Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

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The number of enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot (see video below) has doubled amid the global coronavirus pandemic, according to an executive at the startup company.

Governments in virtually every country in the world have ordered lockdowns of citizens, or “shelter-in-place” orders, as they are referred to in the US.

The orders have led to many people in the robotics industry to predict that the demand for delivery robots, such as the ones produced by Savioke, will increase. [Read more…] about Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

Estonian supermarket chain Selver installs automated store technology

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Selver, an Estonian supermarket chain, has introduced fully automated store or locker technology at one of its 50 or more locations.

The store was developed, manufactured and supplied by Cleveron, a technology company which produces a range of automated item-dispensing systems, often using the word “robot” to describe them.

The Cleveron 501 is a stationary automated store that enables customers to receive online-ordered groceries without human contact. The first robotic grocery locker is situated on the outskirts of Tallinn, in front of Peetri Selver. 
[Read more…] about Estonian supermarket chain Selver installs automated store technology

Alio launches ‘world’s first and only’ 6 degrees-of-freedom nano-positioner

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Alio Industries has launched what it claims to be the “world’s first and only 6 degrees-of-freedom nano-positioner with 60 degrees tip and tilt travel.

Alio Industries says the 60-degree tip/tilt travel of its Angulares Hybrid Hexapod is “by far the most angular travel range available from any 6-degrees-of-freedom positioner on the market”.

The Angulares features precision crossed roller bearing guides, optical incremental or absolute encoder feedback on all axes, linear motor and/or servo ball screw drives, unlimited programmable tool center point locations and coordinate offsets, and zero backlash on all axes. [Read more…] about Alio launches ‘world’s first and only’ 6 degrees-of-freedom nano-positioner

MassRobotics agrees strategic partnership with Thomas H. Lee Partners

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MassRobotics has agreed a strategic partnership with private equity company Thomas H. Lee Partners.

The partnership aims to bring together their extensive market knowledge, expertise, and networks to advance the scaling of automation-related businesses across robotics and artificial intelligence startups.

Based in the Boston area, MassRobotics is one of the first and largest robotics startups escalator in the world. [Read more…] about MassRobotics agrees strategic partnership with Thomas H. Lee Partners

Stereotaxis robotic technology referenced in ‘over 400 scientific publications’

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Stereotaxis, a developer of robotic technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, says it has reached a significant milestone of over 400 scientific publications now documenting the clinical benefits of Stereotaxis robotic technology.

A complete, searchable database of all publications is available on the company’s website, at this link.

David Fischel, chairman and CEO of Stereotaxis, says: “The clinical benefits of Robotic Magnetic Navigation have been extensively validated in high-quality clinical literature and in the real-world treatment of over one-hundred-thousand arrhythmia patients. [Read more…] about Stereotaxis robotic technology referenced in ‘over 400 scientific publications’

Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

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Locus Robotics, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has raised more than $40 million in new investment.

The Series D funding was led by Zebra Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Zebra Technologies. Existing investors, including Scale Venture Partners, also participated in the round.

The new funding brings Locus Robotics’ total funding to more than $105 million. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

Kuka says its ‘sensitive robot’ increases efficiency in automotive final assembly

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Industrial robot maker Kuka says its “sensitive robot” is helping to increase efficiency at the final stages of assembly in the automotive manufacturing sector.

The company says car manufacturers are always looking for solutions to increase the efficiency of assembly on the assembly line.

Innovative automation solutions should increase the degree of automation, says Kuka, and human and robot increasingly share the workplace along the assembly line. [Read more…] about Kuka says its ‘sensitive robot’ increases efficiency in automotive final assembly

BHS Technologies unveils RoboticScope to assist surgeons

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A Swiss company called BHS Technologies has unveiled a specially designed robot to assist surgeons, claiming it to be a world first.

“A high-precision robot, a high-resolution 3D camera and an innovative head-mounted display – the world’s first RoboticScope has arrived on the market,” says the company, adding that it “sets new standards in microsurgery”. 

Essentially, the system uses a head-mounted display to translate small head movements of the surgeon directly into movements of the robotic arm, enabling the surgeon to view exactly what they want. [Read more…] about BHS Technologies unveils RoboticScope to assist surgeons

ASM Assembly Systems uses Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robot for quality control checks

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Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robot has been carrying out the automated quality control of components at ASM Assembly Solutions.

Rethink, now part of the Hahn Group, says the ASM setup was simple and the operation enabled Sawyer to “quickly achieve high levels of acceptance among employees”.

The task of the SMT Solutions business segment in the ASM Pacific Technology group is to support, implement and realize the SMT Smart Factory for electronics manufacturers worldwide. [Read more…] about ASM Assembly Systems uses Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robot for quality control checks

Fanuc unveils new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications

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Fanuc America, the leading supplier of robotics, CNCs, RoboMachine’s and industrial IoT solutions recently demonstrated its new 3DV/1600 vision sensor.

Fanuc demonstrated the sensor at the show, an M-710iC/45M robot used the 3DV/1600 vision sensor to quickly find and snap boxes of varying sizes and shapes in a large bin.

The robot picked each package and dropped it into another bin. Once a bin was emptied, the sensor moved to the full bin and the cycle repeated. [Read more…] about Fanuc unveils new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications