Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Deutsche Bahn invests in Gideon Brothers 
in $32 million financing round

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Gideon Brothers, a robotics and AI solutions company, has received a new investment from Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, the venture capital arm of Deutsche Bahn Group, as part of the recent Series A financing round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies valued at $32 million.

The Series A investment will accelerate the development and commercialization of Gideon Brothers’ AI and 3D vision-based autonomous mobile robots that automate horizontal and vertical material handling operations.

The company is also expanding its manufacturing, sales, customer success, and marketing operations across key markets of the EU and United States, by opening offices in Munich, Germany and Boston, Massachusetts. [Read more…] about Deutsche Bahn invests in Gideon Brothers 
in $32 million financing round

Norway prime minister officially opens AutoStore Innovation Hub

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AutoStore, the leading robotic technology company, has created a pioneering test facility that can allow for faster fitting of automated systems for its clients to keep up with order demand.

Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg (pictured below cutting ribbon), was said to be “deeply impressed” by AutoStore’s success when she officially opened the new test center and had it demonstrated.

As she officially opened the Innovation Hub, Solberg said: “AutoStore is a guiding star showing the way towards growth for the Norwegian private sector.” [Read more…] about Norway prime minister officially opens AutoStore Innovation Hub

SICK’s new space-saving light grid provides maximum flexibility and functionality with minimal space requirements

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SICK says its new SLG-2 is “one of the most compact automation light grids of its kind of the market and offers high performance detection and measurement”.

SICK is currently introducing the new SLG-2 automation light grid. This is the second generation of the “Slim Light Grid” from SICK and offers enhanced flexibility and functionality.

Space-saving dimensions, low-profile construction, detection heights adjustable in practical increments, and a blind zone-free design ensure an easy integration in machines where space is limited. [Read more…] about SICK’s new space-saving light grid provides maximum flexibility and functionality with minimal space requirements

Teknic ClearPath servos power Guinness World Record domino robot

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Teknic’s ClearPath servos were used to power a much-talked-about robot called “the Dominator”, a Guinness World Record setting robot, made by Mark Rober (main picture). 

In just over 24 hours, the Dominator placed more than over 100,000 dominos to create a Super Mario Brothers mural. (See video below.)

Teknic’s all-in-one servos were used to power the omnidirectional wheels to place 300 dominos at a time, with an accuracy of a couple millimeters. [Read more…] about Teknic ClearPath servos power Guinness World Record domino robot

Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

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Musashi AI, a group company of Japanese Musashi Seimitsu Industry Company, has successfully completed a proof of concept for Autonomous Mobile Robots at Suzuyo, a Japanese third-party logistics company, in partnership with 634AI, a Musashi Group affiliated company and the developer of Maestro, an industrial automation and mobility management software.

Suzuyo, a Japanese logistics conglomerate with an annual turnover of circa $1.2 billion, successfully tested Musashi AI’s AMR powered by Maestro, a platform-agnostic control tower for logistics automation developed by Israeli company 634AI.

The AMR autonomously moved pallets in the facility from one location to another smoothly and efficiently. The proof of concept was performed in Suzuyo’s Shinshizuoka distribution center in Shizuoka prefecture. [Read more…] about Musashi AI, 634AI and Suzuyo to collaborate in installing autonomous mobile robots in logistics centers in Japan

Rapid Robotics raises $37 million in new investment

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Rapid Robotics, creator of what it says is “the first ready-to-work robotic machine operator”, has raised $36.7 million in Series B funding.

The funding round was led by Kleiner Perkins and Tiger Global, with existing investors NEA, Greycroft, Bee Partners and 468 Capital also participating.

The latest round is Rapid’s third in less than a year, bringing its total funding to $54.2 million. [Read more…] about Rapid Robotics raises $37 million in new investment

Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

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Fetch.ai, a Cambridge-based artificial intelligence lab building an open-access decentralized machine learning network for smart infrastructure, says the team of the “Economy of Things” (EoT) strategic advance engineering project at Bosch Research will be initiating machine learning trials on the Fetch.ai Collective Learning network.

The system will attempt to predict potential failures in Bosch’s machinery while maintaining data privacy.

The main focus of Bosch Research is the research and implementation of innovative new technologies. Bosch Research originally entered into a collaboration with Fetch.ai in 2019 and deployed a node on a Fetch test network in early 2021. [Read more…] about Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

Ranpak launches ‘completely automated packaging solution’ in North America

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Ranpak, a provider of paper-based packaging solutions for e-commerce and industrial supply chains, has launched its AutoFill solution in North America.

AutoFill is described as a “next-generation, fully automated end-of-line packaging solution that enhances throughput, reduces labor costs, and ensures the optimal amount of void fill in each package”.

Ranpak’s proprietary solution uses smart sensors to scan the package, computing the box size and the volume of objects inside, and then dispenses the optimal amount of paper needed to protect items during shipping. [Read more…] about Ranpak launches ‘completely automated packaging solution’ in North America

ANYbotics boosts autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne lidar sensors

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ANYbotics is equipping its autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne’s Puck lidar sensors. ANYbotics robots provide industrial operators with an automated robotic inspection solution to support efforts in monitoring and maintaining plants.

ANYbotics’ four-legged robot ANYmal performs inspection and monitoring tasks in challenging industrial terrains such as mining and minerals, oil and gas, chemicals, energy and construction.

ANYmal’s legs provide unparalleled mobility when moving up and down stairs, climbing over obstacles, steps and gaps, and crawling into tight spaces. ANYmal’s inspection payload provides visual, thermal and acoustic insights for condition monitoring of equipment and infrastructure. [Read more…] about ANYbotics boosts autonomous mobile robots with Velodyne lidar sensors

Sarcos Robotics and T-Mobile team up to integrate 5G into Guardian XT exoskeleton robot

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Sarcos Robotics, a developer of robotic exoskletons, and telecommunications company T-Mobile, have agreed a collaboration to integrate T-Mobile 5G into the Sarcos Guardian XT highly dexterous mobile industrial robot.

The Guardian XT robot is a remote-controlled robotic system designed to help humans safely work in hazardous conditions, performing tasks such as lifting heavy materials or using power tools at significant heights.

With T-Mobile 5G integration, the companies aim to improve performance and response time for remote operations, so the robots can perform tasks more quickly and more in tune with their operator’s movements. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics and T-Mobile team up to integrate 5G into Guardian XT exoskeleton robot