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LED manufacturing equipment: The core engine of precision craftsmanship and intelligent production Introduction With the wide application of LED in fields such as lighting, display, and automotive electronics, its manufacturing technology is rapidly developing towards high precision, high efficiency, and intelligence. As the core support of the LED industry chain, LED manufacturing equipment not only determines product performance and yield, but also promotes the innovation of semiconductor optoelectronic technology. This article will delve deeply into the key equipment, technical challenges and future trends in LED manufacturing, and analyze them in combination with the latest breakthroughs in the industry 3610. I. Core Equipment and Process Flow of LED Manufacturing LED manufacturing encompasses three major links: chip preparation, packaging, and testing. Each link relies on highly specialized equipment systems: 1. Epitaxial growth equipment: MOCVD reactor Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is a core equipment in LED chip manufacturing, used to grow semiconductor material layers such as gallium nitride (GaN) on substrates. The rise of domestic MOCVD equipment (such as the models independently developed by the Institute of Semiconductors of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) has significantly reduced manufacturing costs, with the price of a single unit being only 50% of that of imported equipment. The key technologies include temperature uniformity control, precise regulation of gas flow rate and stability optimization of multi-layer epitaxial structure. 2. Chip processing equipment The chip expander: It extends the spacing of closely arranged LED chips from 0.1mm to 0.6mm to prevent chip collisions in subsequent processes. Automatic mounting machine: It adopts vacuum suction nozzles and bakelite suction nozzles, and precisely transfers the chips to the bracket through a visual positioning system, with an accuracy of ±10μm. The blue-green light chip requires a special nozzle material to prevent surface damage 58. Pressure welding machine: The chip electrode is connected to the bracket through gold wire ball welding or aluminum wire pressure welding technology. The shape and tensile force of the weld point need to be monitored in real time to ensure the reliability of electrical conductivity. 58 3. Packaging and inspection equipment Dispensing/potting machine: Precisely control the amount of silver glue or insulating glue (for example, for white leds, it is necessary to avoid color differences caused by phosphor precipitation) 28. Molded packaging machine: It adopts hydraulic vacuum injection technology to eliminate bubbles and enhance the airtightness of the packaging. Photoelectric tester: Integrating spectral analysis and thermal resistance testing functions, it sorts parameters such as light intensity, wavelength, and color temperature, and supports customized grading standards 810. Ii. Technological Innovation and Industry Breakthroughs Breakthroughs in nanoscale manufacturing equipment The perovskite LED manufacturing technology developed by the team from Zhejiang University has achieved a breakthrough in 90-nanometer pixel size, far exceeding the micron-level limit of traditional inorganic leds. This technology relies on ultra-precision lithography and atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, which can maintain high luminous efficiency at a 180-nanometer scale, providing new possibilities for the AR/VR display field. 2. Intelligent production control system Qr code Data tracking: AMS Osram integrates Data Matrix QR codes on the surface of automotive leds. The test data of each chip (such as light intensity and color coordinates) is bound to a unique identity code, simplifying the optical calibration process on the production line and reducing the inspection time by 30%. Digital twin technology: Voury Zhuohua connects with the factory MES system through LED display screens to map the production status in real time, support dynamic scheduling and fault early warning, and improve the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) by more than 15%. 3. Green manufacturing technology Energy-saving sintering equipment: By adopting zonal temperature control and waste heat recovery technology, the energy consumption of silver adhesive sintering is reduced by 20%. Lead-free packaging process: Promote SMD and COB technologies, reduce the use of heavy metals, and simultaneously enhance heat dissipation performance. Iii. Future Trends and Challenges High precision and flexibility are compatible The rise of Micro/Mini leds requires devices to have sub-micron positioning capabilities and support the mixed production of multi-sized chips. For example, the adaptive nozzle switching system and AI visual deviation correction technology will become standard equipment for the next generation of mounting machines 39. 2. Full industrial chain automation integration A fully unmanned production line from epitaxial growth to terminal testing is the industry goal. The difficulty lies in the development of standardized interfaces between MOCVD and packaging equipment, as well as cross-platform data intercommunication (such as SECS/GEM protocols) 610. 3. Collaborative innovation of materials and equipment New materials such as perovskite and quantum dots put forward higher requirements for the high-temperature resistance and anti-pollution performance of equipment. For example, the introduction of aluminum nitride ceramic substrates requires improving the corrosion resistance of the welding equipment 34. Iv. Selection and Application Suggestions When enterprises choose LED manufacturing equipment, they need to comprehensively consider: Precision requirements: Consumer grade (±50μm) vs semiconductor grade (±5μm) Capacity matching: High-speed line (>30,000 CPH) vs multi-variety small-batch line; Degree of intelligence: Whether it supports IoT access and predictive maintenance; Environmental compliance: Compliant with RoHS and REACH standards, reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 6810. Conclusion The technological evolution of LED manufacturing equipment is not only a microscopic manifestation of semiconductor processes but also a macroscopic practice of intelligent manufacturing. From nanoscale chip processing to full-chain data empowerment, equipment innovation is driving the LED industry towards a more efficient, greener and smarter future. With the rise of domestic equipment and the deepening of international cooperation, China is expected to have a greater say in the global high-end LED equipment field.

Pick and Place machine: The core equipment of modern electronic manufacturing Introduction In the intelligent wave of the electronics manufacturing industry, the Pick and Place machine (placement machine), as the core equipment of surface mount technology (SMT), has become the key to high-precision and high-efficiency production. From smart phones to automotive electronics, from medical devices to aerospace, Pick and Place machines support the trend of miniaturization and complexity of modern electronic products through their high-speed and precise component mounting capabilities. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of its working principle, technical core and future development direction. I. Working Principle of the Pick and Place Machine The Pick and Place machine is an automated device whose main function is to pick up electronic components (such as resistors, capacitors, chips, etc.) from the feeder and precisely mount them to the designated positions on the printed circuit board (PCB) through the visual positioning system. Its workflow can be divided into the following steps: Component picking: Grab components from the feeder (Tape, Tray or Tube) through vacuum suction nozzles or mechanical grippers. Visual calibration: High-resolution cameras correct the position and Angle of components to ensure mounting accuracy. Motion control: The multi-axis mechanical arm moves the components at high speed to the target coordinates of the PCB. Precise mounting: The mounting force is controlled by a pressure sensor to prevent component damage. Ii. Breakthroughs in Core Technologies High-precision motion control Driven by linear motors or servo motors, combined with lightweight robotic arm design, micron-level positioning accuracy (within ±25μm) is achieved. For example, some high-end models can complete the mounting of a single component within 0.05 seconds. Intelligent vision system The AI-based vision algorithm can identify component defects, polarity marks and PCB pad positions, support 3D detection and real-time compensation, and is suitable for the mounting of 01005 (0.4×0.2mm) ultra-miniature components. Modular feeding system It supports multiple feeding methods (such as electric feeder and vibrating feeder), and can achieve rapid line changing through intelligent silo management, reducing downtime. Flexible production compatibility Through software programming, it is compatible with different PCB sizes and component types, meeting the production requirements of multiple varieties and small batches. Iii. Application Fields and Market Trends Consumer electronics: The demand for the mounting of miniaturized components in smartphones and wearable devices has soared. Automotive electronics: Automotive-grade components (such as ADAS modules) require higher reliability and anti-vibration performance. Integration of Industry 4.0: Linking with MES systems and Internet of Things platforms to achieve real-time monitoring of production data and predictive maintenance. According to data from market research institutions, the global Pick and Place machine market size has exceeded 4.5 billion US dollars in 2023, and it is expected that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will reach 8.2% in the next five years, with the Asia-Pacific region (especially China) accounting for the largest share. Iv. Future Development Direction Ai-driven adaptive mounting Utilize machine learning to optimize the mounting path and parameters, and dynamically compensate for the influence of PCB deformation or temperature fluctuations. Multi-process integration By integrating functions such as dispensing, soldering and inspection, an integrated SMT production line is created. Green manufacturing Reduce carbon emissions through energy-saving motors and low-power design to support sustainable production. V. Selection Suggestions When enterprises choose Pick and Place machines, they need to consider comprehensively: Production capacity demand: High-speed machines (>30,000 CPH) vs general-purpose machines; Accuracy grade: Consumer grade (±50μm) vs Semiconductor grade (±10μm) Scalability: Whether it supports future upgrades to dual-track or dual-cantilever structures. Conclusion With the popularization of 5G, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies, Pick and Place machines are evolving from "automation tools" to "intelligent production nodes". Its technological breakthroughs not only promote the upgrading of the electronics manufacturing industry, but also provide underlying support for flexible manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0. In the future, higher speed, stronger compatibility and lower overall cost will be the core directions for continuous innovation in this field.

