• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Advertise
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Features list
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsor an article
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Editorial Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Press releases
  • Events
humatics image copy

Humatics launches new ‘microlocation’ platform for robots and autonomous vehicles

September 13, 2018 by Sam Francis

Humatics Corporation, a developer of “microlocation” products, has launched its Spatial Intelligence Platform.

The platform comprises radio-frequency beacons deployed in a constellation, mobile sensors, and a software suite.

Humatics says these “ultra-precise positioning products will revolutionize how robots and industrial automation equipment locate themselves, navigate through complex environments, and collaborate with people”. 

The following are the first offerings of the Humatics Spatial Intelligence Platform:

  • The KinetIQ 300 system localizes mobile objects in 2D and 3D with an industry-leading 2 cm of precision at ranges up to 500 meters.
  • The KinetIQ 100 system measures distances with 2 cm of precision at ranges up to 500 meters.
  • The KinetIQ OS is a suite of spatial intelligence software providing provisioning, monitoring, and data analytics services along with an extensible API.

The KinetIQ family of solutions premiered at the International Manufacturing Technology Show at booth #121226.

Humatics also demonstrated a pre-release version of the “groundbreaking KinetIQ 1,000 millimeter-scale system”.

The Humatics Spatial Intelligence Platform will create value across a wide variety of industrial applications, including:

  • Automated guided vehicle and mobile robot navigation
  • Industrial vehicle tracking, collision avoidance, and platooning
  • Tool tracking
  • Crane positioning
  • Drone navigation
  • Digital twin and other IIoT applications
  • Rail signaling
  • Unlocking the promise of Industry 4.0

Humatics also announced strategic partnerships, creating an ecosystem of organizations committed to the Spatial Intelligence Platform for mission-critical Industry 4.0 applications.

Eckhart, ZPMC and Balluff are among the companies representing a wide range of industrial verticals that believe Humatics’ microlocation technology will become fundamental to their business.

“We see great potential in Humatics’ microlocation technology,” says Norbert Popp, vice president of product management at Balluff, one of the world’s leading sensor manufacturers.

“The ability to precisely and wirelessly locate objects at distances beyond one meter is a difficult challenge in today’s industrial environments.

“We look forward to partnering with Humatics to solve applications in material handling and intra-logistics vehicles, including mobile robots, AGVs, lift trucks, and cranes.”

Humatics partners Eckhart and ZPMC will integrate the Spatial Intelligence Platform into their existing and future AGV systems.

“Humatics’ microlocation technology is breaking the chains that have bound the manufacturing industry and limited its breadth of potential applications,” says Andy Storm, CEO of Eckhart, a systems integrator for advanced manufacturing solutions.

“Our partnership with Humatics is essential to accelerating the vision of Industry 4.0 for our customers as well as our AutoCraft brand of AGVs.”

Haisheng Yang, general manager of the Smart Solutions Group at ZPMC, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cranes and heavy-duty equipment, says: “We are currently working with the Humatics KinetIQ 300 solution.

“Its high precision and performance capability in all weather conditions have immense potential to bring new levels of automation and efficiency to ZPMC’s container shipping equipment and services worldwide.”

AGVs and mobile robots are essential to the Industry 4.0 ideal of smart, flexible factories and logistics centers, and the market is growing rapidly.

However, deficiencies in existing navigation technologies limit today’s benefits. Magnetic tape and fiducial-based systems are inflexible and damage-prone, while LiDAR systems are expensive and restricted to indoor, structured environments.

Humatics says its Spatial Intelligence Platform overcomes these challenges with three major advancements to the industry.

  1. First, it enables effortless route changes without remapping or infrastructure adjustments.
  2. Next, it works in both indoor and outdoor environments, robust to all weather conditions.
  3. Finally, it allows for navigation in open and constantly-changing environments where vision systems degrade.

These announcements lead numerous advances marking Humatics’ continued upward trajectory.

The company has increased revenue year over year and made key additions to the leadership team, with a total staff of over 60 employees and a presence in Boston, Huntsville, Alabama, and the Bay Area.

Additionally, Humatics is moving its headquarters in November 2018 to Waltham, MA, to accommodate its rapid growth.

David Mindell, Humatics co-founder and chief executive officer, says: “Microlocation will transform the industrial automation and manufacturing industries.

“The commercial launch and technological breakthroughs advance our vision for revolutionizing the way people and machines locate, navigate and collaborate.”

The company will ship the KinetIQ 100 in Q4 this year with global availability. The KinetIQ 300 and KinetIQ OS are expected to ship in early 2019 in North America, with additional geographies becoming available during the following months.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Related stories you might also like…

Filed Under: Computing, News Tagged With: humatics corporation, microlocation

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Latest articles

  • Autonomous Solutions Inc moves into construction sector with SoftBank backing
  • What the Robotics Industry Needs from Colleges: A Systems-Based Look at Education’s Role in Automation
  • The Silent Signal Crisis: How AI in E-commerce is Only as Smart as the Data it Misses
  • Sunrise Robotics emerges from stealth with $8.5 million funding
  • Industrial vehicle automation specialist ASI opens new office in Utah
  • Premier Automation launches innovation hub with support from Pennsylvania
  • Opinion: AI’s ‘real value is in eliminating everyday inefficiencies’
  • MES & Industry 4.0 Summit kicks off in Porto with global manufacturing leaders
  • Agentic AI startup Landbase raises $30 million in Series A funding
  • Dürr and GROB showcase new concept factory for battery cell production

Secondary Sidebar

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT