Technology Developments
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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Canon Eyes Robot-Only Camera Production
May 14, 2012 10:27 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsCanon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs — a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.
Canadian Solar To Make Panels In Japan
May 14, 2012 10:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe world's fifth largest solar module maker plans to build a plant in Japan as early as fiscal 2013 to become the first foreign manufacturer to produce solar panels in the country, company sources said.
Legendary Car Designer, Racer Shelby Dies At 89
May 14, 2012 10:19 am | by Jeff Wilson, Associated Press | News | CommentsA one-time chicken farmer, Shelby was credited with injecting testosterone into Ford's Mustang and Chrysler's Viper.
Digital 'Wallets' Proliferate At Cellphone Show
May 11, 2012 10:07 am | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsElectronics manufacturers, phone companies, banks, and credit card issuers expect cellphones to be the main way consumers pay for purchases in the not-so-distant future.
Vacuum Robot Is Trilingual, Knows Witty Dialect
May 8, 2012 2:23 pm | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsIt looks just like iRobot's Roomba vacuuming machine, except the new circular roaming vacuum cleaner from Sharp Corp. is trilingual, and even knows a hip humorous dialect.
Official Flips Switch On Solar Plant Near Vegas
May 8, 2012 2:16 pm | by Ken Ritter, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe first commercial solar array approved and built on federal public land began producing electricity Monday from a sun-baked site in the Mojave Desert south of Las Vegas near the Nevada-California state line.
Self-Driving Cars Set For NV Test Drive
May 8, 2012 10:32 am | by Michelle Rindels, Associated Press | News | CommentsNevada drivers could soon be sharing the road with vehicles that don't need them. Department of Motor Vehicles officials said they've issued Google the nation's first license to test self-driving cars on public streets.
ABB Launches Electric Auto Fast Charger In U.S. Market
May 7, 2012 2:19 pm | News | CommentsABB has entered the market with the launch of its Terra 51 direct current charger, marking the start of a massive infrastructure rollout to drive the adoption of electric mobility.
First Solar Restructuring Leads To Loss Of $449M
May 4, 2012 10:39 am | by Jonathan Fahey, AP Energy Writer | News | CommentsA shakeout that is rattling the solar panel industry has sent First Solar, once among the industry's biggest and strongest companies, to a big quarterly loss.
RIM Says It Will Keep Keypads For BlackBerrys
May 3, 2012 1:42 pm | by Rob Gillies, Associated Press | News | CommentsHeins said the new line of smartphones due for release later this year will include both touchscreens and keypads.
2013 Escape: Ford's Compact SUV Goes Lux
May 2, 2012 2:19 pm | by Ann M. Job, For The Associated Press | News | CommentsWith European-style handling, luxury looks, surprising refinement and new features for 2013, Ford's compact sport utility vehicle, the Escape, doesn't seem like an Escape anymore.
A Component Becomes A Sensor
May 2, 2012 8:05 am | by Randy Hopkins, Sensor Business Director, HBM | Articles | CommentsGearwheels, load bolts, drive trains – with the right know-how, individual components can be converted into functional sensors to measure force, strain, or torque.
RIM Pins Future On New Software
May 1, 2012 2:26 pm | by Rob Gillies, Associated Press | News | CommentsResearch In Motion's new chief executive unveiled the BlackBerry 10 operating system running on a prototype device.
Samsung Puts Smartphone Crown In Dispute
April 30, 2012 10:19 am | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsSmartphones are the hottest gadgets in the world. But who's the biggest smartphone maker? We don't really know.
Energy Harvesting Goes Green
April 30, 2012 8:50 am | by Resensys | Articles | CommentsLow power and ultra low power radio frequency technologies are stimulating development of wireless sensor applications at an explosive rate.
Navajo Community Banks On Proposed Solar Array
April 27, 2012 10:16 am | by Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press | News | CommentsWith tens of millions of acres held in trust for tribes, experts say Indian Country has the potential to supply more than four times the nation's electricity needs with solar.
Study Makes Economic Case For Renewable Energy
April 26, 2012 11:59 am | by Steve Szkotak, Associated Press | News | CommentsPursuing a portfolio of renewable power sources such as solar to satisfy VA's energy appetite through 2035 would create tens of thousands more jobs than relying on either coal or natural gas, a study concludes.
Space Robots May Mine Precious Metals
April 25, 2012 2:11 pm | by Donna Blankinship, Seth Borenstein, Associated Press | News | CommentsIf the plan gets off the ground as planned, robots could be extracting cosmic riches within 10 years.
Solar Cause Clashes With Homeowner Groups
April 25, 2012 2:07 pm | by Ray Henry, Associated Press | News | CommentsHomeowners associations around the country have banned or severely restricted the installation of solar panels, and the solar industry has pushed back to halt the practice.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Tablet-PC Combo
April 25, 2012 10:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMany hope to compete with the iPad by marrying its benefits to a device with traditional PC features, like a keyboard.
China's Dream Of Electric Car Leadership Elusive
April 24, 2012 10:28 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina's leaders are finding it's a lot tougher to create a world-beating electric car industry than they hoped.
Honda Starts Building New Hybrid At IN Plant
April 23, 2012 10:17 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsHonda is starting up production of a new gas-electric hybrid car at its southeastern Indiana factory.
Automakers Unveil New Models At Beijing Show
April 20, 2012 1:46 pm | by Didi Tang, Joe McDonald, The Associated Press | News | CommentsAutomakers are bringing SUVs and luxury sedans designed for Chinese buyers to China's biggest auto show this year as they scramble to keep sales growing.
Asia's Largest Solar Field Switched On In India
April 20, 2012 10:09 am | by Katy Daigle, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe west Indian state of Gujarat is flipping the switch on Asia's largest solar power field as part of its 600 megawatt solar energy addition to India's power grid.
Oracle CEO Mulled Expansion Into Smartphones
April 18, 2012 10:31 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsOracle CEO Larry Ellison wanted to compete against Google's Android software in the smartphone market before deciding instead to sue his potential rival for copyright and patent infringement.
