Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for July 2019

Freedom Robotics receives $6.6 million in seed funding

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Freedom Robotics, which provides cloud and on-device software for monitoring, control and management of robots and robotic fleets, has closed a $6.6m seed round.

The funding was led by Initialized Capital, with Toyota AI Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, Andrew Miklas from S28 Capital, and James Lindenbaum, alongside existing investors Green Cow Ventur­e Capital, Justin Kan, Josh Buckley, Kevin Mahaffey, and Arianna Simpson.

Freedom Robotics creates tools and infrastructure that all robotics companies require but are not core to their product or value creation.

[Read more…] about Freedom Robotics receives $6.6 million in seed funding

Ethics in AI: Gaining the public’s trust and loyalty

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The ethical use of AI is becoming fundamental to winning people’s trust, a new study from the Capgemini Research Institute has found.

As organisations progress to harness the benefits of AI, consumers, employees and citizens are watching closely and are ready to reward or punish behaviour.

Those surveyed said that they would be more loyal to, purchase more from, or be an advocate for organisations whose AI interactions are deemed ethical.

[Read more…] about Ethics in AI: Gaining the public’s trust and loyalty

Lilium jet awarded prestigious ‘Best of the Best‘ Red Dot design award

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Lilium, the Munich-based startup developing an on-demand air taxi service, has been awarded one of the world’s most prestigious design accolades for its work on the Lilium Jet.

The Lilium Jet, a five-seater all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, was selected for a “Best of the Best” award by the Red Dot Design Award organization in its 2019 “Design Concept” competition.

From more than 4,200 entries the international judging panel selected fewer than 1 per cent to receive this award which celebrates the design of novel concepts and products that are not yet in the market. [Read more…] about Lilium jet awarded prestigious ‘Best of the Best‘ Red Dot design award

Continental names Infineon as its Supplier of the Year

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Automotive parts giant Continental has named chipmaker Infineon as its “Supplier of the Year”.

Following the motto “Success is only possible in a team”, Continental Automotive once a year honors suppliers for their extraordinary accomplishments.

For 2018, Infineon was now named Supplier of the Year in the electronics category. Continental is one of the biggest Tier 1 suppliers to the automotive industry worldwide. [Read more…] about Continental names Infineon as its Supplier of the Year

Verizon launches mobile 5G nationwide and ultra-wideband 5G in Minneapolis

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Verizon has debuted its fifth 5G-enabled device with the launch of the Inseego MiFi M1000.

When connected to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, the device, exclusively available to Verizon customers, provides the large bandwidth and fast download speeds required for applications like 4K/8K video streaming, virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR), mobile workforce, industrial IoT and more.

Verizon also launched 5G Ultra Wideband mobility service in St Paul, Minnesota, joining Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis and Providence as the fifth of more than 30 Verizon 5G mobility cities Verizon plans to launch in 2019. [Read more…] about Verizon launches mobile 5G nationwide and ultra-wideband 5G in Minneapolis

Motlow College becomes an ABB Robotics Education affiliate

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Motlow State Community College in McMinnville, Tennessee is a new member of the ABB Robotics Affiliate Education Program.

ABB instructors have already begun teaching certificate training classes at the recently built Automation & Robotic Training Center (ARTC) adjacent to the Motlow campus.

The 12,500 square-foot ARTC has a dedicated ABB Robotics lab equipped with six 6-axis ABB robots and robot controllers, and all the necessary software and peripheral equipment to teach ABB customers how to program and operate ABB industrial robots. [Read more…] about Motlow College becomes an ABB Robotics Education affiliate

ThyssenKrupp to provide 155 lifts and 22 escalators to Beijing airport base

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As the sole lift supplier to China Southern Airlines’ new Beijing airport base, Thyssenkrupp Elevator is to deliver 155 elevators and 22 escalators to Beijing Daxing Airport, which is currently under construction.

China Southern Airlines has moved to the new mega airport in the south of Beijing as part of its ‘two-hub’ strategy, alongside its current Guangzhou base.

The plans for the airport facilities were designed by architect Sir Norman Foster, while the hexagonal main terminal was designed by Zara Hadid Architects. At approximately 7.5 million sq. feet, it will be the largest terminal in the world.

[Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp to provide 155 lifts and 22 escalators to Beijing airport base

From old mail order catalogues to same-day delivery: Warehouse robots are the quintessential sign of changing times

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Ever since Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 for $775 million and took the startup company’s robots off the market, warehouse managers have been looking for alternative suppliers. 

At that time, there simply no significantly well-known alternatives or proven solutions, but now, seven years on, there is a relatively large number of companies which build and supply warehouse robots.

It’s highly unlikely to be a coincidence that, in the intervening years, Amazon has grown extremely fast to become not only the world’s largest online retailer but also one of the largest logistics companies – not just in its native US, but worldwide. [Read more…] about From old mail order catalogues to same-day delivery: Warehouse robots are the quintessential sign of changing times

White paper: Preparing Your Warehouse for Robots

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In this white paper, Preparing Your Warehouse for Robots, produced in association with Geek Plus Robotics, we look at the types of robotics and automation technologies available to warehouse managers and how they can prepare for the implementation of these technologies.

We can provide a brief answer right now to one of the first questions that many people ask about buying robots and increasing the level of automation in their warehouse: “Is it expensive?”

And that answer is, as ever, “It depends.” [Read more…] about White paper: Preparing Your Warehouse for Robots

Webinar: Safety requirements and technologies for mobile robots

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Join us for this important webinar, explaining how new innovations in 2D safety LiDAR are opening up new possibilities for Autonomous Mobile Robots, or AMRs. 

Register now

Webinar: Navigating Mobile Robotics with 2D Safety LiDAR
Date: August 19, 2019
Time: 11:00 am in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tkn4I_L7TQ6WvD70Yg4rFw

Presented by Tyler Glieden, product manager at SICK, one of the world’s leading sensor suppliers, this presentation will explore some of those innovations and how they can enable more intelligent and productive AMRs.  [Read more…] about Webinar: Safety requirements and technologies for mobile robots