Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for May 18, 2018

Robots are useless at these tasks that humans are good at

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Some people say robots will put millions of people out of work and even enslave and kill us all, but that’s a little bit hysterical really. 

What looks realistic is that robots will continue to make working life easier and more manageable for humans.

Yes, of course, some jobs may disappear for humans because robots will do them, but hopefully, they will mostly be the dull, dirty and dangerous jobs humans would generally rather not do anyway.  [Read more…] about Robots are useless at these tasks that humans are good at

Artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics startup UBTech raises $820 million in latest funding round

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UBTech Robotics, a developer of intelligent humanoid robots, announced today the completion of its Series C investment totaling $820 million with a market valuation of $5 billion, the single largest funding round ever for an artificial intelligence company.

The investment was led by Tencent, and also includes funding from ICBC, Haier, Minsheng Securities, Telstra, Easyhome Furnishings, Chia Tai Group, China Minsheng Bank, China Film and TV Capital, CGN, Sichuan Railway Investment Group, Green Pine Capital Partners, Whale Capital, and Shenzhen JinFuZi Network Technology.

The lead investor of UBTech’s Series B funding, CDH Investments, also participated.  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics startup UBTech raises $820 million in latest funding round

Audi plans to sell 800,000 electrified cars in 2025

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Audi aims to sell approximately 800,000 fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids in the year 2025. The updated strategy will enable about every third customer to decide in favour of an e-model by the middle of the next decade.

There will be an electrified variant in each model series by then – most of them are to be fully electric, with a smaller proportion as plug-in hybrids.

“Our ambition has always been and will continue to be Vorsprung durch Technik,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

[Read more…] about Audi plans to sell 800,000 electrified cars in 2025

Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer bridges workforce gaps at Cox Container

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Cox Container, LLC, a plastics blow moulding manufacturer, has deployed Rethink Robotics‘ Sawyer robot at its Troy, Alabama, USA, facility to address challenges associated with labour shortages and offering high quality jobs to its workers.

Cox Container, LLC, currently operates several blow molders, 24 hours per day in its 73,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.

Cox Container accommodates custom orders, so adaptability from both human workers and machines is a critical need as the company shifts between high-volume, low-mix and low-volume, high-mix models.

[Read more…] about Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer bridges workforce gaps at Cox Container