The collaboration between the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (台灣半導體協會), Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International, Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association (台灣智慧自動化與機器人協會) and Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (臺灣區工具機暨零組件工業同業公會) is the first effort made by different industries to work together to develop “smart” industrial robotics.
The aim is to help elevate Taiwan’s industry to the next level, or the so-called Industry 4.0.
The memorandum states that semiconductor companies will develop chips for advanced machinery tools such as accelerometers and motor controllers.
“We are seeing the buds of local smart machinery industry as companies start to integrate their advantages,” Chuo said. “We should see some early results next year.”
Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-kung (李世光) said that the government has set up a framework to help foster the “smart” machinery industry, but support is needed from different industries.
With the aid of local semiconductor companies’ technologies, machinery tool manufacturers will be able to develop niche products, Lee said.
The Executive Yuan last month approved the plan for a series of hardware upgrades at factories in Taichung as part of President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) five innovative industries policy to stimulate the economy.
The plan is to create a machinery industry environment that is digitally interlinked and turn Taichung into the global capital of “smart” machinery.
The first Industry 4.0 factories are expected to be built in Taichung and then spread toward Changhua, Chiayi and Nantou counties.
BYPASSING CHINA TARIFFS: In the first five months of this year, Foxconn sent US$4.4bn of iPhones to the US from India, compared with US$3.7bn in the whole of last year Nearly all the iPhones exported by Foxconn Technology Group (富士康科技集團) from India went to the US between March and last month, customs data showed, far above last year’s average of 50 percent and a clear sign of Apple Inc’s efforts to bypass high US tariffs imposed on China. The numbers, being reported by Reuters for the first time, show that Apple has realigned its India exports to almost exclusively serve the US market, when previously the devices were more widely distributed to nations including the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. During March to last month, Foxconn, known as Hon Hai Precision Industry
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) yesterday announced the launch of the TSMC-UTokyo Lab to promote advanced semiconductor research, education and talent development. The lab is TSMC’s first laboratory collaboration with a university outside Taiwan, the company said in a statement. The lab would leverage “the extensive knowledge, experience, and creativity” of both institutions, the company said. It is located in the Asano Section of UTokyo’s Hongo, Tokyo, campus and would be managed by UTokyo faculty, guided by directors from UTokyo and TSMC, the company said. TSMC began working with UTokyo in 2019, resulting in 21 research projects,
Ashton Hall’s morning routine involves dunking his head in iced Saratoga Spring Water. For the company that sells the bottled water — Hall’s brand of choice for drinking, brushing his teeth and submerging himself — that is fantastic news. “We’re so thankful to this incredible fitness influencer called Ashton Hall,” Saratoga owner Primo Brands Corp’s CEO Robbert Rietbroek said on an earnings call after Hall’s morning routine video went viral. “He really helped put our brand on the map.” Primo Brands, which was not affiliated with Hall when he made his video, is among the increasing number of companies benefiting from influencer
Quanta Computer Inc (廣達) chairman Barry Lam (林百里) yesterday expressed a downbeat view about the prospects of humanoid robots, given high manufacturing costs and a lack of target customers. Despite rising demand and high expectations for humanoid robots, high research-and-development costs and uncertain profitability remain major concerns, Lam told reporters following the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Taoyuan. “Since it seems a bit unworthy to use such high-cost robots to do household chores, I believe robots designed for specific purposes would be more valuable and present a better business opportunity,” Lam said Instead of investing in humanoid robots, Quanta has opted to invest
RSS