SMT placement machine: Core equipment and technological innovation in electronic manufacturing I. Working Principle and Core Technologies of SMT Placement Machines The SMT placement machine is the core equipment of Surface Mount Technology and is used to precisely mount tiny electronic components onto the PCB board. Its core process includes picking - Vision - Placement (PVP process) 1: Suction stage: Components are picked up from the feeder through the vacuum suction nozzle. Common problems include suction deviation and flying parts (caused by poor feeder or improper height setting). Visual inspection: Utilizing high-definition CCD cameras to identify the position, Angle and polarity of components to ensure mounting accuracy (such as ±0.01mm for high-end models 10). The visual system needs to clean the laser head regularly to avoid detection failure due to dirt or aging. Mounting process: Components are precisely placed on the pads through a multi-axis motion system (X/Y/Z axes and rotation axes). Common defects include misalignment, white flipping, and monument erection, etc. 1. Technological innovation: In recent years, an AI-driven visual calibration system has been introduced, combined with multi-axis servo motor control, to increase the mounting speed to 20,000CPH (number of mounts per hour) 10, while supporting diverse demands ranging from 0402 micro-components to BGA chips 4. Ii. Application Scenarios and Model Selection of SMT Placement Machines Applicable scenarios: Small-scale production and research and development: Such as the YAMAHA YSM10 model, it supports a minimum substrate of 10×10mm and is suitable for laboratory or medium and small batch production 4. Mass manufacturing: High-speed models such as FUJI and Panasonic, supporting large-sized PCBS of 450×1500mm, equipped with 80 feeders, suitable for high-volume scenarios such as LED bulbs and automotive electronics 10. Key parameters for selection: Mounting speed and accuracy: The speed range is from 3,500CPH (visual inspection mode) to 20,000CPH (maximum theoretical value) 410. Compatibility: Supports component size (such as 0402 to BGA), substrate thickness (0.2-3.5mm), and feeder type (vibrating disc, tubular feeder, etc.) 410. Scalability: The modular design allows for the later upgrade of the number of feeders or the visual system. Iii. Industry Trends and Technological Breakthroughs Intelligence and Automation AI Optimization: By analyzing the mounting data through machine learning, the suction nozzle pressure and movement trajectory are adjusted in real time to reduce the defect rate (for example, the RockPlus NPI software introduced by FiberHome Technologies realizes the automation of ECN changes, with an efficiency improvement of 30%). 5. Internet of Things (IoT) integration: Remote monitoring of device status and prediction of maintenance requirements (such as real-time feedback of heating system status by temperature sensors) 2. Green manufacturing: The number of models suitable for lead-free processes is increasing, and thermal management needs to be optimized to avoid copper etching (such as independent PID control of reflow soldering temperature zones). 26. High-density mounting: In response to the demands of 5G and miniaturization, models supporting a precision of 0.025mm have become mainstream, while introducing dual-head or multi-head mounting architectures to enhance efficiency by 810. Iv. Key Points for Use and Maintenance Operating Specifications: Avoid excessive environmental humidity or vibration to prevent a decrease in accuracy. Regularly calibrate the vision system and the height of the suction nozzle to reduce mounting offset. Maintenance strategy: Process Capability Monitoring (PPK) : During the trial production stage, the stability of the equipment is evaluated through small-batch testing, and parameter optimization is carried out for defects (such as tombstones and flying parts). 1 Consumable replacement: Timely clear the blockage of the suction nozzle or replace the worn gear of the feeder to ensure the continuity of material supply. V. Future Outlook With the miniaturization of electronic components and the rise of flexible electronics, SMT placement machines will develop towards higher precision (nanometer level), multi-process integration (such as 3D printing mounting), and human-machine collaboration (collaborative robot-assisted loading and unloading). Furthermore, open-source control systems (such as Linux-based embedded platforms) may lower the technical threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises by 89. Conclusion As the "heart" of electronic manufacturing, the technological progress of SMT placement machines directly drives the innovation in fields such as consumer electronics and automotive electronics. From high-speed precision mounting to intelligent operation and maintenance, this field will continue to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI and the Internet of Things, injecting new impetus into manufacturing. For specific model parameters or case details, you can refer to the technical documents of relevant manufacturers and academic research 4510  

On April 25th, it was reported that the tariff policy of the Trump administration has made Apple's need to shift its manufacturing operations away from China more urgent than ever before. However, it turns out that shifting more production to its "suboptimal option" - India - is facing many challenges. For many years, Apple has been committed to manufacturing more iphones in India in order to reduce its reliance on China. At present, approximately 80% of Apple's smartphones are still manufactured in China. However, the tensions between the Chinese government and India are hindering the realization of this strategic goal. According to two people familiar with the matter, earlier this year, China refused to approve the export of key production equipment to India by one of Apple's Chinese equipment suppliers, which was originally planned for the upcoming trial production of the iPhone 17. Facing resistance, the supplier adopted a flexible strategy: setting up shell companies in Southeast Asia to purchase the necessary equipment and eventually transferring these devices to Foxconn's factory in India. Foxconn is the main iPhone contract manufacturer of Apple in China. At present, Apple is more eager than ever to reduce its reliance on manufacturing in China. The Trump administration proposed earlier this month to impose import tariffs of up to 125% on products made in China. Although there are reports that there is still room for adjustment in the tariff policy, indicating that it has not been finalized yet. By contrast, products made in India currently only need to pay a 10% tariff, although the White House announced this month that the rate will be raised to 27% in 90 days. U.S. and Indian officials expressed optimism this week about reaching a broad trade agreement between the two sides after Vice President JD Vance visited India. Apple's plan to move some of its manufacturing operations out of China began to accelerate about five years ago, when the geopolitical situation between the United States and China tightened, and the control measures implemented by China during the pandemic severely disrupted the production chain. Some of Apple's diversified layouts have a relatively small impact on China. For instance, Apple successfully persuaded some low-cost Chinese suppliers to build factories in Vietnam for assembling products with lower shipment volumes such as AirPods and Apple Watch. Insiders said that the Chinese government has not opposed this. Instead, it regards it as an opportunity to help Chinese enterprises "go global". Moreover, Vietnam has a population of only about 100 million, and its size itself limits Apple's ability to expand its manufacturing scale locally. India is different. Several people involved in the production of iphones have pointed out that India, with a population of over 1.4 billion, is on par with China and has the potential to become a feasible alternative manufacturing base for Apple's most core and largest hardware product, the iPhone. According to people familiar with Apple's supply chain in India, India currently assembles approximately 30 to 40 million iphones each year, accounting for one fifth of the global total production. Apple plans to increase iPhone production in India by approximately 10% this year and has set a long-term goal - to shift about 50% of global iPhone production away from China. Sun Huili (phonetic), an associate professor at the Surrey Business School in the UK, pointed out: "Apple has played a key role in promoting China's technological progress, generating a huge spillover effect, driving the development of China's technology industry, and creating a large number of job opportunities." Therefore, China has a strong motivation to adopt a "lock-in strategy" to ensure that Apple is deeply integrated into its economic and industrial system. If Apple successfully shifts its manufacturing focus to India, this could fundamentally shake the global consumer electronics supply chain. Over the past two decades, Apple has built a complete supplier network in China that serves smartphones and other electronic products, not only supporting Apple itself, but also serving many brands in China and around the world. But this vision faces many challenges. Since 2020, China and India have imposed an increasing number of restrictions on cross-border business. Several people familiar with the matter disclosed that Chinese employees of Apple and its suppliers have repeatedly encountered obstacles when applying for work visas to India, although the expertise of these engineers could have contributed to promoting the development of India's high-end manufacturing industry. Another person familiar with the matter said that the Indian government has also prevented key Chinese suppliers of Apple (such as Luxshare Precision Industry, which also assembles iphones for Apple) from investing in India. According to sources related to Apple's supply chain in China, China is slowing down the process of Apple shifting iPhone production to India. This move stems from concerns over the loss of manufacturing jobs and the damage to the local economy. Insiders added that in some cases, local governments have met with Apple's supply chain partners and explicitly warned them not to cut production positions. A spokesperson for Apple declined to comment. Strict standards Although Apple only started its manufacturing business in India in 2017 and is considered a "newcomer", the company has successfully promoted a number of policy adjustments, thereby creating a more favorable business environment in the local area. According to informed sources, this is largely attributed to the proactive response of the Indian government - long-standing protectionist policies have suppressed the development of the country's electronics manufacturing industry. The government is eager to turn India into a global manufacturing center for consumer electronics with the participation of Apple. In 2020, Apple and the Indian government jointly formulated a policy to reduce the cost pressure it faced in manufacturing iphones in India, especially the expenses brought about by importing components from places like China. The policy, named "Production-Linked Incentive Scheme" (PLI for short), offers subsidies of up to 6% for iphones manufactured locally by Apple in India. However, even with the active support from the Indian authorities, the Chinese government still influences Apple's business deployment in India. According to a former Apple employee