Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Agility Robotics raises $150 million in latest funding round

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Agility Robotics, a creator and manufacturer of robots designed to work alongside people in logistics and warehouse environments, has raised $150 million led by DCVC and Playground Global.

The Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund also joined as an investor to help spur innovation in the logistics industry.

Agility’s robots provide unique value to businesses by augmenting the human workforce’s productivity, efficiency, and wellness. This capital raise will accelerate Agility’s R&D and scale its robot production. [Read more…] about Agility Robotics raises $150 million in latest funding round

Edson unveils robotic system for towel and tissue industry

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Edson has unveiled a new robotic top-load case packer aimed at small to midsized companies that manufacture a variety of SKUs within the away-from-home towel and tissue industry.

Edson’s new 4000TL-Robotic will be debuting the new 4000TL-Robotic on March 16-18 in booth D10 at Tissue World Miami.

The 4000TL-Robotic is a cost-effective machine that uses a Fanuc M-710iC/50 FP robot to provide a flexible top-load case packer with different end-of-arm tool options to efficiently handle specific applications. [Read more…] about Edson unveils robotic system for towel and tissue industry

Abundant Robots launches to help farmers streamline harvesting process

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Abundant Robots, a startup automating the apple harvesting process to deliver high-quality produce to consumers, has launched to raise up to $20 million in seed capital via equity crowdfunding site WAX.

The launch comes just weeks after the corporate innovation venture studio and startup incubator Wavemaker Labs Asia (agtech-focused division of Wavemaker Labs’ overall brand) purchased Abundant Robotics’ intellectual property.

This acquisition is part of Wavermaker Labs’ larger strategy to bring intelligent automation solutions to market and help shape a future of food that is more efficient and sustainable, and is filled with prosperity, thoughtful sourcing and improved food quality from seed to fork. [Read more…] about Abundant Robots launches to help farmers streamline harvesting process

Chipotle tests robot kitchen assistant Chippy

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Chipotle Mexican Grill has unveiled its latest digital innovation, Chippy, an autonomous kitchen assistant made by Miso Robotics that integrates culinary traditions with artificial intelligence to make tortilla chips.

Chipotle’s culinary and technology teams called on Miso Robotics to customize its latest robotic solution to cook and freshly season Chipotle’s delicious tortilla chips.

“We are always exploring opportunities to enhance our employee and guest experience. Our goal is to drive efficiencies through collaborative robotics that will enable Chipotle’s crew members to focus on other tasks in the restaurant,” said Curt Garner, Chief Technology Officer, Chipotle. [Read more…] about Chipotle tests robot kitchen assistant Chippy

Numina and Addverb partner to expand North American warehouse automation solutions

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Automation solutions provider Addverb Technologies has agreed a strategic North American partner agreement with Numina Group, an independent warehouse automation software developer and systems integrator.

The agreement expands the deployment of Addverb’s cutting-edge mobile robots for automation solutions to North American warehouses and provides Numina Group’s customers access to additional innovative technology applications for faster and smarter warehouse order fulfillment automation.

Numina will start with Addverb’s Dynamo series of robots, which work collaboratively with human order pickers to increase efficiency. [Read more…] about Numina and Addverb partner to expand North American warehouse automation solutions

SVG Ventures selects 10 startups for accelerator program

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SVG Ventures | THRIVE has chosen 10 global startups selected to join the 8th cohort (THRIVE VIII) of their award winning accelerator program, aimed at the agricultural technology sector.

The 10 companies were selected from an applicant pool of over 800 startups from across 78 countries.

The competitive selection process, conducted in collaboration with THRIVE’s corporate partners, focused on startups’ potential impact on sustainability as well as commercial success. [Read more…] about SVG Ventures selects 10 startups for accelerator program

SICK unveils intelligent solution for safe object differentiation and identification on conveying solutions and packaging machines

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With the introduction of the deTec4 Smart Box Detection access protection system from SICK, secondary packaging machines in the end-of-line area, top and side loaders, or sorter and ejector modules can now be operated in a safe and user-friendly manner.

With the help of a reliable pattern detection logic, Smart Box Detection can safely differentiate rectangular objects, such as boxes, from people and body parts in the inlet and outlet zones of packaging machines or logistics conveying systems.

This allows the boxes to be transported continuously without any stops into and out of fenced in machines. [Read more…] about SICK unveils intelligent solution for safe object differentiation and identification on conveying solutions and packaging machines

AutoStore launches Bin Lift 2.0 to North American market

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Warehouse automation company AutoStore has launched its Bin Lift 2.0, which will extend the reachability of AutoStore bins in multi-level warehouses, enabling a flexible warehouse layout and reducing real estate costs.

Now available in North America, the vertical lift assists AutoStore bins, which are durable containers used to hold inventory and are handled precisely by AutoStore robots.

Compared to the previous Bin Lift 1.1 model that was only available in Europe, the Bin Lift 2.0 offers notable mechanical improvements and a better user experience, thanks to a significant noise reduction. [Read more…] about AutoStore launches Bin Lift 2.0 to North American market

Quest Industrial showcases robotic palletizing for dairy industry

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Quest Industrial has been showcasing the “numerous benefits” that its Box Bot Robotic Palletizer brings to the dairy industry at the recent CheeseExpo, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Quest is an award-winning, Fanuc Authorized system integrator and certified vision specialist, and its systems are capable of direct food contact with US Department of Agriculture compliant and washdown designs.

For many in the dairy industry, production can be challenging due to tight facilities with fixed equipment. This is where the Box Bot shines. [Read more…] about Quest Industrial showcases robotic palletizing for dairy industry

Ensto Building Systems completes factory to build smart electrical solutions

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Ensto Building Systems, a manufacturer of smart electrical solutions, has completed a new factory in Keila Industrial Park.

With the new factory, the company will double the entire factory area and will be operating in a production unit of 8,200 square meters.

Harju KEK took care of the completion of the construction, which cost more than three million euros. [Read more…] about Ensto Building Systems completes factory to build smart electrical solutions