Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for July 26, 2022

Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

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Flexiv, which describes itself as a general-purpose robotics company, has closed its Series B funding round, raising more than $100 million.

Major investors which took part in the round include Meituan, Meta Capital, New Hope Group, Longwood, YF Capital, Gaorong Capital, GSR Ventures and Plug and Play, marking the largest single-round fundraising ever in the field of general-purpose robotics.

Shiquan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Flexiv, says: “The strategic funding from leading companies and funds in various industries will mainly be used for mass production and marketing, new market development, and cutting-edge R&D. [Read more…] about Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

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Hai Robotics has formed a partnership with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity.

With this partnership, Pop.capacity will be able to include Hai Robotics solutions as part of its portfolio offering to its customers in an effort to reduce friction points within their warehouses.

Pop.capacity is pioneering the frictionless supply chain. By combining years of supply chain experience, and a never before seen technology, they are uniquely positioned to bring a disruptive new solution to an industry full of unnecessary friction. [Read more…] about Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

Kodiak Robotics expands autonomous freight service to Florida with USPS partner

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, has expanded its autonomous freight service to Florida with 10 Roads Express, a provider of time sensitive surface transportation for the US Postal Service.

To launch this partnership, Kodiak completed a round trip consisting of four commercial deliveries, including a coast-to-coast commercial run.

A Kodiak autonomous truck carried 10 Roads Express freight nearly 5,600 miles from San Antonio, Texas; to the San Francisco Bay Area; to Jacksonville, Florida; and back to San Antonio. The route was completed in just 114 hours. [Read more…] about Kodiak Robotics expands autonomous freight service to Florida with USPS partner

University Hospital Tübingen carries out first Dexter robotic surgeries in Germany

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University Hospital Tübingen has successfully completed gynecological operations using the Distalmotion Dexter on-demand robotic surgery system.

This marks the Swiss robot’s first clinical use in Germany.

Professor Dr Diethelm Wallwiener, Prof Dr Sara Brucker, Prof Dr Bernhard Krämer and their teams used the Dexter robot in several surgical procedures. [Read more…] about University Hospital Tübingen carries out first Dexter robotic surgeries in Germany

On-demand manufacturer Fictiv secures $100 million in funding

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Fictiv, an on-demand manufacturing startup, has closed a $100 million Series E funding round.

The investment will advance Fictiv’s mission to accelerate product innovation with an expanded focus on decreasing supply chain risk through its best-in-category technology and product experience.

This unique combination of benefits helps Fictiv’s customers tackle both the continuous, competitive pressures to innovate faster and address the relentless, daily supply chain disruptions. [Read more…] about On-demand manufacturer Fictiv secures $100 million in funding

‘First-of-its-kind’ $50 million fund launches for early-stage robotics, automation, and AI companies

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Cybernetix Ventures, an independent venture capital firm investing in early-stage robotics, automation and AI technology companies, today announced the launch of its first global fund headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Cybernetix Fund I will focus on pre-seed, seed and Series A investments into companies in the US and around the world developing robotics solutions for manufacturing, logistics, construction, and healthcare verticals.

The fund will also invest in key robotics-enabling software companies in AI/machine learning, cloud robotics, cybersecurity, autonomy and sensors/edge computing. [Read more…] about ‘First-of-its-kind’ $50 million fund launches for early-stage robotics, automation, and AI companies

Ambi Robotics returns to Berkeley and expands headquarters

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Ambi Robotics, a provider of AI-powered robotic parcel sorting systems for supply chain operations, has unveiled its new headquarters in Berkeley, California to support company growth and new product development.

Ambi Robotics is ramping up installations of AmbiSort systems ahead of peak season as more shipping and logistics brands grapple with surging ecommerce demand.

The new headquarters boasts 33,000 square feet of space for the company to continue its mission to solve the supply chain’s most complex problems while helping people handle more than ever before. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics returns to Berkeley and expands headquarters

Embark Trucks completes autonomous vehicle testing in snowy conditions

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, says it has successfully completed on-road testing in snowy conditions in Montana, USA.

The testing, which Embark announced earlier this year, was conducted to demonstrate the performance and safety of Embark’s patent-pending Vision Map Fusion (VMF) technology in geographies that experience severe winter weather.

Results from the testing demonstrate that in approximately 90 percent of runs through the snowy conditions under study – which could result in delays for HD map-based autonomous driving systems – VMF should operate successfully, or pause and resume travel within acceptable shipper delivery windows. [Read more…] about Embark Trucks completes autonomous vehicle testing in snowy conditions

Startup uWare Robotics develops ‘first’ complete system to map and monitor coastal ecosystems

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A Belgian-Spanish startup called uWare Robotics says it has developed the “first end-to-end technology to map and monitor coastal ecosystems”.

uWare says its system consists of a number of proprietary hardware and software technologies, including an autonomous underwater vehicle, called the uOne.

Designed for maximum mobility, stability, cost-effectiveness, and autonomy, the uOne allows for data collection at “five times the speed of a diver” and with the precision of a robot, claims uWare. [Read more…] about Startup uWare Robotics develops ‘first’ complete system to map and monitor coastal ecosystems

Electronic component manufacturer Stego expands headquarters

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Stego, a manufacturer of electronic components, is expanding its capacity at the group’s headquarters in Schwäbisch Hall, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

A doubling of warehouse volume for production is already complete. The construction of an office block is now starting. This should be completed by the end of 2023 and provide space for over 70 employees with 1,500 square metres.

The Stego Group in Schwäbisch Hall is growing. Even during the pandemic. Almost without restraint. Rising product demand has led to a strain on material supply and logistics. [Read more…] about Electronic component manufacturer Stego expands headquarters