who was involved in the production of AirPods, during Apple's expansion of AirPods production beyond China and Vietnam, the company's senior management instructed the team in 2023 to avoid Chinese manufacturers when evaluating Indian production partners to prevent tensions between China and India from affecting future production line operations. Ultimately, Apple chose Foxconn, which has been manufacturing iphones in India for six years. In recent years, Apple has also established a cooperative relationship with the local Indian enterprise Tata Group to promote its production of iphones in India. This move not only enhances Apple's bargaining power over Foxconn, but also helps to further deepen its strategic relationship with the Indian government. However, the challenges Tata is facing are not small. According to several Indian supply chain insiders, Wistron and Pegatron, which once set up factories in India to produce iphones, have successively sold all or most of their Indian factories due to difficulties in making profits. Tata now takes over these production lines and, to a large extent, relies on the experience of the original employees, attempting to meet Apple's consistently strict standards in terms of scale and quality. Language barrier Although Apple and its partners have established an efficient and mature iPhone production system in China, this process cannot be simply transplanted to India. For instance, in China, iPhone production lines usually operate on two 12-hour shifts, while Indian labor regulations require factories to implement three 8-hour shift systems. This means that Apple's manufacturing partners in India need to recruit an additional one-third more workers than those in China to meet the demands of round-the-clock production lines. In 2023, Apple and its suppliers successfully lobbied local governments in India to relax labor regulations and allow the adoption of a 12-hour shift system. However, in actual implementation, these adjustments were not truly carried out. Insiders disclosed that Apple's manufacturing partners have found that Indian workers are generally reluctant to accept extended working hours. In the same year, Apple also attempted to establish a sub-component assembly line in India - a crucial step in the iPhone manufacturing process, involving the installation of metal brackets and screw holes for core components such as the front and rear glass panels, speakers, earpieces and the body. However, this attempt ultimately failed to achieve the established quality and cost targets. Two people familiar with the matter said that Apple thus decided to move the assembly process back to China. At present, Apple's iPhone production in India is still mainly concentrated in the final assembly stage, that is, assembling and screwing together prefabricated components from other origins. In addition, as the operating system interfaces and other functions of some manufacturing equipment are in Chinese, two supply chain insiders disclosed that Apple has begun to require its Chinese equipment suppliers to provide English versions of the system interfaces to alleviate this issue. Equipment transportation predicament However, one of the biggest challenges that Apple is currently facing in India is how to transport key manufacturing equipment from China to India. Although Apple continues to advance its manufacturing plan in India, the process of delivering key equipment to India is becoming increasingly difficult. Several people familiar with the matter pointed out that Chinese regulatory authorities are delaying or preventing the shipment of iPhone production equipment to India in an unexplained manner. Take Foxconn as an example. The approval period for its export of iPhone manufacturing equipment from Chinese factories to India has been extended from two weeks to four months, and some applications have been directly rejected. According to informed sources, the equipment under key review includes: high-precision laser welding machines (used for welding metal parts to iPhone frames), air tightness test benches (for testing the waterproof performance of the equipment), and pickers (automated devices capable of identifying, grasping and transferring components), etc. To deal with these problems, Apple is attempting to obtain the required devices through channels outside China. Two people familiar with the matter said that Apple has encouraged some Chinese device manufacturers to set up factories in Southeast Asia and hinted that cooperating with the factory setup would lead to more orders from Apple. However, this plan itself also has challenges. An employee of a certain equipment manufacturer pointed out that his company is facing a dual predicament of a shortage of technical personnel and insufficient supply of local components in Southeast Asia, making it difficult to implement the factory establishment plan. In addition, Apple is also considering switching to devices manufactured by suppliers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, China, but their prices are generally higher than those of similar products in China. Insiders said that considering Apple's strict standards for the accuracy and performance of devices, at least one year of testing and certification is required before adopting these devices. During this period, Apple's manufacturing partners in India had to adopt some technological downgrading plans. Insiders said that to deal with the delay in equipment delivery, some operations that should have been completed by automated equipment can now only be replaced by manual operations.

Google is encountering the most severe survival crisis in its history. According to media reports, on Monday local time in the United States, at the Google antitrust case remediation hearing, US Department of Justice prosecutor David Dalquist said that Google needs to be subject to strong measures to prevent it from using artificial intelligence products to further consolidate its dominant position in the field of online search. The lawyer said, "We are at a turning point." Courts have the opportunity to correct the monopolies of the contemporary Internet and restore competition in the coming decades. This hearing was a ruling made on April 17th. At that time, Virginia Federal Judge Leona Brinkma ruled that Google had violated antitrust laws in both the advertising trading platform and the advertising server (i.e., the tool used by websites to sell advertising Spaces) markets. It was planned to spend three weeks hearing arguments and evidence on what remedial measures should be taken to restore market competition. According to the claims of the US Department of Justice in court documents, Google has to pay a heavy price for its monopolistic behavior. The punitive measures include: requiring the forced sale of the Chrome browser, terminating the agreement for Google's search engine to obtain default status on devices such as smartphones, and requiring the provision of data access rights to competitors. This means that Google's advertising business worth 31 billion US dollars is at risk of being spun off. Last Sunday, Lee Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president of regulatory affairs, said in a blog post that if the court adopted the remedial measures proposed by the Department of Justice, "it would curb innovation in the United States at a critical moment". This is not the first time that Google has lost an antitrust lawsuit recently. Last August, US District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C. ruled that Google's dominant search engine was an illegal monopoly. It can be said that Google's situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Google's antitrust lawsuit began during the first administration of Trump. In 2020, the US Department of Justice, in conjunction with attorneys general from various states and jurisdictions, jointly sued Google, accusing it of paying billions of dollars to tech companies such as Apple and Samsung, smartphone manufacturers, and wireless service providers in exchange for setting Google Search as the default choice for mobile phones and web browsers, and signing exclusive agreements. That is, if these partners choose to receive a share of Google's search revenue, they cannot pre-install and promote other search engines. This case is regarded as the most significant technology antitrust case since the antitrust lawsuit between the Department of Justice and Microsoft in the 1990s. Even in the Biden administration, the case is still advancing. Dalquist said, "The long history of the case shows that both parties are opposed to Google's actions." Dalquist also said that even in the field of artificial intelligence, Google is currently lagging behind OpenAI, but Google's monopoly in search helps improve its AI products, which is also a way to guide users to use its search engine. Although the business targeted by the antitrust case only accounts for 11% of Google's total advertising revenue, even in the face of a spin-off, the company's core business model may still remain relatively stable. But this is still a lawsuit that Google cannot afford to lose. Therefore, Google stated that once a final judgment is made, it will appeal. oneExcept in the United States, Google is embroiled in a global anti-monopoly wave. On April 15 local time, the Japan Fair Trade Commission determined that Google had violated the Anti-Monopoly Law in the Japanese market and issued a restraining order, demanding that it immediately cease its unfair competition practices. According to the official announcement, the Japanese side determined that when Google signed licensing agreements with at least six Android system mobile phone manufacturers, on the condition of allowing the installation of its application store Google Play, it required these manufacturers to pre-install software such as Google Search and Chrome browser on the mobile phones they produced, and the software ICONS should be located in a prominent position on the mobile phone screen. Furthermore, Google has also signed benefit-sharing agreements with at least four Android system mobile phone manufacturers, requiring these manufacturers not to pre-install competitors' software on their phones. The Japanese anti-monopoly agency has demanded that Google make immediate rectifications and establish a supervision system composed of independent third parties. Meanwhile, Google has also been investigated in the Chinese market for suspected violations of the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China. The specific handling results are yet to be disclosed by the authorities. In Europe, which has a long history in anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition, Google has always been a "guest of honor" for regulators. As early as 2017, the European Union fined Google 2.42 billion euros on the grounds that Google's Shopping price comparison service abused its dominant position in the search engine market by giving priority to displaying its own shopping price comparison service (Google Shopping) in search results, and required Google to rectify and allow competitors to compete fairly. This case is also the first major antitrust penalty imposed by the European Union against a tech giant. In 2018, the European Union again demanded that Google stop the bundling behavior and allow device manufacturers to choose to pre-install applications on the grounds that Google forced mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome browser, and prohibited manufacturers from pre-installing competing applications through economic incentives and prevented manufacturers from using