Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for July 27, 2022

Elite Robot raises ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in Series C funding round

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Shanghai-based Elite Robot says it has raised “tens of millions of dollars” in its Series C funding round. 

Founded in 2017, Elite Robot says its robots give retailers and factories more choice, control and flexibility over their productions by managing the back-end of the production.

The robots present programming options, securely processing units, and mitigating 4 Ds tasks – while providing a seamless front-end experience.  [Read more…] about Elite Robot raises ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in Series C funding round

Multiverse Computing to develop quantum digital twin for Bosch manufacturing facility

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Multiverse Computing, a quantum computing solutions provider, is collaborating in a research project with the Bosch Automotive Electronics plant in Madrid to leverage the power of quantum computing in the virtual replica or “digital twin” of a factory.

Multiverse is implementing quantum-based optimization algorithms at Bosch, delivering cutting-edge electronics components to several original equipment manufacturers around the world.

The Multiverse software solution will leverage data to assess the performance of individual equipment as well as broader production processes to enhance quality control and improve overall efficiencies, including energy and waste management. [Read more…] about Multiverse Computing to develop quantum digital twin for Bosch manufacturing facility

Amazon to begin drone deliveries in two US states

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Amazon is preparing to start deliveries of its retail products to its customers by drone. The first areas chosen are Lockeford, in California, and College Station, in Texas.

The world’s largest online retailer says “hundreds of residents have expressed interest in receiving their Amazon orders via drone”, and the company has built new facilities to support the expansion into the air.

The company’s drone service is called Amazon Prime Air, one of only three companies given certificates by the Federal Aviation Authority to operate drone deliveries. [Read more…] about Amazon to begin drone deliveries in two US states

Rapid Robotics unveils robot with ‘fastest setup time in the industry’

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Rapid Robotics says it has developed a robot with the “fastest setup time in the industry”.

The Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) from Rapid Robotics is “the first industrial robot that can get up and running in a matter of hours”, according to the company.

It’s also the first manufacturing robot that can move between jobs “in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee”. [Read more…] about Rapid Robotics unveils robot with ‘fastest setup time in the industry’

Small-batch medical shop triples production with robotics

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Figuring out how to meet rising production demand can be deceptive. On the surface, it’s a simple math problem. If you have one machine on the floor and it makes eight parts per day, and you need to produce 16 parts per day, just add another machine, right?

Meeting demand in a consistent, cost-effective manner is a bit more complicated. Sometimes, it takes a little more due diligence to uncover the best way to increase throughput or meet rising demand.

The operations group at Ultradent Products, a leading developer and manufacturer of high- tech dental materials and devices, faced such a problem. In 2017, the company sought to increase production of its industry-leading Valo curing light, used by dental clinicians to cure dental composites, sealants, and various other chemistries. [Read more…] about Small-batch medical shop triples production with robotics

Hexagon and ESAB to help manufacturers ‘optimise robotic welding processes’

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Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division has signed a partnership agreement with ESAB, a fabrication specialist, to create a “streamlined welding solution” combining Hexagon’s simulation software with ESAB’s InduSuite solutions to help fabricators perform more efficient and successful welding operations.

Hexagon’s simulation intelligence, embedded within ESAB’s software and automation portfolio, will ensure that users have the tools required to “consistently manufacture high-quality products without costly trial and error”, according to the companies.

Producing successful welds can be challenging without the benefit of many years’ shop-floor experience and, even with an extensive welding experience, can incur high costs from waste and time. [Read more…] about Hexagon and ESAB to help manufacturers ‘optimise robotic welding processes’

Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has expanded its collaboration with electronic components manufacturer Siemens Switchgear Shanghai with the second phase of a smart manufacturing automation project.

The expansion introduces more of Geekplus’s goods-to-person picking and materials handling robots to the multi-robot configuration and opens up a further 3,000 sq m of automated warehousing space. The system achieved a delivery accuracy rate of 100 percent, with materials accuracy of over 99.98 percent in the production line.

Siemens Switchgear Shanghai first joined forces with Geekplus in 2019 and successfully built a full-process flexible automated intelligent logistics factory using four types of Geekplus robots: P800R goods-to-person picking robots, MP1000R moving robots, RS2 tote-to-person robots, and X-series four-way shuttles for high-density storage. [Read more…] about Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

Avidbots and Maplesoft partner to design new autonomous commercial cleaning systems

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Avidbots, a maker of commercial robotic cleaning systems, and Maplesoft, a provider of modeling and calculation software for engineering and research, have agreed a strategic partnership to “bring more innovation to autonomous cleaning robot design for commercial customers”.

Warehouses and retail businesses are frequently turning to tech to provide efficient, cost-effective cleaning options for essential commercial cleaning tasks, say the companies.

Finding efficient cleaning solutions has been made challenging by unpredictable staffing and the additional Covid-related surface disinfection steps. [Read more…] about Avidbots and Maplesoft partner to design new autonomous commercial cleaning systems

Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

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By Ritukar Vijay, CEO at Ottonomy

Retailers are feeling the heat from rising labor costs, and are increasingly looking to automated solutions to keep worker costs down.

According to a February 28, 2022 story in The Wall Street Journal, US retailers spent 4 percent more cash on labor costs in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.

Big box brands like Target, Costco, and Walmart are all raising wages above beyond the $15 minimum wage level to secure the staffing they need to stay competitive. For retailers, restaurants, and other consumer-facing businesses, the wage growth issue stems from a burgeoning problem – not enough workers. [Read more…] about Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

100,000 Husqvarna robots prepare to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to NASA’s Mars robot

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More than 100,000 Husqvarna robots are preparing to sing the traditional “Happy Birthday” song to NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover robot in the weirdest birthday party ever.

Husqvarna says its robots will shout at the top of their voices – or whatever it is they use to communicate – from Earth to Mars, which is a distance of more than 174 million km, in an effort to get through to the “loneliest robot in the universe”, according to the company.

It generally takes about 5 to 20 minutes for a radio signal to travel the distance between Mars and Earth, depending on planet positions. [Read more…] about 100,000 Husqvarna robots prepare to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to NASA’s Mars robot