News

Modi wants to make India a chip-making superpower. Can he?

Source: The New York Times, September 13, 2023 [1]
India’s government, seizing on the world’s desire to reduce reliance on China, is offering billions to build an entire semiconductor ecosystem on vast empty plots.

What's new in China's robotics market?

Source: The Robot Report, September 6, 2023 [2]
China leads in robotics and automation, selling over half of all industrial robots worldwide last year. In 2023, the number of industrial robots sold increased 17.1%, with the country leading in electric cars, batteries, and photovoltaics, benefiting local companies through economies of scale and learning effects.

July chip sales edge up, but are still well behind last year

Source: FIERCE Electronics, September 7, 2023 [3]
Chipmakers are experiencing steady sales growth in 2023, with sales reaching $43 billion in July, a 2.3% increase from June but 12% lower than in July 2022, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization.

Rockwell automation acquiring AMR developer Clearpath robotics

Source: The Robot Report, September 5, 2023 [4]
Rockwell Automation is acquiring Clearpath Robotics, a Canadian company that develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for research and development. The acquisition will be funded by Rockwell's investment in PTC and is expected to close in 2024. AMRs are seen as the next frontier in industrial automation.

Robot cell market predicted to grow at 10.2 per cent a year

Source: Robotics & Automation News, September 7, 2023 [5]
The global robot cell market has been estimated at $42,567 million in 2023 and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.2 per cent during the forecast years of 2023-2033.

Developing a successful robotics product: From idea to reality

Source: Robotics Business Review, September 7, 2023 [6]
Bringing a product concept to life is no mean feat. From development to pilot phase and scalability, a lot needs to be considered.

NVIDIA to discuss role of generative AI in robotics

Source: Robotics Business Review, September 13, 2023 [7]
NVIDIA will be reviewing the latest trends, research, and impact of Generative AI on robotics.

Intel getting squeezed and benefiting from Nvidia GPU shortages

Source: HPCwire, September 10, 2023 [8]
Intel's chief financial officer, David Zinsner, said that customers seeking quick AI project implementation are considering alternatives to Nvidia's GPUs, such as Gaudi, due to the shortage and the attractive price points. Gaudi and Gaudi2 chips are currently shipping, with Gaudi3 expected soon.

Papers

Differential-drive mobile robot controller with ROS 2 support

Source: SASE, 2023 [9]
This paper discusses the development of a new controller for a differential-drive AMR using ROS 2, an open-source software library for building robot applications. The controller is an evolution of a previous version used in various mobile robots for over a decade. The paper also details the design requirements, main characteristics, and improvements, as well as the initial software for ensuring the controller's correct operation.

Development of an interface for digital neuromorphic hardware based on an FPGA

Source: arXiv, August 17, 2023 [10]
This paper aims to develop an interface for a digital hardware platform (SPINN-3 Development Board) to enable the use of industrial or conventional sensors. The interface uses a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) as a gateway between the sensors and neuromorphic hardware. The system provides a robust solution for various investigations related to neuromorphic hardware and SNNs, offering suitable possibilities for monitoring processes and obtaining measurements for meaningful results.

Previous Hardware Acceleration in Robotics Newsletters

  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #76 - July 2023 robotics investments total US $2.1 billion, North American robot orders drop for 2nd quarter in a row and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #75 - How to simplify robotics research with a native, ROS-based system, Predicting the future for semiconductors and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #74 - Autoware accelerators, application-specific system-on-chip (Soc) and software platform for autonomous vehicles (robots), How Intel, Samsung and TSMC are changing the world and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #73 - ROSCon 2023 comes to INDIA, Turnaround in semiconductor market, TIER IV and Axell unveil Autoware Accelerator prototypes: Building energy-efficient autonomous vehicles and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #72 - The rise of FPGA technology in high-performance computing, A stable heartbeat for the world of electronics, Why people are still key to tech transformation and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #71 - June 2023 robotics investments total US $2.1 billion, Chip experts see talent shortage as main growth hurdle and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #70 - Europe’s strategy to boost its computer chip industry and compete with Asia gets final approval, Robot operating system advances left up to industry and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #69 - Industrial robot components market worth more than $18B by 2027, How India is working to become the semiconductor hub globally in the next 10 years? and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #68 - Acceleration Robotics leads RobotPerf™ Benchmarks to its first "alpha" release, Broadcom to invest in a $1 billion EU-funded chip programme in Spain and more
  • Hardware Acceleration in Robotics #67 - Industrial robot market to grow 5-7% out to 2027, Semiconductor capex down in 2023 and more

Past ROS 2 Hardware Acceleration Working Group meetings

  1. Travelli, A. (2023, September 13). Modi wants to make India a chip-making superpower. Can he? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/business/india-semiconductors.html ↩︎

  2. Stieler, G. (2023, September 6). What's new in China's robotics market? The Robot Report. https://www.therobotreport.com/whats-new-in-chinas-robotics-market/?spMailingID=97565&puid=2502618&E=2502618&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=97565 ↩︎

  3. Hamblen, M. (2023, September 7). July chip sales edge up, but are still well behind last year. FIERCE Electronics. https://www.fierceelectronics.com/electronics/july-chip-sales-edge-still-well-behind-last-year ↩︎

  4. Crowe, S. (2023, September 5). Rockwell automation acquiring AMR developer Clearpath robotics. The Robot Report. https://www.therobotreport.com/rockwell-automation-acquiring-amr-developer-clearpath-robotics/?spMailingID=97565&puid=2502618&E=2502618&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=97565 ↩︎

  5. Allinson, M. (2023, September 7). Robot cell market predicted to grow at 10.2 per cent a year. Robotics & Automation News. https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2023/09/07/robot-cell-market-predicted-to-grow-at-10-2-per-cent-a-year/71898/ ↩︎

  6. Content, S. (2023, September 7). Developing a successful robotics product: From idea to reality. Robotics Business Review. https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/sponsored-content/cloud-ground-control/building-a-robotics-product-game-changing-tactics-for-faster-launch-and-increased-success/ ↩︎

  7. Crowe, S. (2023, September 13). RoboBusiness: NVIDIA to discuss role of generative AI in robotics. Robotics Business Review. https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/ai/robobusiness-nvidia-to-discuss-role-of-generative-ai-in-robotics/ ↩︎

  8. Eadline, D. (2023, September 10). Intel getting squeezed and benefiting from Nvidia GPU shortages. HPCwire. https://www.hpcwire.com/2023/09/10/intel-getting-squeezed-and-benefiting-from-nvidia-gpu-shortages/ ↩︎

  9. Albarrán, G., Nicolodi, J., Ruiz, D., González-Dondo, D., & Perez-Paina, G. (2023). Differential-drive mobile robot controller with ROS 2 support. SASE. https://www.sase.com.ar/case/files/2023/07/case2023-paper11.pdf ↩︎

  10. Harmann, R., Sohlbach, L., Perez-Peña, F., & Schmidt, K. (2023, August 17). Development of an interface for digital neuromorphic hardware based on an FPGA. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2308/2308.09049.pdf ↩︎