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Iván Hernández Dalas: Simulation vs. digital twin: A strategic lens on virtual manufacturing

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Discrete event simulation and digital twin technology can play crucial roles during the ideation and planning phases of factory layout design. Source: Visual Components As manufacturers increasingly turn to virtual tools, the goal extends beyond visualization to understanding, testing, and optimizing processes before they ever reach the shop floor. While simulation and digital twin technologies have become central to digital transformation strategies, their differences remain unclear for many manufacturers looking into implementing virtual technology in their processes. Clarifying these distinctions and understanding where each fits within the lifecycle of system design, planning, and operation is critical to making informed decisions that deliver real value. At their best, both simulation and digital twin approaches make realistic virtual representations of physical scenarios. But the purpose, level of integration with real data, and scope of that representation differ. With clarity...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Sortera uses physical AI to double capacity in a Tennessee sorting facility

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Sortera creates recycled fractions from existing scrap streams, enabling the domestic production of metals for manufacturing. | Source: Sortera Technologies Sortera Technologies Inc. announced that its second state-of-the-art processing facility in Lebanon, Tenn., is moving into full operational status this month. The company developed an upcycling platform powered by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced sensors. With the new facility, Sortera has increased its annual processing capacity to an estimated 240 million lb. (108.8 million kg). This includes the company ‘s success with its flagship facility in Markle, Ind. “The performance of our Markle facility proved there is strong appetite for sustainable, high-quality recycled aluminum,” said Michael Siemer, CEO of Sortera Technologies. “By bringing our Lebanon operation online, we are meeting that demand head-on—effectively doubling our capacity and providing a streamlined, localized supply ch...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: The future of physical AI isn’t humanoid; it’s task-specific and cost-efficient

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Robots need edge processing to act safely in the real world, says Hailo. Source: Hailo AI Artificial intelligence has evolved in distinct phases. Early systems focused on perception: identifying objects, recognizing speech, and extracting meaning from data. Generative AI expanded those capabilities, enabling machines to create content. More recently, agentic systems have begun coordinating complex workflows across digital environments. But across all of these stages, artificial intelligence  has largely remained confined to the digital world. That is now changing. The next phase of AI is physical. Instead of producing outputs on a screen, physical AI systems interact directly with the real world – navigating environments, manipulating objects, and making decisions that carry immediate consequences. This shift introduces new requirements and is already reshaping how robotics systems are designed and deployed. From perception to action For years, AI in robotics was primarily about p...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Exploring PLC and robot integration with YRG Robotics Chris Elston

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The Robot Report Podcast · Exploring PLC and Robot Integration with YRG Robotics Chris Elston Episode 245 of The Robot Report Podcast features Chris Elston, Chief Robotics Manager for YRG for North America. Podcast guest: Chris Elston Chris Elston, Chief Robotics Manager for YRG for North America. | Credit: YRG Chris Elston is Chief Robotics Manager for Yamaha Robotics Group (YRG) North America, where he helps machine builders and end users integrate robotics and PLC-driven automation into user-friendly manufacturing environments. With deep expertise in industrial robots, controls, and system integration, he focuses on making advanced automation practical, scalable, and easy to deploy. He is also the founder of MrPLC.com , a leading online community for PLC and automation professionals. Mr. PLC Website – https://mrplc.com/ Chris Elston on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriselston/ Show timeline 8:00 – News of the week 18:19 – Chris Elsto...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Robotics Summit keynote to present open foundation for AI-powered robots

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Open Robotics will discuss the open-source robotics ecosystem and AI at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: Open Robotics Developments in artificial intelligence and robotics are converging and accelerating, making open source more critical than ever, according to Open Robotics. The organization, which maintains the Robot Operating System and the Gazebo simulator, will explore how the technology ecosystem is evolving to meet the demands of the AI era at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston next week. In the keynote on “An Open Foundation for the Age of AI-Powered Robots,” the company plans to discuss how open-source technology is driving innovation broadly in automation and physical AI while fostering a robust, collaborative community. Brian Gerkey, co-founder and former CEO of Open Robotics, will highlight the strategic vision of the Open Source Robotics Alliance ( OSRA ). He will focus on expanding accessibility, integrating modern tools, and tackling th...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: GE Vernova to acquire Robotech Automation to expand robotics integration

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GE Vernova has worked with ANYbotics to automate energy asset inspections. Source: GE Vernova GE Vernova Inc., a global energy company, yesterday said it has signed an agreement to acquire Robotech Automation, a specialized systems integrator, to accelerate its robotics and automation capabilities. Robotech offers in-house design, engineering, and integration capabilities supported by a network of trusted manufacturing partners. The private company employs about 35 people and is based in Longueuil, Quebec, near Montreal. “Robotech brings exactly the kind of specialized talent, proprietary systems, and hands-on integration expertise that will accelerate what we’re building in robotics and automation at GE Vernova,” said Scott Strazik, GE Vernova CEO. “GE Vernova is committed to advancing our capabilities in areas that are critical to how we operate and compete with excellence, and this acquisition is a focused, strategic step to add key talent, accelerate o...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Robot Talk Episode 157 – Generating new robot designs, with Josie Hughes

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Claire chatted to Josie Hughes from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne about using AI to develop new designs for robotic manipulators. Josie Hughes is an Assistant Professor at EPFL, where she established the CREATE Lab in 2021. She completed her PhD in the Bio-inspired Robotics Lab at the University of Cambridge, examining the role of passivity in bio-inspired manipulators. Her research focuses on developing novel design paradigms for designing robot structures that exploit their physicality and interactions with the environment. This includes the development of robotic hands, soft manipulators, and automation systems for applications focused on sustainability and science. View Source
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