Industrial SaaS to Become the Most Valuable Business Tool Ever
Last week we discussed how “Energy Intensive Manufacturing Shapes Economies.” That discussion continues with an in-depth article by the EE Times on “Why The Cost Of Energy Is Key To Sustainability” and the Visual Capitalist asking, “What is the Cost of Europe’s Energy Crisis?” I suggest checking out both for further reading.
Next week, I will publish another map that you’re not going to want to miss! The last map on the Airbus A320 Supply Chain was a hit and if you missed it, revisit it below.
Assembly Line
Capturing this week's trending industry 4.0 and emerging industrial technology media
Industrial SaaS is about to become the most valuable business tool ever
Software innovations have been coming in waves, going all the way back to the 1940s. Each generation of software has promised to be a game changer, and for the most part has delivered on that promise. This latest generation is no exception. We’re talking about the emergence of Industrial Software–the digital technology that helps big industries transform how they operate and address critical challenges for their workforce, assets, process and business functions.
How’s it different from software of generations past? Big Data. The immense growth in the volume of data and the connectivity and automation of assets on digital platforms is driving massive adoption of Industrial Software in a myriad of industrial sectors. And then there’s the cloud component. Cloud computing has become increasingly prevalent across verticals; the Industrial Software of today has evolved from on-premises, clunky and centralized offerings to smart, distributed service models. No surprise then that Industrial Software is rapidly adopting the SaaS model and becoming its own category: Industrial SaaS.
Building Autonomous Rail Networks in NVIDIA Omniverse with Digitale Schiene Deutschland
NVIDIA launches Omniverse Cloud to support industrial metaverse ‘digital twins’
During the company’s virtual GTC 2022 conference for developers, Nvidia announced the launch of Omniverse Cloud, a comprehensive cloud-based software-as-a-service solution for artists, developers and enterprise teams to use Omniverse to design, publish and operate metaverse applications anywhere in the world.
Omniverse Cloud runs on specially designed cloud-computing architecture within Nvidia’s data centers and hardware running Nvidia OVX architecture for graphics and simulation and Nvidia HGX servers for advanced artificial intelligence workloads. It uses the Nvidia Graphics Delivery Network, a global-scale distributed data center network for delivering low-latency metaverse content that the company learned from its experience with GeForce Now, its low-latency cloud-based video game streaming service.
Using a digital twin of the entire network built into Omniverse that runs alongside the actual railway network at the same time, being fed the same data in real time, it will be able to use AI to monitor sensors and other data and simulation to predict and prevent incidents. “With Nvidia technologies, we’re able to begin realizing the vision of a fully automated train network,” said Ruben Schilling of the Lead Perception Group at DB Netz, part of Deutsche Bahn.
NVIDIA Robotics Software Jumps to the Cloud, Enabling Collaborative, Accelerated Development of Robots
Robotics developers can span global teams testing for navigation of environments, underscoring the importance of easy access to simulation software for quick input and iterations. Using Isaac Sim in the cloud, roboticists will be able to generate large datasets from physically accurate sensor simulations to train the AI-based perception models on their robots. The synthetic data generated in these simulations improves the model performance and provides training data that often can’t be collected in the real world.
Developers will have three options to access it. It will soon be available on the new NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud platform, a suite of services that enables developers to design and use metaverse applications from anywhere. It’s available now on AWS RoboMaker, a cloud-based simulation service for robotics development and testing. And, developers can download it from NVIDIA NGC and deploy it to any public cloud.
Can Robots Fix Inflation, Supply Chain and Labor Issues? Singapore Thinks So
Breaking the Glass Ceiling of 3D Printing
Now having launched the S100, HP is anticipating a steady increase in the number of Metal Jet applications it has at scale. Pastor noted that it will take a process of ‘months and months’ to identify applications, assess the economics, carry out process development and then move forward. But he and HP are confident that, gradually, the technology will have a sizeable impact. “It’s not that this will be a ramp [with a steep ascent],” Pastor said. “And by the way, some of the 3D printing technologies, you have this step change [but] with a ceiling. Our approach is different. It actually will take time, but we will break this glass ceiling that 3D printing has right now.”
Metal Jet works by laying down a uniform, thin layer of metal powder across the build area before HP printheads jet binding agent at precise locations to define the geometry of parts. The liquid components of the binding agent then evaporate, with the process repeating until the build is complete. Once the build is complete, the powder bed is heated to complete the evaporation of liquid components of the binding agent and to cure the polymers to achieve high-strength green parts. Once cooled, the parts are removed from the powder bed via the depowdering process, with the green parts then moved into a furnace for sintering. When the sintering is concluded, the parts can undergo post-processing to meet dimensional and surface finish requirements.
