Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Veo Robotics signs up Calvary Robotics as first integration partner

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Veo Robotics, an industrial automation company building technology to make robots responsive to humans, has agreed a partnership with Calvary Robotics, a developer of custom automation solutions, robotic platforms, and material handling systems, as its initial certified systems integrator partner.

Calvary will include Veo’s flagship product FreeMove, a “3D safeguarding solution” that is said to turn standard industrial robots into collaborative machines that work safely with humans, as part of its solution offering to customers.

The Veo team will provide training to the Calvary team on how to install FreeMove in various manufacturing settings. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics signs up Calvary Robotics as first integration partner

BlueBotics’ ANT navigation drives autonomous vehicles over 10 million kilometers

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BlueBotics’ ANT navigation software for warehouse vehicles  is now estimated to have driven automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots over 10 million kilometers.

ANT stands for “automation navigation technology” and has been installed in vehicles used for applications ranging from warehousing and manufacturing to commercial cleaning services, ultra-violet disinfection and more.

Dr Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics, says: “The timing of this milestone is perfect as it comes the same month that we celebrate the company’s 20-year anniversary. [Read more…] about BlueBotics’ ANT navigation drives autonomous vehicles over 10 million kilometers

LK Metrology introduces ‘ultra accuracy’ portable measuring arms

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LK Metrology has introduced what it describes as “ultra-accuracy” portable measuring arms.

The company has expanded its Freedom arm range of 3D articulating arm metrology systems, or portable measuring arms, with the launch of five models in both 6-axis and 7-axis variants.

The 10 new arms bring the total number of different varieties available from LK to 34. [Read more…] about LK Metrology introduces ‘ultra accuracy’ portable measuring arms

Global service robots market forecast to reach $110 billion by 2027

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The global professional service robots market is expected to be valued at $109.91 billion by the end of 2027, growing at an annual rate of 24.5 percent from 2020 to 2027, as highlighted in a report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Rising funding for research and development in robotics is expected to drive growth of the global professional service robots market during the forecast period.

Since professional service robots are being used in a variety of fields, many sectors (both public and private) have started investing in robotics research and development. [Read more…] about Global service robots market forecast to reach $110 billion by 2027

NuTec employs Epson cleanroom robots to automate medical syringe manufacturing

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NuTec Tooling Systems, a developer of custom automation solutions, has built a syringe coating machine which integrates four Epson Robots Cleanroom SCARA robots for a pharmaceutical original equipment manufacturing.

The robots are employed at various stations within the machine to provide precise, efficient, and cost-effective automation to the customer’s syringe manufacturing process.

The concept phase of the project started in 2018, and the machine was ready for operation in November 2020, enabling the OEM to work with government agencies at a critical time to develop a cost-effective process for manufacturing mass quantities of syringes to use in the fight against Covid-19. [Read more…] about NuTec employs Epson cleanroom robots to automate medical syringe manufacturing

ABB launches podcast about robotics and automation

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ABB is introducing a new series of podcasts that explore the world of robotics and automation, and their benefits to society in what the company describes as “the greatest shift in automation in a generation, brought on by the pandemic”.

Whether it’s collaborative robots working alongside humans in laboratories and SME businesses, or industrial robots working in large factories producing the next generation of electric vehicle, robots of all shapes and sizes are making work safer and more efficient for people and companies the world over.

Each episode of The Robot Podcast features a panel of experts and takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting global case studies. [Read more…] about ABB launches podcast about robotics and automation

Locus Robotics raises $150 million in latest funding round, bringing its valuation to ‘$1 billion’

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Locus Robotics, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has raised $150 million in Series E funding, led by Tiger Global Management and BOND.

The round builds on support from existing investors including Scale Venture Partners and Prologis Ventures, the venture capital arm of Prologis, the global leader in logistics real estate. It also brings the valuation of Locus Robotics to $1 billion, according to the company.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, says: “This new round of funding marks an important inflection point for Locus Robotics. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics raises $150 million in latest funding round, bringing its valuation to ‘$1 billion’

Ahold Delhaize expands micro-fulfillment with Swisslog and AutoStore

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Ahold Delhaize is expanding its micro-fulfillment capabilities as part of its omnichannel supply chain using warehouse automation technology from Swisslog and AutoStore.

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize, is the parent company for Ahold Delhaize’s US companies, including its local brands, which comprise:

  • Food Lion;
  • Giant Food;
  • The Giant Company;
  • Hannaford and Stop & Shop;
  • Retail Business Services, a US support services company providing services to the brands; and
  • Peapod Digital Labs, its digital, e-commerce and commercial engine.

When considered together, the local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest grocery retail group in the nation, operating more than 2,000 stores and distribution centers across more than 20 states and serving millions of customers each week through a wide variety of store formats with thousands of food and non-food items. [Read more…] about Ahold Delhaize expands micro-fulfillment with Swisslog and AutoStore

‘Artificial intelligence will employ next wave of truck drivers’, says survey

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A new survey suggests artificial intelligence could be the catalyst for over half of Americans to become truck drivers – if the job could be performed autonomously and remotely – suggests people would attend college to obtain employment

Einride, a Swedish technology company that develops and provides freight transport solutions based on electric and autonomous vehicles, released today the results of a survey conducted with OnePoll on the state of the trucking industry.

The survey examines the sentiments of American respondents around the intersection of artificial intelligence and industry-wide employment. [Read more…] about ‘Artificial intelligence will employ next wave of truck drivers’, says survey

Robots sense human touch using camera and shadows

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Soft robots may not be in touch with human feelings, but they are getting better at feeling human touch.

Cornell University researchers have created a low-cost method for soft, deformable robots to detect a range of physical interactions, from pats to punches to hugs, without relying on touch at all. Instead, a USB camera located inside the robot captures the shadow movements of hand gestures on the robot’s skin and classifies them with machine-learning software.

The group’s paper, ShadowSense: Detecting Human Touch in a Social Robot Using Shadow Image Classification, published in the Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies. The paper’s lead author is doctoral student, Yuhan Hu. [Read more…] about Robots sense human touch using camera and shadows