Hardware
Consumer electronics giant Sony in revamp mode
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MUMBAI: Consumer electronics major Sony has announced a restructuring plan that involves a seven per cent reduction of its global workforce and the selling off of about $1 billion in assets as the company prepares to post a loss for the year. |
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4,000 cuts will come from Japan and the remaining 6,000 from overseas. Half the cuts will be in headquarters or be administrative. Sony has said that it expects to post its first annual loss in more than a decade this year. The company said it now foresaw a loss of $90 million, for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2006, down from a previously forecast $90 million profit. The other cost cutting meassures will include product eliminations and clsoure of some factories. However Sony CEO Howard Stringer has said that cost-cutting alone is not enough to ensure Sony’s future. The plan also includes organisational changes aimed at improving communication between Sony’s notoriously autonomous divisions. Stringer is hoping that this cross-fertilisation will lead to new products that will enable Sony to stay ahead of low-cost rivals in China and South Korea, which are quickly climbing up the technology ladder  |
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Sony is aiming to have sales of over 8 trillion yen and an operating margin of five per cdent by the end of fiscal 2007. It will reduce the number of manufacturing sites to 54 from 65 and increase the ratio of components made in house. Sony also said it was cutting 20 per cent of its models. Sony expects to incur $1.9 billion in restructuring charges in the two years preceding March 2007. Stringer has promised to return Sony to profitability next year. One common criticism is that Sony products were technically advanced but too hard to operate. Sony products too often run on Sony-only formats, alienating many consumers. Some versions of the Walkman could download music from the Internet only using Sony’s Connect software, which is incompatible with the music format used on iPods. |
MUMBAI: Addverb has taken a decisive turn on the road to humanoid automation, unveiling its first wheeled humanoid robot, Elixis-W, at LogiMAT India 2026 in Mumbai. Built and manufactured in India, the robot signals the company’s push to make so-called physical AI a practical presence on the factory floor rather than a futuristic concept.
Unlike traditional fixed automation, Elixis-W is designed to move, think and work alongside people in dynamic industrial settings. The robot combines adaptive wheeled mobility with dual arms, each fitted with five-fingered dexterous hands, allowing it to handle tasks that demand precision as well as flexibility.
At its core sits a Physical AI-ready architecture, supported by dual Nvidia Jetson Orin and Thor computing units. This setup is intended to give the robot the ability to perceive, plan and adapt to changing environments, rather than simply follow pre-programmed routines.
According to Addverb CEO and co-founder Sangeet Kumar, the humanoid reflects the company’s long-standing belief in human-robot collaboration. He said the robot is designed to take on repetitive, risky or physically demanding tasks, freeing human workers to focus on higher-value decision-making roles.
Alongside the humanoid, Addverb also showcased two new intralogistics solutions. The Cruiser 360, a four-way pallet shuttle, is aimed at high-density storage environments where space and speed matter. The FlowT, an autonomous forklift, is designed to move materials safely in busy warehouses and factory spaces.
Visitors also saw Trakr, the company’s quadruped robot, navigating the exhibition floor, offering a glimpse of how legged machines could assist in future warehouse and industrial operations.
Addverb, which began as a warehouse automation specialist, has steadily expanded its global footprint across the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. Its client list includes Reliance, HUL, PepsiCo, Maersk, Mondial Relay and DHL.
With the launch of Elixis-W, the company is steering towards a future where robots are not just bolted to the floor, but rolling, reasoning and working shoulder to shoulder with people on the shopfloor.