unofficial Android systems (such as forked versions). And it issued the highest antitrust fine of 4.34 billion euros in the history of the European Union. In 2019, the European Union filed an online advertising monopoly case against Google, accusing it of restricting third-party websites from displaying competitors' advertisements (such as Microsoft and Yahoo) through AdSense advertising service contracts, thereby hindering market competition. Google was prohibited from setting exclusive clauses in advertising contracts, was required to open advertising cooperation channels, and was fined 1.49 billion euros The three lawsuits filed by the European Union have cumulatively demanded a fine of 8.25 billion euros for Google. Although Google appealed against the first two cases, on the morning of September 10, 2024, the EU court announced that it would uphold the lower court's ruling. Google failed to overturn the EU's fine of 2.4 billion euros for its monopolistic practices. Of course, these fines are insignificant when compared to Google's revenue of 350.02 billion US dollars and net profit of 100.12 billion US dollars in 2024. Over the years, Google has been through numerous battles in anti-monopoly investigations. Google CEO Pichai said, "I am well aware that we are facing scrutiny on a global scale." This is closely related to our scale and achievements. Although this split is coming with great force, some analysts believe that based on the experience of the "Microsoft split case", the US federal court is likely to back down at the last minute. After all, asking an American company to really give up its market position is not in the interests of the United States itself. It is more about demanding that Google make adjustments. At present, the most likely implementation is to require Google to terminate exclusive agreements and sell advertising trading platforms and other businesses. Take the cooperation between Apple and Google as an example. Apple's setting of Google as the default search engine of the Safari browser can generate an annual revenue of 20 billion US dollars from Google, while regulatory agencies are urging Apple and Google to terminate their cooperation. In this regard, Apple is even more anxious. Even if the cooperation is terminated, Apple may still need to prioritize Google Search for user experience, but it will lose a huge amount of revenue. Previously, Apple's attempt to get involved in Google's antitrust investigation was rejected by the court. twoIn 2015, Google's market share in the global search engine market exceeded 90% for the first time, and this figure was achieved on the basis of almost giving up the Chinese mainland market. This is an unimaginable miracle for any industry. What can shake Google's dominance in the search market is neither the European Union nor the federal judges of the United States. It can only be new technologies and new models. "ChatGPT is becoming synonymous with artificial intelligence, just as Google has become synonymous with search." " After ChatGPT emerged in 2022, the business model of search engines has faced unprecedented challenges, and AI robot dialogue software is all attempting to replace Google's position. It is widely believed that once the cooperation between Apple and Google is terminated, companies including Microsoft and OpenAI will take the opportunity to increase their investment in promoting Apple devices. This might also be the outcome that the US antitrust authorities want to see. In December 2024, OpenAI announced that it would open the ChatGPT Search function to all users, directly competing with Google. It also particularly emphasized that the company had no intention of adding advertisements in the conversations. According to third-party statistics, in the fourth quarter of 2024, Google's share of the search engine market dropped below 90% for the first time in a decade. If one has stood on the mountain top for a long time, the focus will no longer be on the achievements made. Compared with the progress made by Google, the outside world is more eager to see the decline of this Silicon Valley king. In 2023, Google's hastily launched search chatbot Bard made a bunch of elementary mistakes, drawing ridicule from all sides. Although Pichai attributed the slow progress to Google's greater caution and responsibility in AI ethics and security, emphasizing that the development of AI is still in its early stages, he even went so far as to defend that "Google did not exist when the Internet first emerged", refusing to admit that OpenAI seized the best opportunity in the industry. However, within the company, Google has made sweeping adjustments, merging the two leading teams in the AI field, Google Brain and DeepMind, to attract back outflowing talents and continuously increase its resource investment in the AI field. In February 2024, Pichai finally breathed a sigh of relief when Google's Gemini 1.5 version surpassed OpenAI in multiple benchmark tests. Previously, Google set a key goal for 2025: to expand Gemini in the consumer sector. Google executives believe that compared with the $200 monthly subscription for the advanced version of ChatGPT, the $20 monthly pricing for the advanced version of Gemini is highly cost-effective, and the number of application users can exceed 500 million. Historically, it's not always necessary to be the first, but you must have outstanding execution ability and be a leader among similar products. In early April, Google released Deep Research driven by Gemini 2.5 Pro, directly Posting the evaluation comparison chart with OpenAI Deep Research, emphasizing that all performances were far ahead, once again demonstrating that it is the leader in the field of search engines. To increase the installation volume, Google repeated its old trick again, paying mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install its Gemini application. According to the documents disclosed during the court trial, Google has reached an agreement with Samsung to pay it "a large sum" of money every month to pre-install Gemini AI applications on devices such as smartphones. The agreement can be extended until 2028 at the latest. Of course, there is no doubt that a price war is the most effective way to attract users. On April 16th local time, OpenAI released the o series of multimodal inference large models o3 and o4-mini. The o4-mini, which takes a cost-performance route, is priced at $1.1 per million tokens for input and $4.4 per million tokens for output. One day later, Google promptly launched the Gemini 2.5 Flash version, lowering the pricing of the same functions to $0.15 and $3.5. OpenAI responded immediately on the same day by launching a "flexible billing" package for the o4-mini, which reduced the price by half in a disguised way by lowering the computing speed. OpenAI's intention to go head-to-head with Google and try to bring down this "old king" is all too obvious. threeBut the aggressive OpenAI is not without its troubles either. As the partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft becomes increasingly fragmented, the outside world believes that OpenAI, which still needs to rent cloud services, will find it difficult to keep up with Google, which has its own cloud. If Google only engages in price wars, it will win faster. But when it comes to competing in technology, most fundamental advancements in the AI field can be traced back to Google Research. To some extent, Google's biggest problem at present is that although it has a good technological accumulation and stable business performance, the capital market's confidence in it seems insufficient, and confidence is more important than gold. At the beginning of the year, Google announced that its capital expenditure this year would be as high as 75 billion US dollars. The AI competition has completely turned into a money-burning war, and the capital market is increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the return on investment. Although most Wall Street investment institutions are generally optimistic about Google's prospects and maintain a "buy" rating, Google's dynamic price-earnings ratio is less than 17 times. It is not only the cheapest among the "Seven Sisters", but also falls short of the average level of the S&P 500. The greatest risk for Google is that its profits rely too much on the advertising business. In the past five years, the advertising business has accounted for more than 70% of the company's revenue, and search advertising is the core of the core. In the tariff storm initiated by Trump, compared with Apple and NVIDIA, which rely more on physical supply chains, Google, which is more dependent on online services, may have suffered the least direct impact. However, precisely because there is no need to worry about affecting the supply chain, the new investigation into Google is more likely to become a "target" for other countries to take a stand and offer countermeasures. Recently, the European Union has stated that it will conduct non-compliance investigations into US tech giants such as Google. These ongoing and potential investigations have all had an impact on Google's valuation. In fact, even before ChatGPT emerged, Google's valuation had already been severely impacted. With the popularity of social platforms such as Tik and Tok, more and more people are accustomed to conducting searches directly on the platforms rather than opening search engines separately. Coupled with the lack of improvement in the overall economic environment, all industries are reducing their investment in advertising, and the digital marketing market remains sluggish. As advertising push affects user experience, more and more users are trying every possible way to block related functions. In March, Chrome forcibly removed uBlock Origin, an open-source browser ad-blocking plugin with over 40 million users. This incident caused quite a stir in the "geek circle" abroad. Previously, Google had stated that it would not deliberately suppress ad-blocking tools but imposed restrictions on some functions of plugins for security reasons. The shift from underhanded tactics to overt bans also reveals Google's anxiety. With its original business being besieged by regulators and emerging competitors eroding its share of the online advertising market, the significance of winning the AI market for Google is self-evident. Google is by far the largest source of traffic on the Internet, and search engine products have clearly reached a critical juncture of transformation. Google must use the right amount of AI to ensure that it remains the largest traffic port. There is a widespread consensus in the industry that the AI market will not be dominated by any single model. Therefore, all companies are stepping up their efforts to gain greater say. At present, agents that can perceive the environment, make decisions and take actions have become the core direction of competition in the field of large models, and a new ecosystem is also taking shape. In April, Google launched a new interoperability protocol called Agent2Agent, aiming to enable secure and standardized collaboration among AI agents across different platforms and ecosystems, and to enhance interoperability among agents. Industry insiders believe that this is an important signal that Google wants AI to move from an isolated system to an open and collaborative ecosystem. However, this agreement has not received joint support from OpenAI. This Tuesday, Nick Turley, the head of ChatGPT products at OpenAI, will testify in court. At a difficult time for Google, OpenAI surely won't miss the opportunity to "beat up the fallen dog".

