Category Archives: News

News

Zeekr uses humanoid robots in car manufacturing

The use of robots in the automotive industry is not new, but the use of humanoid robots is not something we see every day. Zeekr announced that it is using Walker S Lite, humanoid robots manufactured by UBTech Robotics, in its car manufacturing facility. This is a new step forward towards further automation in the production of electric vehicles.

The use of the Walker S Lite robots began last month and they are used to lift various loads. Equipped with high-performance servo drives and 6-dimensional force sensors, it can stably lift boxes weighing 15 kilograms while moving.

The humanoid robots were developed in collaboration between the companies UBTech, Geely Holding and Miracle Automation Engineering, and during three weeks of on-site training, the Walker S Lite used VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) navigation, end-to-end imitation learning, visual recognition and fine motion control for autonomous navigation and operation with automated guided vehicles (AGVs) on various production lines.

In February, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S robot in Nio’s factory, where it performed various tasks such as checking the quality of door locks, seat belts, logo placement, and the like. This event was UBTech’s first on-site training for the Walker S robot in an electric car factory.

Source: Zeekr

News

Recaro and BBS could go bankrupt

Recently, German car and aircraft seat maker Recaro Automotive filed for bankruptcy, and now it looks like another company will follow suit. According to the latest information, BBS Autotechnik will file for bankruptcy for the fifth time in 20 years.

BBS is currently going through a difficult situation which, according to their statements, is caused by Italian and Chinese competition. BBS changed owners several times, and they tried to change the strategy and management to expand the products, but the results were not as expected. Meanwhile, the company has been split in two, with the main company now owned by KW Automotive, a German car suspension company. But now the future of BBS Autotechnik is uncertain, and it could also mean the final end.

When it comes to Recaro, the bankruptcy decision came as a surprise to the employees and the IG Metall union. “It is not yet known what this means for the 215 employees of Recaro Automotive GmbH in Kirchheim. We expect that all options will be used to secure jobs and find a sustainable solution,” the union said.

The workers are disappointed because they previously agreed to delay the salary in order to keep the company economically stable. It should also be noted that the decision does not apply to the production of airplane seats, office and gaming chairs, and baby seats.

Source: Automobilwoche

News

Porsche Taycan set the fastest wireless charging time

The charging speed of car batteries is very important in encouraging customers to buy EVs, and the number of charging stations around the world is not enough for the current number of electric cars. This is why more effort is being put into the development of wireless charging. Currently, commercial wireless solutions offer charging speeds of up to 11 kW, but the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with Volkswagen has made progress in the development of wireless charging, proving that in the future it could be as easy as parking.

To demonstrate the achievement, ORNL used a modified Porsche Taycan prototype reaching a wireless charging speed of 270 kW, which is equal to the DC charging speed of earlier models. This is achieved thanks to a polyphase wireless charging design integrated into the car’s chassis and light electromagnetic coils with a diameter of about 48 centimeters, which create a high power density.

The people who worked on the project claim that the used receiving coil can achieve eight to ten times higher power density compared to existing systems, making it the easiest charging system in the world.

The project is far from over. It still requires development to be ready for production. This could definitely revolutionize electric vehicle charging by making it more convenient and accessible. ORNL’s wireless charger can add 50 percent charge to the Taycan’s current battery capacity in just 10 minutes, which is comparable to a DC fast charger.

Source: Reuters