Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for January 29, 2023

Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

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Scythe Robotics, a startup company developing advanced, commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the professional landscape industry, has raised $42 million in Series B financing.

The round was led by Energy Impact Partners and included additional new investors ArcTern Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Amazon’s Alexa Fund alongside participation from existing investors True Ventures, Inspired Capital and more.

The funding will help Scythe meet demand for the more than 7,500 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous M.52 mower placed by commercial landscape businesses nationwide. This financing round brings the company’s total capital raised to date to $60.6 million. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

Oil and gas drilling contractor Nabors acquires digital twin developer MindMesh

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Oil and gas drilling company Nabors has acquired engineering technology firm, MindMesh. The acquisition includes the downhole simulation and modeling technologies that the MindMesh team has developed.

Additionally, MindMesh co-founder and chief technology officer Raju Gandikota joined Nabors as a Director in the Controls and Automation group.

Plans are in the works to integrate several digital modeling and visualization technologies complementary to Nabors’ Smart Suite of drilling automation and digitalization products. [Read more…] about Oil and gas drilling contractor Nabors acquires digital twin developer MindMesh

Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs

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Machina Labs has completed an investment by Lockheed Martin Ventures (LMV), the venture arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company.

Machina Labs combines AI and robotics to rapidly manufacture advanced sheet metal products. This latest funding brings the total raised by Machina Labs to $21.8 million.

The investment will be used to accelerate company growth to meet customer demand, and to expand R&D into additional processes and metallurgical offerings. [Read more…] about Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs

Unlocking the Benefits of Static Residential Proxies for the AI revolution

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Most savvy internet users may already be aware of residential proxies. A proxy is often a solution to hide an IP address by masking it with a residential IP.

While relatively reliable and block-free, residential proxies are slower than datacenter proxies. However, what if there was a solution that offered both validity and speed?

Static residential proxies can help in this situation. Static proxies are linked to a single IP address that never changes. In terms of authenticity and speed, these proxies provide you with the best of both (residential and datacenter) worlds. [Read more…] about Unlocking the Benefits of Static Residential Proxies for the AI revolution

2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Five challenges for warehouse management, according to AutoStore

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AutoStore has launched a new benchmark report with insights from more than 300 C-level business leaders in warehouse management and fulfillment.

Survey participants identified the top three current challenges facing organizations as: rising energy costs (32 percent), increasing labor costs (27 percent), and supply chain and shipping constraints (26 percent).

Ellen Brune, head of global strategic accounts at AutoStore, says: “There is a need to operate more efficiently, which is perhaps why nearly nine in 10 organizations either have, or are planning to install, automation technology in their warehouse in 2023. [Read more…] about 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Five challenges for warehouse management, according to AutoStore

Mercedes-Benz becomes ‘world’s first’ automotive company to certify SAE Level 3 system for US market

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Mercedes‑Benz claims to have become the world’s first automotive company to bring SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving to the US, with Nevada being the first state to confirm the compliance of the system with state regulations.

This significant milestone sets the ground-breaking Mercedes‑Benz “Drive Pilot” system apart as the first and only SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle authorized for use on US public freeways.

Complying with the requirements of Nevada Chapter 482A for Autonomous Vehicles, Drive Pilot will allow the driver to hand over the dynamic driving task to the vehicle under certain conditions. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz becomes ‘world’s first’ automotive company to certify SAE Level 3 system for US market

Universal Robots reports record annual revenue of $326 million

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Universal Robots, the Danish collaborative robot company, has reported Q4 revenue of $85 million, bringing 2022 annual revenue to $326 million, up 5 percent on 2021.

On a constant currency basis, growth over the year was 12 percent.

Kim Andreasen, Universal Robots’ chief financial officer, says: “We are proud to have continued to grow our business despite facing a difficult macroeconomic environment in 2022. [Read more…] about Universal Robots reports record annual revenue of $326 million

Berkshire Grey and Locus Robotics combine to offer ‘industry-first’ cross-platform robotic automation

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Berkshire Grey, a provider of robotic solutions that automate supply chain processes, and Locus Robotics, a builder of autonomous mobile robotics for logistics and distribution warehouses, have agreed a partnership with the unveiling of their combined solution that integrates the Berkshire Grey Robotic Shuttle Put Wall (BG RSPWi) with Locus Origin and Locus Vector bots.

This “innovative integrated solution” uses end-to-end robotic automation solutions for retail and e-commerce customers looking to maximize their supply chain productivity and throughput while addressing growing labor shortages.

Ongoing labor availability and inflation challenges continue to put growing pressures on supply chain and distribution frameworks. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey and Locus Robotics combine to offer ‘industry-first’ cross-platform robotic automation