Fujifilm Corporation has partnered with Archie Systems to equip Fujifilm Smart Factory customers with AI-driven intelligent decision-making solutions to optimize production operations and maximize efficiency as a global leader in advanced surface mount technology (SMT) and automation solutions. Fujifilm Corporation has officially announced a strategic partnership with Archie Systems, a pioneer in AI-driven manufacturing intelligence. The collaboration aims to fully introduce AI guidance to the factories and users of Fujifilm SMT production lines worldwide. Archie Systems will provide Fujifilm SMT line users with AI-based action strategies that enable them to proactively respond to and solve various challenges in the production process. The system relies on AI agents that incorporate Fujifilm equipment expertise to automatically identify and diagnose a range of issues, including scrap rate suppression, abnormal error state treatment, line imbalance correction, and productivity improvement. By analyzing factory data and dashboard information in real time, AI generates actionable guidance and recommendations to help manufacturers optimize equipment uptime, increase productivity and yield, while reducing reliance on external professional support. Takeshi Sato, Head of the SMT Business Unit and member of the Board of Directors of Fujifilm, said: "For a long time, Fujifilm has been committed to creating the most advanced and well-designed systems in the industry, which is highly praised in the industry. Through this collaboration, we are able to dig deeper and apply data and reporting throughout the SMT process, which marks an important step in the next phase of integrating AI-driven automated guidance into our equipment, not only for component mounting, but also for the entire SMT production line. To ensure maximum productivity. This collaboration further expands Fujifilm's vision of the Smart Factory to provide customers with end-to-end intelligent support to achieve superior results in the production process." Through this partnership, Archie Systems will deeply embed AI-driven intelligent decision making solutions into Fujifilm's industry-leading solution system, effectively improving the user experience and helping manufacturers extend expert decision making capabilities to the entire production line. This AI-driven system enables customers to move from a traditional passive troubleshooting mode to a proactive optimization mode, driving SMT production efficiency and automation to new heights. About Fujifilm Founded in 1959, Fujifilm is a global leader in SMT robotics and automation technology, focusing on the development and production of electronic assembly equipment and machine tools. Fujifilm's high-speed, high-precision SMT equipment and automation systems can significantly improve production efficiency and support a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, telecommunications, generative artificial intelligence and automotive. With continuous investment in research and development, Fujifilm has always maintained a leading position in technology, innovating and developing adaptable solutions for various production needs. In addition to manufacturing, Fujifilm is also expanding the application of robotics and automation to logistics and healthcare, actively responding to social challenges, and committed to building a sustainable future. By providing innovative products and services, Fujifilm contributes to improving the quality of social life and creating new social values, and is committed to shaping a future where automation is deeply integrated into everyday life. For more information, visit www.smt.fuji.co.jp. About Archie Systems Archie Systems drives intelligent change in factories with AI-driven solutions that help manufacturers optimize operational processes, reduce downtime and maximize efficiency. Developed specifically for discrete manufacturing by manufacturing and data experts, Archie AI functions like an expert assistance tool that reads dashboard data, synthesizes information, and provides proactive guidance and recommendations to operators, engineers, and managers in real time. Unlike traditional dashboards that need to be interpreted by professionals, Archie AI can provide actionable, intelligent decision making information without requiring large-scale, costly infrastructure changes. By using AI technology to dig deeper into the potential value in existing factory systems, Archie Systems helps manufacturers promote expertise, optimize key performance indicators, and make a significant positive impact on the production site. . (from the original home of SMT BBS, reprint please indicate the source: http://bbs.smthome.net/read-htm-tid-517016.html).

Complementary solutions Improve the efficiency and productivity of automation equipment Global Instruments and parent company Delta Electronics, a leading global provider of power and thermal management technologies and a world-class provider of industrial automation solutions, IPC APEX 2025 will be held March 18-20, 2025 in Anaheim, California, USA, in booth number 1305. Global Instruments and Delta will showcase a diverse range of automation solutions, including gantry equipment, robotics and software, including Delta's digital twin virtual machine development platform and Global Instruments' IQ360™ factory software suite. In terms of equipment, the high performance of global instruments will be demonstrated Fuzion2-37™ mounters, multi-function Uflex™ automation platform and cost-effective single-process Omni™ inserts. The site also demonstrated Delta D-Bot's plug-and-play setup function. Delta's digital Twin software enables better decision making and greater efficiency by creating virtual replicators of machines that use real-time data to simulate, predict and optimize performance. With digital twin software integrated into the front end of the production line, virtual environments can be created to simplify the new product introduction process. IQ360 Intelligent Factory software is a complete set of intelligent factory management modules to help control, monitor and improve production efficiency. The software includes: IQ360 product design and new product introduction module, IQ360 Material management module, IQ360 production control module and IQ360 monitoring and analysis module. High-performance Fuzion2-37™ Mounter The Fuzion2-37 is a truly versatile mounter that can be used either as a standalone prototyping solution, as a flexible line balancer, or as a high-performance multi-function solution. Multi-process Uflex™ Automation platform Uflex operates a range of processes and supports a variety of feeders to complete virtually any automated process. It supports up to four independent cantilevers on a single gantry, and features include vacuum or pneumatic mounting, screw drive, UV curing, dispensing and more. Single-process Omni™ Inserts The Omni inserts enhance the operational efficiency of a single process unit and complement multiple process units. Delta's D-Bot is a fast, precise, and collaborative robotic solution with a plug-and-play setup, advanced safety features, and rugged design that increases the level of automation across application industries. The D-Bot has an accuracy of ±0.02mm and features intuitive 3D software. "We are very excited to demonstrate a wide range of automation solutions that will bring new opportunities to our customers." Brad Bennett, president of Global Instruments. "Our goal is to help our customers take automation to the next level, whether they are automating for the first time, or optimizing or even overturning an existing process, we have the expertise and product portfolio to develop the optimal solution for our customers." To learn more about how Global Instruments solutions address electronics production challenges, you can call 0755-2685-9108 or 021-6495-2100, or visit cn.uic.com. Global Instruments, a subsidiary of Delta Group, is a leading global electronics productivity and design specialist, providing a wide range of advanced automation and assembly equipment solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry. Global Instruments combines proprietary process technology with innovative and flexible platforms to provide global electronics manufacturers with comprehensive production solutions that meet the needs of surface mount, component insertion, advanced semiconductor packaging, and terminal automation. Global Instruments is headquartered in New York State and has offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

With the rapid iteration of technology, delivery service robots and stir-frying robots have begun to appear more and more in our lives, and these humanoid robots with appearance and action closer to humans have frequently refreshed people's cognition of science and technology. As a highly integrated industrial product involving multiple cutting-edge technologies, what can humanoid robots do now? How long does it take to get into ordinary people's lives? What bottlenecks need to be broken through in the future? With the help of a motion tracking system, a silver and black humanoid robot slowly raised its right hand as workers raised their arms, caught a bottle of mineral water with an open palm and clenched it, then handed it to a worker next to it before letting go. The whole process is fluid and natural, like a human interacting with a partner. This is the test scene seen by the reporter in Leju (Shenzhen) Robot Technology Co., LTD. The "Kua Fu" high dynamic humanoid robot developed by the company, weighing about 45 kilograms, height of about 1.6 meters, walking speed of up to 5 kilometers per hour, rapid continuous jump height of more than 20 centimeters, can be realized through the open source Hongmeng operating system intelligent link application, has been gradually applied in scientific research, education, commercial services and other fields. Humanoid robots, also known as humanoid robots and bionic robots, usually have features similar to human appearance such as head, torso, arms and legs, and have certain movement and perception abilities. The rapid development of China's humanoid robot field has attracted the attention of the global scientific and technological community. Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of Figure AI, an American humanoid robot star company, has praised Leju Robot on social media. In recent years, technology giants around the world have continued to increase artificial intelligence and intelligent interconnection, and breakthroughs and innovations have been made in the field of humanoid robots. At the International Consumer Electronics Show 2025, technology giants such as Nvidia demonstrated the latest progress of their humanoid robots, which became one of the core highlights of the exhibition. The humanoid robot "Optimus Prime" developed by Tesla is already able to walk like a human, can achieve natural turns and other abilities, and is able to accurately pass eggs between left and right hands. