Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

PickNik Robotics and Motiv to jointly develop of advanced robotics capabilities


 for space exploration

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PickNik Robotics, a developer of advanced robot arm software solutions, and Motiv Space Systems, a designer and manufacturer of space-rated robotic systems, motor controllers, and mechanisms, have agreed a partnership to develop advanced robotics for space applications.

The partnership aims to advance In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities through the integration of PickNik’s MoveIt Studio technology for robot arm control and Motiv’s xLink robot arm product line.

PickNik Robotics, known as the Unstructured Robotics Company, has a ten-year heritage in advanced robotics control software and has received SBIR Phase 3 funding from NASA to develop advanced planning capabilities for robots in microgravity environments. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics and Motiv to jointly develop of advanced robotics capabilities


 for space exploration

Tackling the lack of specialists with innovative robotics solutions

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Boring, strenuous, and exhausting are things of the past. The work environment of tomorrow looks different: exciting, simple, and easy. Cobots, AGVs (Autonomous Guided Vehicles), and AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) put variety into daily work routines.

Cooperation with the robot transforms previously tedious, strenuous tasks into popular activities that are easy to perform. Numerous exhibitors at automatica, held in Munich from June 27 to 30, 2023, will present examples of such transformations.

While such work facilitation is great, the pivotal question is: To what extent can automation and robotics compensate the lack of specialists? An ever-increasing gap emerges as the baby boomers retire from the workforce. [Read more…] about Tackling the lack of specialists with innovative robotics solutions

New Scale Robotics enhances its automated gauging system through robotic thread verification

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Thread verification is the latest enhancement to New Scale Robotics’ Q-Span Automated Gauging System, a “do-it-yourself” robotic automation system for quality teams in high-mix, small-batch manufacturing.

The Q-Span Gauging System automates gauging processes by combining existing manual gauges with a collaborative robot, grippers for part handling, easy-to-use metrology and robot control software, and automated data collection.

The robot arm loads parts into a fixture and activates the thread gauge to verify or chase threaded holes or external threads. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics enhances its automated gauging system through robotic thread verification

Covariant raises $75 million in Series C funding

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Covariant, an AI robotics company, has raised an additional $75 million in Series C funds, bringing its total funding to $222 million.

Returning investors Radical Ventures and Index Ventures co-led the round, which also saw additional funding from returning investors Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Amplify Partners.

The round also welcomed new investors Gates Frontier Holdings, AIX Ventures, and Northgate Capital. [Read more…] about Covariant raises $75 million in Series C funding

Scythe Robotics unveils its first open source CANopen stack

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Scythe Robotics, a developer of commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the professional landscaping industry, has unveiled its first open source release.

CANfetti is a CANopen compliant stack developed to overcome the limitations of existing libraries.

Written and refined over the past several years by Scythe’s firmware and software teams, CANfetti significantly lowers the barrier to entry with an open source, easy to use, and production-grade library for robust CANopen communications. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics unveils its first open source CANopen stack

Mouser Electronics sponsors FIRST Robotics Competition

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Mouser Electronics has confirmed its continued sponsorship of the FIRST Robotics Competition, which inspires innovation and fosters well-rounded life capabilities in tens of thousands of young people every year.

During the 2022-23 FIRST Robotics Competition season, nearly 100,000 high-school students on more than 3,400 teams from across the world are learning, discovering, and solving engineering challenges through a series of robotics events.

Kevin Hess, Mouser’s senior vice president of marketing, says: “Since our founding, education has been a main facet of Mouser’s mission. [Read more…] about Mouser Electronics sponsors FIRST Robotics Competition

Sevensense Robotics to showcase its Alphasense Autonomy Evaluation Kit at ProMAT

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Swiss 3D visual autonomy provider Sevensense Robotics says it is planning to present its Alphasense Autonomy Evaluation Kit at ProMAT 2023.

The software would enable “off-the-shelf prototyping solutions” for manufacturers of autonomous mobile robots, says the company.

Sevensense says automation has the potential to “exponentially increase efficiency, profitability, and safety in the logistics and manufacturing sectors”. But so far, the lack of a robust, yet flexible navigation technology has limited the scope and scale of automation in material handling operations. [Read more…] about Sevensense Robotics to showcase its Alphasense Autonomy Evaluation Kit at ProMAT

Zoox says its robotaxi is ‘first in the world to operate on public roads’

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Autonomous mobility-as-a-service company, Zoox, has completed what it describes as “a key milestone” – deploying “the world’s first purpose-built robotaxi on open public roads with passengers”.

On February 11, 2023, Zoox conducted the first run of its employee shuttle service in Foster City, California, marking “the first time in history” a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi without traditional driving controls carried passengers on open public roads.

To reach this milestone, Zoox completed rigorous testing on private roads and received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to operate its robotaxi on the state’s public roads. [Read more…] about Zoox says its robotaxi is ‘first in the world to operate on public roads’

Growth in electric vehicle manufacturing drives industrial robot sales to record highs in North America

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Data released by the Association for Advancing Automation show that 44,196 robots were ordered in 2022, up 11 percent over 2021. The record results are credited to a resurgence in sales to automotive companies looking to boost electric vehicle production.

Driven by the resurgence in robot orders from automotive companies, the North American robotics market set all-time records in both robots sold and value in 2022.

According to the report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North American companies ordered 44,196 robots valued at $2.38 billion last year, representing increases of 11 percent and 18 percent, respectively, over 2021, the previous record. [Read more…] about Growth in electric vehicle manufacturing drives industrial robot sales to record highs in North America

Residents in the United Arab Emirates may soon receive parcels delivered by drones and robots

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Aramex, a global provider of logistics and transportation solutions, says it has completed the testing of its drone and roadside robot deliveries in Dubai, one of the seven emirates in the UAE.

This is part of the company’s “Future Delivery Program” aimed at enhancing last-mile logistics using smart shipping solutions to enable quicker, more sustainable, and cost-effective deliveries.

The initial tests were conducted at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in partnership with BARQ EV, a leading commercial drone delivery service provider in the UAE, and Kiwibot, a Colombia-based company specializing in delivery robotics. [Read more…] about Residents in the United Arab Emirates may soon receive parcels delivered by drones and robots