Uncover the innovations in products and services that are fueling industry growth.

1. SPARKS
INNOVATION IN ACTION
OCTOBER 2020

2. Uncover the innovations in
products and services that are
fueling industry growth, from
the robots able to pick crops
like humans, to the AI helping
reduce carbon emissions.
2

3. Action in uncertainty
is survival, innovation
is revival and growth
Eric Schaeffer,
Senior Managing Director,
Global Industrial Sector Lead, Accenture
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4. Sumitomo Electric
protects power lines
In a world first, Sumitomo Electric Industries and TEPCO
Power Grid have adapted existing underground power
transmission lines to create a remote monitoring system.
Power grid companies typically inspect underground
transmission lines manually for faults. Sumitomo Electric has
now developed a novel method for rapid, remote detection
that works by mounting a network of sensors on existing
transmission cables. The sensors use the metallic shielding
layer on those cables (in place to suppress electromagnetic
waves) to transmit data above ground and to the cloud.
TEPCO has been using the new system since July to monitor
equipment temperature on its power lines. By removing the
need for new communication lines, the method saves
significantly on time and cost.
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Read full article

5. Emerson’s AI helps
reduce emissions
Technology and engineering company Emerson is
collaborating with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas
(MHPS) on a new digital transformation initiative. The two
companies have worked together on automation technologies
for more than a decade, but will now turn their focus to driving
efficiencies that will help reduce maintenance costs and
carbon emissions in MHPS’s power generation and storage
solutions. Technologies that will be key in the transformation
include pattern recognition, digital twin and AI-driven
predictive maintenance. The centrepiece of the collaboration
will be a complete simulation for the Intermountain Power Plant
in Utah, which is due to be transformed from a coal-fired power
station to a natural-gas plant. "The simulation solution will
seamlessly receive data and operate in parallel with the plant's
integrated control systems and other enterprise platforms to
support commissioning and training," said Marco Sanchez,
vice president of intelligent solutions at MHPS.
Read full article
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6. Hitachi to acquire
wireless sensing expert
Perpetuum
Hitachi is set to acquire wireless sensing pioneer Perpetuum
through its UK arm, Hitachi Rail. Hitachi plans to use the
novel technology to help in the remote detection of railway
vehicle faults using a network of self-powered sensors that
transmit data wirelessly. The sensors gather data on vehicle
vibrations and monitor wheels, motors and more, before AI
is used to deliver precise, real time analysis of their
functionality. The aim is to create a predictive maintenance
system that prevents parts damage or even vehicle
accidents from happening at all.
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7. XCMG ships $8.6m in
livestream sales orders
Chinese construction machinery manufacturer XCMG has
delivered the first order from its livestream sales event, held
in July. The 60 million-yuan (US$8.6 million) order included
mobile cranes and a customized crane for customers in the
Middle East. XCMG's International Customer Festival event,
the third of its kind, attracted 200,000 Chinese viewers and
335,000 overseas viewers via social media platforms,
leading to total sales in excess of 200 million yuan
(US$28.74 million). More than 30 equipment products and
six construction solutions - including environmental
sanitation and earthmoving - were demonstrated live from
the XCMG Fire-fighting Safety Equipment Company factory
shop. The company also sold 18 aerial work platforms
through a special second-hand portion of the livestream.
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Read full article

8. Root AI’s robot picks
fruit like a human
The Boston-based robotics startup has revealed new
capabilities for its Virgo crop picking robot, along with a new
seed round of $7.2 million in funding. Virgo was already able
to pluck tomatoes straight from the vine, but new footage
shows the robot harvesting cucumbers and strawberries in a
field. The robot uses intelligent motion sensing to navigate
crops, and AI sensor technology to analyze the position and
ripeness of a fruit or vegetable to help it decide whether or not
to pick it. CEO Josh Lessing says the robot’s capabilities go
beyond computer vision technology, enabling it to “move with
authority, the same way people look at an object that they
want to pick, the mind needs to create a plan”. "We're building
artificial intelligence algorithms that understand how to do a
task, but as it works, learns how to do it better, and then shares
those learnings across a fleet of systems," adds Lessing.
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Read full article

9. Ford launches
driverless valet parking
Ford has joined with Detroit real estate firm Bedrock and
automotive technology company Bosch to launch a pilot
project for automated valet parking. Connected Ford Escape
cars will use Bosch infrastructure sensors to park themselves
inside Bedrock’s Assembly Garage, demonstrating how
space can be used more efficiently when autonomous
technologies take charge. Ford estimates the technology
could free up 20 percent more vehicle space in parking
garages. Drivers could drop cars off at a designated area,
then use a smartphone app to park the car, send it for a car
wash, or request its return.
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Read full article

10. Veoneer + Qualcomm
collaborate on car tech
Swedish company Veoneer is set to work with Qualcomm
Technologies to develop its driver assistance systems.
Veoneer and Qualcomm will collaborate on an integrated
platform that will be available through Tier 1 automotive
suppliers and OEMs, for vehicles ready for production in
2024. The experts in vision systems, radar and software for
driver-assistance systems ended a previous agreement with
Zenuity software and Volvo Cars in April. The Qualcomm
news was therefore welcomed by investors, with shares up
16.1% at the time of the announcement.
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Read full article

11. Hyundai + Aptiv launch
$4 billion joint venture
Hyundai and Aptiv have announced the launch of an
autonomous driving joint venture, with each firm having an
equal role and share. The initiative will be based in Boston
and focus on the design and development of commercial-
grade driverless technologies, using Aptiv’s own intellectual
property. The project aims to deliver on both SAE Level 4
requirements, when a vehicle can drive itself under limited
conditions, and Level 5, when it can drive under any
conditions. System testing will begin in 2021, with an
autonomous platform launched by 2022 for fleet operators,
‘robotaxi’ providers and carmakers. Hyundai companies will
contribute $1.6 billion in cash and a further $400 million in
resources ranging from R&D to intellectual property.
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Copyright © 2020 Accenture all rights reserved.
Accenture, its logo, and new applied now are trademarks of Accenture.
1. Sumitomo Electric protects power lines
https://global-sei.com/company/press/2020/08/prs086.html
2. Emerson’s AI helps reduce emissions
https://www.emerson.com/en-us/news/automation/20-08-mhps-power-collaboration
3. Hitachi to acquire wireless sensing expert Perpetuum
https://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/08/200811.html
4. XCMG ships $8.6m in livestream sales orders
https://www.xcmg.com/en-ap/news/news-detail-618628.htm
5. Root AI’s robot picks fruit like a human
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/future-of-farming-ai-enabled-harvest-robot-flexes-new-dexterity-
skills/#ftag=RSS56d97e7
6. Ford launches driverless valet parking
https://www.bosch-presse.de/pressportal/de/en/ford-bedrock-and-bosch-are-exploring-highly-automated-vehicle-
technology-in-detroit-to-help-make-parking-easier-217984.html
7. Veoneer + Qualcomm collaborate on car tech
https://www.autonews.com/suppliers/veoneer-teams-qualcomm-driver-software
8. Hyundai + Aptiv launch $4 billion joint venture
https://www.aptiv.com/newsroom/article/aptiv-and-hyundai-motor-group-to-form-autonomous-driving-joint-venture
References