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that Tesla will have thousands of humanoid robots working by 2025, and formal commercial mass production will start in 2026. According to incomplete statistics from the Research Institute of Shenzhen New Strategic Media Co., LTD., as of June 2024, there are more than 160 humanoid robot manufacturing enterprises in the world, of which more than 60 Chinese enterprises, accounting for 37%, are the largest number of humanoid robot manufacturing enterprises in the world. The US and Japan came in second and third, with 19% and 11% respectively. At present, the mainstream humanoid robots in the market are expensive, and the high price even exceeds 500,000 yuan. In order to let more customers can feel the charm of humanoid robots, Yao Qiyuan, founder and marketing director of Shenzhen Zhongqing Robot Technology Co., LTD., said that the company adheres to the cost-effective strategy, launched the SE01 humanoid robot price of about $20,000 to $30,000, to universities and scientific research institutes as the main target customers, has sold hundreds of units. In January 2024, the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting Future Industrial Innovation and Development" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other seven departments proposed that it is necessary to strengthen future high-end equipment, break through high-end equipment products such as humanoid robots, and drive the industrialization of new technologies by the whole machine to create the world's leading high-end equipment system. Leng Xiaokun, the chairman of Leju Robotics, said that when humanoid robot technology is stable, "it can do everything people do, and there is a lot of room for imagination." According to the International Robotics Association, from 2021 to 2030, the compound annual growth rate of the global humanoid robot market will be as high as 71%. Data released by the Chinese Society of Electronics also shows that by 2030, China's humanoid robot market is expected to reach about 870 billion yuan. Tan Min, chief brand officer of Youbi, said that industrial manufacturing, commercial services and family companionship are the three major application scenarios for humanoid robots at present. Humanoid robots have been initially applied in commercial services and industrial manufacturing scenarios, "We are very optimistic that humanoid robots will continue to be applied in intelligent manufacturing, commercial services and home fields." It is expected that humanoid robots will enter thousands of homes in the future and become a necessity in every family." A special report on the robot industry by Zhongtai Securities pointed out that humanoid robots have been experimentally applied in many fields such as home services, shopping mall reception, and flexible manufacturing. In the future, the replacement of artificial robots will start from the flexible production link of intelligent manufacturing. The greatest significance of the application of humanoid robots in the industrial field is that enterprises do not need to transform production lines for mechanization. "We found that there are still a large number of links in the factory scene that rely on manual labor and cannot be solved with industrial robots. Humanoid robots can be 1:1 adapted to existing production lines and can be deployed without modification." Leng Xiaokun said. Similar to the human body and kinetic energy design, meaning that humanoid robots are more likely to become participants in human social activities. Under the ability of artificial intelligence technology, humanoid robots will have the ability to learn autonomously, be able to think like people, and to achieve communication and emotional companionship to a certain extent. Humanoid robots have significant potential to alleviate the aging population crisis, especially in providing daily assistance, health monitoring and emotional companionship, Tan said. "Humanoid robots can not only help the elderly with some simple daily tasks, but also monitor their physical condition in real time." At present, humanoid robots are still far from large-scale mass production and application. "Hiring" humanoid robots to work in factories and supermarkets is still a "fashionable" rather than an absolutely "affordable" choice. For example, in the factory sector, humanoid robots are still in the small trial stage, and only a small number of advanced factories have begun to explore the use of certain workflows. Industry insiders predict that it may take three to five years for humanoid robots to enter the production line more, and it will take longer for them to truly enter people's lives, requiring higher accuracy and safety. In addition, how to overcome the technical bottleneck and reasonably control the cost has become the key to the mass production of humanoid robots. Set machinery, electronics, materials, computers, sensors, control technology and other disciplines in one of the humanoid robots, the industrial chain is highly complex, and there are many core technologies to be improved. At present, each company's humanoid robot products show a high degree of customization, lack of truly universal parts, resulting in high manufacturing costs. When it comes to the future development of the humanoid robot industry, Tan Min believes that "patient capital" is crucial. He said that as a cutting-edge technology, the research and development and commercialization of humanoid robots require long-term investment and continuous innovation. The industry generally expects that 2025 to 2030 will be a critical period for humanoid robots to shift from "proof of concept" to "scale commercial". Yao Qiyuan suggested accelerating the landing of humanoid robot related standards, constantly opening up application scenarios, and letting humanoid robots "apply first." Leng Xiaokun believes: "Compared with foreign countries, China has a richer application scenario, which helps humanoid robots to be fully trained. It is expected that policy, technology and demand will jointly promote the development of the humanoid robot industry.

YINCAE Company (YINCAE), a leading innovator in advanced material solutions, has announced the launch of its ground-breaking underfill material UF 158UL. Designed to meet the growing demand for large chips, this cutting-edge product demonstrates unmatched performance in room-temperature fluidity, fast curing, and high reliability. The UF 158UL has excellent fluidity and can easily fill gaps as small as 10 microns, even in large chips up to 100×100 mm in size. Its unique formulation ensures rapid curing at room temperature, significantly reducing production times and energy costs. In addition, the reliability of the UF 158UL provides the chip with strong protection against thermal stress, moisture and mechanical shock, ensuring long-term stable operation of the equipment. YINCAE's Chief Technology Officer said: "We are very excited to launch the UF 158UL, a transformative product in the field of underfill technology. With its superior fluidity, fast curing and high reliability, the UF 158UL enables manufacturers to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and quality in the production of large chips." UF 158UL is suitable for a wide range of applications, including: · High performance Computing · Artificial Intelligence · Automotive Electronics · Aerospace systems Key features and benefits: · Room temperature fluidity for easy application · Fast curing for improved production efficiency · High reliability for long-term performance · Excellent filling of 10 micron gaps · Compatible with large chips up to 100 x 100 mm.

Inherits the high speed and high precision characteristics of YRP10 high-end models, while focusing on ease of use Yamaha Motors Europe's Robotics division Surface Mount Technology (SMT) announced that it will launch the new YRP10e solder paste press (1) on April 1 this year. The YRP10e is an entry-level model that inherits the basic performance of the high-end YRP10 press while emphasizing ease of use. The new generation YR series platform features excellent rigidity, Yamaha's proprietary 3S nozzle (2) and steel mesh adsorption for high-speed printing performance with a core beat time of 6 seconds and printing accuracy of up to ±6σ : ±30μm, Process Capability Index (Cpk) ≥2.0 (measured with CeTaQ measuring equipment under optimal Yamaha Engine conditions). Compared to the previous generation entry-level model (YCP10), the YRP10e is approximately 25% faster and has approximately 40% better printing accuracy (3). In addition, the YRP10e comes standard with features such as printed pressure feedback control for precise pressure regulation and universal steel mesh bracket for one-click replacement of steel mesh for more efficient setup. It also retains some of the popular features of high-end models, including comprehensive print inspection with a dedicated high-resolution, wide-field inspection camera, and residual solder volume inspection, which monitors solder volume in steel mesh to ensure consistent print quality. Yamaha Engine, with its strength as a manufacturer of a full range of mounting equipment including printing presses, surface mounters, dispensing machines and inspection systems, brings its ideal "one-stop smart solution" concept to life. The company is also promoting smart factory systems that enable more efficient mounting processes across the board through smooth and precise collaboration between devices without the use of black boxes. In the mounting process of electronic components, the use of ultra-small chip components and narrow-pitch electrode components is increasing, and the trend of products towards smaller size, higher density, higher functionality and diversification is accelerating. Accordingly, the process of applying solder paste to a printed circuit board (PCB) becomes quite challenging. The difficulty of producing basic circuit boards using entry-level machines is also increasing year by year. In response to this, Yamaha Engine has developed the YRP10e entry-level solder paste press. This model combines the high-speed, high-precision printing performance of high-end models with carefully selected, user-friendly basic features, while ensuring an extremely high price/performance ratio. Despite being an entry-level model, it comes standard with features that are prized in high-end machines, including print pressure feedback control for precise adjustment of print pressure, a universal steel mesh bracket for one-click switching between various steel mesh sizes, and a buffer conveyor that reduces transfer time and speeds up beat times. About Yamaha Robotics SMT Division Yamaha Surface Mount Technologies (SMT), a division of Yamaha Robotics, Yamaha Engine Corporation, produces a full line of equipment for high-speed online electronic assembly. This "one-stop smart solution" includes solder paste presses, component placement machines, 3D solder paste testers, 3D printed circuit board testers, dispensers and management software. These systems bring Yamaha's philosophy to electronics manufacturing with a focus on intuitive operator interaction, efficient coordination between all online processes, and modular design that enables users to meet the latest manufacturing needs. Yamaha Group's capabilities in servo motor control and image recognition of vision (camera) systems ensure extremely high accuracy at high speeds. The current product line includes the latest generation of YR devices with advanced automation capabilities for programming, setup, and conversion, as well as the new YSUP management software with a state-of-the-art graphical interface and built-in data analysis capabilities. Yamaha's SMT division combines design, engineering, manufacturing, sales and service capabilities to ensure operational efficiency and provide easy access to support for customers and partners. With regional offices in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America, the company has a truly global presence. www.yamaha-motor-robotics.eu (1) A machine that uses a shovel-like tool called a "scraper" to coat a paste solder made of fine solder particles, viscous fluid flux, and binder onto a printed circuit board (PCB). By heating in a reflow furnace, the solder melts and bonds the surface-mount electronics to the printed circuit board. (2) Swing single scraper nozzle. This proprietary printhead uses a spatula to control the Angle of attack, speed, and force applied to the print. (3) Under the best conditions of Yamaha Engine Company.

