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By Jeff Burnstein President of the Association for Advancing Automation Robots don’t take away jobs. When companies lose to their competition, that’s when workers lose jobs. There seems to be this idea: If the robots hadn’t shown up, the jobs would have stayed. But nothing could be further from reality. Here’s the truth: We aren’t […]

There’s a popular meme these days called #firstworldproblems that slyly probes the dark side of modern-day life. Tragedies like when you can’t find someone to wash your airplane, you have to settle for 3G, or they use non-organic avocados on your toast. But there’s a legitimate #firstworldproblem out there these days that not enough people […]

by Jeff Burnstein, President, Association for Advancing Automation Last week I delivered a keynote address on the Outlook on US Robotics and Intelligent Technologies at the fourth annual World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing.  Some 1200 people attended the Main Forum, which also featured keynotes from industry leaders such as Esben Ostergaard and Dr. Daokui […]

By Robert Huschka, Director of Education Strategies, Association for Advancing Automation Forget about Bitcoin. It’s blockchain — the underlying technology behind cryptocurrency – that might be the real revolution with the potential to dramatically alter how businesses manage their supply chains. Imagine using your phone to find out where every part in a new truck […]

When you walk into today’s modern warehouse you will see vision-guided vehicles moving shelves, self-docking to recharge, and navigating complex areas by themselves. You’ll notice as orders come in, machine vision and imaging systems help the products move quickly from the warehouse to the recipient’s address through identification, sorting, packaging, and shipping applications. Machine vision […]

Many companies large and small understand the benefits of automation, but selecting the tools, putting them into practice, and then managing them well isn’t easy. The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) helps companies get the most from robots, machine vision, and other forms of automation. Setting the Stage It’s always helpful to remember how processes have […]

Voice commands to turn on lights, set the thermostat, or handle another household task is more than a luxury for people who have limited mobility. A wounded veteran and his family have found that smart home technology fosters independence and self-reliance. The Situation Senior Airman Brian Kolfage lost three limbs in 2004 during combat in […]

How Industrial Automation Promotes Job Growth A3 recently released a whitepaper titled Working in the Automation Age: Sustainable Careers Today and into the Future, which discredits the theory that automation hurts jobs and promotes how modern men and women can find more meaningful, safer and more enjoyable work. Read More Are gestures the future of […]

Announcing Two Open-Calls for RIA Robot Safety Training RIA’s popular Open Call Training seminar is available to the public. Receive an in-depth introduction to all of the essential information contained in the ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012 Robot Safety Standard by attending an open-call Safety Training Event in Fremont, California on May 16, 2017 or in Long Beach, […]

Custom, non-standard parts once caused challenges for welding systems. But there are best practices for the robotic welding of non-traditional parts. Setting up a system to handle parts with variations and low runs was featured on a webinar through the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) titled Welding and Robotic Automation. Understanding what makes the part non-standard, […]