How Additive Manufacturing Can Help Design Engineers Meet Manufacturability, Sustainability, and Cost Initiatives
The right manufacturing insights software can lower manufacturing risks and facilitate sustainability efforts. Products like aPriori’s manufacturing insights platform foster collaboration earlier in design with sourcing and suppliers. As a result, manufacturers can look for more environmentally friendly materials and production methods.
Additive manufacturing reduces reliance on one specific supplier, material, or process. Consequently, supply chain risk is mitigated. Additive manufacturing reduces exposure for the manufacturer if any of the suppliers fail or disappear. More local suppliers mean a reduction in carbon footprints. Now, manufacturing software platforms enable them to improve workflow and collaborate better with all teams throughout the product development lifecycle. Additive manufacturing makes design to cost a more manufacturable and sustainable reality.
Robots Are Taking Over Chinese Factories
New NVIDIA IGX Platform Helps Create Safe, Autonomous Factories of the Future
NVIDIA today introduced the IGX edge AI computing platform for secure, safe autonomous systems. IGX brings together hardware with programmable safety extensions, commercial operating-system support and powerful AI software — enabling organizations to safely and securely deliver AI in support of human-machine collaboration. The all-in-one platform enables next-level safety, security and perception for use cases in healthcare, as well as in industrial edge AI.
Gas-Detecting Wearable Reduces Injury, Increases Safety
A new worker safety wearable has entered the market – one that can rapidly detect gas, connect workers to managers and store data to give a holistic understanding of operational risks. The wearable device features direct-to-cloud cellular connectivity, a single platform to connect and view all devices from a single portal, and GPS mapping to allow managers to quickly locate workers in trouble and understand on-the-ground incidents.
Capital Expenditure
Tracking this week's major mergers, partnerships, and funding events in manufacturing and supply chain
France’s Schneider considers full buyout of AVEVA
French industrial conglomerate Schneider said on Wednesday it was considering buying out software company AVEVA, sending the British company’s shares more than 32% higher. Schneider, which already owns nearly 60% of AVEVA, said it had until 16:00 GMT on Sept. 21 to decide whether to go ahead with the full buy-out.
“Schneider Electric believes that a full combination of AVEVA and the software business of Schneider Electric will reinforce AVEVA, and enable it to execute its growth strategy faster,” Schneider said. “Whether or not an offer is made, Schneider Electric remains committed to AVEVA, to its agnostic and autonomous business model and to its employees.”
Hyundai Heavy to adopt Palantir's big data platform
South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Group said on Wednesday that it has signed a contract with Palantir Technologies Inc., a US data analytics company, to introduce the latter’s data-driven operating system Foundry across its shipyards. The big data platform is expected to accelerate the shipbuilder’s digital transformation it has been pushing for under a so-called Future of Shipyard vision. In January and May of this year, Hyundai Samho and Hyundai Heavy conducted pilot projects to apply the Foundry platform to their ship design and manufacturing processes. Going forward, the group will apply the Foundry system to other units such as Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. and Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems Co.
Apprentice.io Raises $8M Series A for First Conversational AR and AI Platform
Apprentice.io, creator of the first conversational augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) platform, announced today an $8M Series A funding round led by Pritzker Group Venture Capital with participation from existing investors, Silverton Partners and Hemi Ventures. The Venture Reality Fund — leading early-stage investor focused on immersive and intelligent computing — and GFR Fund also joined as new investors.
With more than $10 million in total capital raised to date and support from the industry’s top AR/VR funds, Apprentice.io is recognized as the leader in enterprise AR for the pharma/biotech industries and, by extension, lab, line and suite environments. In a cleanroom gown, a lab technician can use Apprentice’s conversational user interface (UI) to access complex procedures, visualize a 3-D technique demonstration, and intelligently capture or track data using computer vision — all without touching a single piece of paper.
BMW i Ventures Leads Series A Investment in Optical AI Technology Company, Alitheon
BMW i Ventures announced today their lead investment in a $10M Series A round for Alitheon, an Optical AI technology company. The company’s FeaturePrint® technology quickly and easily digitizes physical objects for irrefutable identification, authentication, and tracing, and eliminates misidentification and misuse of items. BMW i Ventures previously invested in the company’s seed round and is co-leading this round of investment alongside Imagine Ventures, a Seattle-based venture capital firm.
“The counterfeit crisis is a major cause of concern – not only for economic reasons, but even more as individual safety is concerned,” said Marcus Behrendt, Managing Partner at BMW i Ventures. “Alitheon’s cutting-edge technology and ability to bring trust and safety back to supply chains is groundbreaking. After participating in Alitheon’s Seed Funding, we’ve watched the growth of the team and the rising potential of its technology, and are excited to lead its Series A as they bring their product to market.”