With the rapid iteration of technology, delivery service robots and stir-frying robots have begun to appear more and more in our lives, and these humanoid robots with appearance and action closer to humans have frequently refreshed people's cognition of science and technology. As a highly integrated industrial product involving multiple cutting-edge technologies, what can humanoid robots do now? How long does it take to get into ordinary people's lives? What bottlenecks need to be broken through in the future? With the help of a motion tracking system, a silver and black humanoid robot slowly raised its right hand as workers raised their arms, caught a bottle of mineral water with an open palm and clenched it, then handed it to a worker next to it before letting go. The whole process is fluid and natural, like a human interacting with a partner. This is the test scene seen by the reporter in Leju (Shenzhen) Robot Technology Co., LTD. The "Kua Fu" high dynamic humanoid robot developed by the company, weighing about 45 kilograms, height of about 1.6 meters, walking speed of up to 5 kilometers per hour, rapid continuous jump height of more than 20 centimeters, can be realized through the open source Hongmeng operating system intelligent link application, has been gradually applied in scientific research, education, commercial services and other fields. Humanoid robots, also known as humanoid robots and bionic robots, usually have features similar to human appearance such as head, torso, arms and legs, and have certain movement and perception abilities. The rapid development of China's humanoid robot field has attracted the attention of the global scientific and technological community. Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of Figure AI, an American humanoid robot star company, has praised Leju Robot on social media. In recent years, technology giants around the world have continued to increase artificial intelligence and intelligent interconnection, and breakthroughs and innovations have been made in the field of humanoid robots. At the International Consumer Electronics Show 2025, technology giants such as Nvidia demonstrated the latest progress of their humanoid robots, which became one of the core highlights of the exhibition. The humanoid robot "Optimus Prime" developed by Tesla is already able to walk like a human, can achieve natural turns and other abilities, and is able to accurately pass eggs between left and right hands. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that Tesla will have thousands of humanoid robots working by 2025, and formal commercial mass production will start in 2026. According to incomplete statistics from the Research Institute of Shenzhen New Strategic Media Co., LTD., as of June 2024, there are more than 160 humanoid robot manufacturing enterprises in the world, of which more than 60 Chinese enterprises, accounting for 37%, are the largest number of humanoid robot manufacturing enterprises in the world. The US and Japan came in second and third, with 19% and 11% respectively. At present, the mainstream humanoid robots in the market are expensive, and the high price even exceeds 500,000 yuan. In order to let more customers can feel the charm of humanoid robots, Yao Qiyuan, founder and marketing director of Shenzhen Zhongqing Robot Technology Co., LTD., said that the company adheres to the cost-effective strategy, launched the SE01 humanoid robot price of about $20,000 to $30,000, to universities and scientific research institutes as the main target customers, has sold hundreds of units. In January 2024, the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting Future Industrial Innovation and Development" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other seven departments proposed that it is necessary to strengthen future high-end equipment, break through high-end equipment products such as humanoid robots, and drive the industrialization of new technologies by the whole machine to create the world's leading high-end equipment system. Leng Xiaokun, the chairman of Leju Robotics, said that when humanoid robot technology is stable, "it can do everything people do, and there is a lot of room for imagination." According to the International Robotics Association, from 2021 to 2030, the compound annual growth rate of the global humanoid robot market will be as high as 71%. Data released by the Chinese Society of Electronics also shows that by 2030, China's humanoid robot market is expected to reach about 870 billion yuan. Tan Min, chief brand officer of Youbi, said that industrial manufacturing, commercial services and family companionship are the three major application scenarios for humanoid robots at present. Humanoid robots have been initially applied in commercial services and industrial manufacturing scenarios, "We are very optimistic that humanoid robots will continue to be applied in intelligent manufacturing, commercial services and home fields." It is expected that humanoid robots will enter thousands of homes in the future and become a necessity in every family." A special report on the robot industry by Zhongtai Securities pointed out that humanoid robots have been experimentally applied in many fields such as home services, shopping mall reception, and flexible manufacturing. In the future, the replacement of artificial robots will start from the flexible production link of intelligent manufacturing. The greatest significance of the application of humanoid robots in the industrial field is that enterprises do not need to transform production lines for mechanization. "We found that there are still a large number of links in the factory scene that rely on manual labor and cannot be solved with industrial robots. Humanoid robots can be 1:1 adapted to existing production lines and can be deployed without modification." Leng Xiaokun said. Similar to the human body and kinetic energy design, meaning that humanoid robots are more likely to become participants in human social activities. Under the ability of artificial intelligence technology, humanoid robots will have the ability to learn autonomously, be able to think like people, and to achieve communication and emotional companionship to a certain extent. Humanoid robots have significant potential to alleviate the aging population crisis, especially in providing daily assistance, health monitoring and emotional companionship, Tan said. "Humanoid robots can not only help the elderly with some simple daily tasks, but also monitor their physical condition in real time." At present, humanoid robots are still far from large-scale mass production and application. "Hiring" humanoid robots to work in factories and supermarkets is still a "fashionable" rather than an absolutely "affordable" choice. For example, in the factory sector, humanoid robots are still in the small trial stage, and only a small number of advanced factories have begun to explore the use of certain workflows. Industry insiders predict that it may take three to five years for humanoid robots to enter the production line more, and it will take longer for them to truly enter people's lives, requiring higher accuracy and safety. In addition, how to overcome the technical bottleneck and reasonably control the cost has become the key to the mass production of humanoid robots. Set machinery, electronics, materials, computers, sensors, control technology and other disciplines in one of the humanoid robots, the industrial chain is highly complex, and there are many core technologies to be improved. At present, each company's humanoid robot products show a high degree of customization, lack of truly universal parts, resulting in high manufacturing costs. When it comes to the future development of the humanoid robot industry, Tan Min believes that "patient capital" is crucial. He said that as a cutting-edge technology, the research and development and commercialization of humanoid robots require long-term investment and continuous innovation. The industry generally expects that 2025 to 2030 will be a critical period for humanoid robots to shift from "proof of concept" to "scale commercial". Yao Qiyuan suggested accelerating the landing of humanoid robot related standards, constantly opening up application scenarios, and letting humanoid robots "apply first." Leng Xiaokun believes: "Compared with foreign countries, China has a richer application scenario, which helps humanoid robots to be fully trained. It is expected that policy, technology and demand will jointly promote the development of the humanoid robot industry.

One code is difficult to find, "the world's first universal Agent", built by the Chinese team, 12 application scenarios. March 6, Manus screen circle of friends, some of the media used "GPT moment", "burst", "Silicon Valley sleepless night" and other titles, has become another stimulant after DeepSeek AI circle. In the mode of "seeking a Manus invitation code", on a second-hand platform, the price of its invitation code was once stir-fried to a sky-high 100,000 yuan. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap On X, MIT PhD @ZengyiQin shares his thoughts. "Manus is a good product, but it's not a technological breakthrough," he says. In some domestic AI communities, there are also mixed reviews. Some technicians believe that Manus may be a good Agent, but it is not enough to pursue so much, let alone the so-called "XX moment"; Some investors also resent the satellite-based reporting; Others admire the Manus team for its successful marketing disruption. After Manus triggered the attention of the technology industry, Zhang Tao, a partner of Manus AI, responded in a post on the social platform. He said that "I totally underestimated everyone's enthusiasm," and pointed out that Manus is still a baby in a baby, and implored everyone to be more tolerant and understanding of this company of dozens of people, "the team is working hard to let everyone experience a better product as soon as possible." Shells have their uses, and Manus may be a good Agent, but it's not up to the hype Is Manus a revolutionary innovation? Maybe it's too early to tell. Let the bullets fly for a while. 01 What is the technical principle of Manus? Where is Qiang? What is Manus? Manus officials only gave a four-minute demo video, and the rest of it was "communicating with everyone with the product." According to reports, Manus is the world's first universal Agent product, with independent thinking and system planning capabilities. Most importantly, unlike traditional AI, which only provides suggestions or answers, Manus can autonomously invoke tools in a virtual environment, such as writing code, intelligently browsing the web, manipulating various applications, and directly delivering complete task results. Perform complex tasks ranging from travel planning, stock analysis, educational content creation, to insurance policy comparison, supplier procurement, financial report analysis, and more. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap In the GAIA benchmark, a benchmark that evaluates how general-purpose AI assistants solve real-world problems, Manus achieved new state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance across all three difficulty levels. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Official information shows that the core of Manus uses Multiple Agent architecture (multi-agent collaboration architecture) to build closed-loop task flows in independent virtual machines. Specifically, it deals with complex tasks through the division of labor and cooperation mechanism of planning agent, executing agent and verifying agent. In this process, Manus can create a new task environment in the virtual machine, and call various tools, including writing and executing code, browsing the web, operating applications, and so on, and ultimately generate high-quality replies or solutions for users. Take "Customize a trip to Japan in April" as an example, according to the official demo, after entering the prompt word, Manus will take apart the task and determine the idea according to your instructions. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Then, it will follow its plan, step by step, retrieve the data, analyze the content and so on. You can see the corresponding generated code in real time through the right side of the interface. Manus then consolidates the code and feeds it back to the LLM, updating memory and doing reasoning and content generation. Finally, a complete and personalized travel plan is created. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap On X, MIT PhD @ZengyiQin shares his thoughts. "Manus is a good product, but it's not a technological breakthrough," he says. Manus, he says, mainly follows predefined flows to perform tasks. However, even if it can optimize system functionality in the short term, the predefined processes will greatly limit the maximum performance of the system; At the same time, Manus can only work in a relatively limited environment, that is, in some way between the browser level and the operating system level, and it is not effective outside of predefined software tools. For example, it can't control the slides to make slides for you. And much of that software is actually outside of Manus' toolbox. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap After the exchange of NetEase technology and a number of technical personnel, the relatively consistent view is that Manus may be a good Agent, but it is not enough to pursue so many, let alone the so-called "XX moment". 02 What is the background of the Manus team? Xiao Hong, the founder of Manus products, graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015, majoring in software engineering, and is a serial entrepreneur. He founded Nightingale Technology and launched B-end products such as SaaS tools, One Partner Assistant and Micro Partner Assistant, which received hundreds of millions of investment from Tencent, Zhenfund and other companies, and sold the products to a unicorn company in 2020. In the four-minute video, the presenter is Monica's co-founder and chief scientist Ji Yichao, not Xiao Hong. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Peak Ji, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Monica In 2022, Xiao Hong set up "Butterfly Effect" company to develop AI assistant Monica, focusing on overseas markets. Monica integrates various large-scale language models to achieve All-in-One, providing users with diversified functional services such as chat, translation, copy processing, and drawing. But because it did not develop large models, Monica was criticized as a "shell" product from the moment it entered the market. The general view of the market for "shell" products is that it is not long-term, most of its market is phased products, and the end of the product will be eaten by large model companies. In 2024, Monica did not die, and its product form has gradually expanded from browser plug-ins to apps and web pages. The number of users has reached 10 million, and the profits are considerable, belonging to the head of AI Chrome plug-in products. The Manus that brushes the screen this time also continues Monica's product idea. While the team has not announced the Manus dock model, it is clearly an integration of the capabilities of the larger models. 03 Shell has the use of shell, and the interaction between people and AI will be more humane AI Agent is not a new concept, but past products are often difficult to really "use". Many plugins that need to be debugged, as well as complex toolchains, have been the main barriers preventing ordinary users from really using them. Careful analysis of Manus's broken circle may also be because the threshold for ordinary people to understand and really use it has been greatly reduced. According to user feedback, Manus is far more fluent in executing tasks than expected, even a vague task instruction can be disassembled and executed according to the context, rather than requiring the user to give precise input. However, from the perspective of the implementation effect, many people also say that there is still some distance from the real "liberation of hands" symbolized by Manus. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap At Superlinear Academy, members of the Manus team say they believe in and practice the philosophy of less structure and more intelligence: When your data is good enough, the model is strong enough, the architecture is flexible enough, and the engineering is solid enough, then concepts such as computer use, deep research, coding agent, etc. go from product features to natural capabilities. Previously, Xiao Hong also shared his views on Agent in a public interview. He believes that looking back at the trend of AI development, from the earliest form input, to natural dialogue, and now you can understand user needs with context, the fundamental logic is that products are becoming more and more in line with the use habits of ordinary users, and the communication between people and AI is becoming more and more smooth and humanized. Two days before the product launch, Xiao Hong posted on social media: In 2025, Chatbot is crossing the second gap, Agent is crossing the first gap, in the next six months, there will be many good fighting opportunities. Finally, you must believe that the shell has its uses! Shells have their uses, and Manus may be a good Agent, but it's not up to the hype Whether Manus is a good product remains to be seen in the market. However, Xiao Hong said that the historic moment of Agent crossing the "first gap" is not far away.   Li Shu Source: Yu Jiaqi_NBJS28262 One code is difficult to find, "the world's first universal Agent", built by the Chinese team, 12 application scenarios. March 6, Manus screen circle of friends, some of the media used "GPT moment", "burst", "Silicon Valley sleepless night" and other titles, has become another stimulant after DeepSeek AI circle. In the mode of "seeking a Manus invitation code", on a second-hand platform, the price of its invitation code was once stir-fried to a sky-high 100,000 yuan. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap On X, MIT PhD @ZengyiQin shares his thoughts. "Manus is a good product, but it's not a technological breakthrough," he says. In some domestic AI communities, there are also mixed reviews. Some technicians believe that Manus may be a good Agent, but it is not enough to pursue so much, let alone the so-called "XX moment"; Some investors also resent the satellite-based reporting; Others admire the Manus team for its successful marketing disruption. After Manus triggered the attention of the technology industry, Zhang Tao, a partner of Manus AI, responded in a post on the social platform. He said that "I totally underestimated everyone's enthusiasm," and pointed out that Manus is still a baby in a baby, and implored everyone to be more tolerant and understanding of this company of dozens of people, "the team is working hard to let everyone experience a better product as soon as possible." Shells have their uses, and Manus may be a good Agent, but it's not up to the hype Is Manus a revolutionary innovation? Maybe it's too early to tell. Let the bullets fly for a while. 01 What is the technical principle of Manus? Where is Qiang? What is Manus? Manus officials only gave a four-minute demo video, and the rest of it was "communicating with everyone with the product." According to reports, Manus is the world's first universal Agent product, with independent thinking and system planning capabilities. Most importantly, unlike traditional AI, which only provides suggestions or answers, Manus can autonomously invoke tools in a virtual environment, such as writing code, intelligently browsing the web, manipulating various applications, and directly delivering complete task results. Perform complex tasks ranging from travel planning, stock analysis, educational content creation, to insurance policy comparison, supplier procurement, financial report analysis, and more. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap In the GAIA benchmark, a benchmark that evaluates how general-purpose AI assistants solve real-world problems, Manus achieved new state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance across all three difficulty levels. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Official information shows that the core of Manus uses Multiple Agent architecture (multi-agent collaboration architecture) to build closed-loop task flows in independent virtual machines. Specifically, it deals with complex tasks through the division of labor and cooperation mechanism of planning agent, executing agent and verifying agent. In this process, Manus can create a new task environment in the virtual machine, and call various tools, including writing and executing code, browsing the web, operating applications, and so on, and ultimately generate high-quality replies or solutions for users. Take "Customize a trip to Japan in April" as an example, according to the official demo, after entering the prompt word, Manus will take apart the task and determine the idea according to your instructions. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Then, it will follow its plan, step by step, retrieve the data, analyze the content and so on. You can see the corresponding generated code in real time through the right side of the interface. Manus then consolidates the code and feeds it back to the LLM, updating memory and doing reasoning and content generation. Finally, a complete and personalized travel plan is created. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap On X, MIT PhD @ZengyiQin shares his thoughts. "Manus is a good product, but it's not a technological breakthrough," he says. Manus, he says, mainly follows predefined flows to perform tasks. However, even if it can optimize system functionality in the short term, the predefined processes will greatly limit the maximum performance of the system; At the same time, Manus can only work in a relatively limited environment, that is, in some way between the browser level and the operating system level, and it is not effective outside of predefined software tools. For example, it can't control the slides to make slides for you. And much of that software is actually outside of Manus' toolbox. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap After the exchange of NetEase technology and a number of technical personnel, the relatively consistent view is that Manus may be a good Agent, but it is not enough to pursue so many, let alone the so-called "XX moment". 02 What is the background of the Manus team? Xiao Hong, the founder of Manus products, graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015, majoring in software engineering, and is a serial entrepreneur. He founded Nightingale Technology and launched B-end products such as SaaS tools, One Partner Assistant and Micro Partner Assistant, which received hundreds of millions of investment from Tencent, Zhenfund and other companies, and sold the products to a unicorn company in 2020. In the four-minute video, the presenter is Monica's co-founder and chief scientist Ji Yichao, not Xiao Hong. Shells have their uses, and Manus crosses the first Agent gap Peak Ji, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Monica In 2022, Xiao Hong set up "Butterfly Effect" company to develop AI assistant Monica, focusing on overseas markets. By integrating various large-scale language models, Monica