Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

Pony.ai and SANY to mass produce autonomous trucks

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Pony.ai, an autonomous driving technology company, has formed a strategic joint venture with SANY Heavy Truck, a subsidiary of SANY Heavy Industry, a Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer and the third largest heavy equipment manufacturer globally.

Pony.ai and SANY say they will collaborate to create a “world-leading autonomous truck brand”.

The two companies say they will “deeply integrate” Pony.ai’s “virtual driver” with SANY’s technical accumulation in the field of wire-controlled chassis and vehicle development to jointly develop high-end heavy trucks that are automotive-grade and have L4-class redundancies. These trucks will inaugurate the future of truck logistics transportation.

The joint venture plans to start small-scale deliveries of the robotrucks in 2022 and 2023. Mass production of the L4 truck will commence in 2024 and within a few years will reach an annual production of around 10,000 trucks. [Read more…] about Pony.ai and SANY to mass produce autonomous trucks

Elite Robot raises ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in Series C funding round

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Shanghai-based Elite Robot says it has raised “tens of millions of dollars” in its Series C funding round. 

Founded in 2017, Elite Robot says its robots give retailers and factories more choice, control and flexibility over their productions by managing the back-end of the production.

The robots present programming options, securely processing units, and mitigating 4 Ds tasks – while providing a seamless front-end experience.  [Read more…] about Elite Robot raises ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in Series C funding round

Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has expanded its collaboration with electronic components manufacturer Siemens Switchgear Shanghai with the second phase of a smart manufacturing automation project.

The expansion introduces more of Geekplus’s goods-to-person picking and materials handling robots to the multi-robot configuration and opens up a further 3,000 sq m of automated warehousing space. The system achieved a delivery accuracy rate of 100 percent, with materials accuracy of over 99.98 percent in the production line.

Siemens Switchgear Shanghai first joined forces with Geekplus in 2019 and successfully built a full-process flexible automated intelligent logistics factory using four types of Geekplus robots: P800R goods-to-person picking robots, MP1000R moving robots, RS2 tote-to-person robots, and X-series four-way shuttles for high-density storage. [Read more…] about Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

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Flexiv, which describes itself as a general-purpose robotics company, has closed its Series B funding round, raising more than $100 million.

Major investors which took part in the round include Meituan, Meta Capital, New Hope Group, Longwood, YF Capital, Gaorong Capital, GSR Ventures and Plug and Play, marking the largest single-round fundraising ever in the field of general-purpose robotics.

Shiquan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Flexiv, says: “The strategic funding from leading companies and funds in various industries will mainly be used for mass production and marketing, new market development, and cutting-edge R&D. [Read more…] about Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

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Hai Robotics has formed a partnership with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity.

With this partnership, Pop.capacity will be able to include Hai Robotics solutions as part of its portfolio offering to its customers in an effort to reduce friction points within their warehouses.

Pop.capacity is pioneering the frictionless supply chain. By combining years of supply chain experience, and a never before seen technology, they are uniquely positioned to bring a disruptive new solution to an industry full of unnecessary friction. [Read more…] about Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation

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Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google or Alphabet, has unveiled its next-generation fully autonomous vehicle, the Apollo RT6, an all-electric, production-ready model with a detachable steering wheel.

Designed for complex urban environments, Apollo RT6 will be put into operation in China in 2023 on Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service.

With a per unit cost of RMB 250,000 (approximately $37,000), the arrival of Apollo RT6 is set to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment at scale, bringing the world closer to a future of driverless shared mobility. [Read more…] about Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation

Effects of CNC Machining on Surface Roughness in Fused Deposition Modelling Products

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Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is a 3D printing technology that uses melted plastic filament to build up objects layer by layer. FDM parts are typically made from thermoplastic materials such as ABS, PLA, or PC.

Once the object is printed, it can be finished using various methods, such as sanding, painting, or machining. CNC machining is one of the most common ways to finish an FDM part.

It involves using computer-controlled cutting tools to remove material from the surface of the object until it reaches the desired shape and size. [Read more…] about Effects of CNC Machining on Surface Roughness in Fused Deposition Modelling Products

Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions partner to implement robots in warehouses

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for warehouses, has agreed a new partnership with one of Europe’s top system integrators, Reesink Logistic Solutions.

The two companies are entering a non-exclusive cooperation covering the entire Geekplus product range and targeting primarily Northern Europe, with a focus on the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland.

Gert Bossink, vice-president of Royal Reesink and division director of Reesink Logistic Solutions, says: “The warehouse automation market is becoming increasingly competitive and dense. [Read more…] about Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions partner to implement robots in warehouses

Sweden’s largest pharmacy chain partners with GreyOrange to increase warehouse automation

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Apotek Hjärtat, Sweden’s largest pharmacy chain, has signed a new partnership with GreyOrange to develop automation solutions for its new 20,000 square meter e-commerce warehouse that will open in September in Norrköping.

Through the partnership, Apotek Hjärtat will take the next step in automating its logistics. The warehouse that supplies pharmacies with goods is already largely automated, but the new collaboration gives Apotek Hjärtat the conditions to continue to improve customer experience through faster and smoother deliveries.

Eric Lundberg, CEO of Apotek Hjärtat, says: “Through the collaboration, we continue to automate our logistics flows and thereby lay the foundation for the next generation of e-commerce offering. [Read more…] about Sweden’s largest pharmacy chain partners with GreyOrange to increase warehouse automation

Geek+ automates German third-party logistics provider Bergler’s picking operations

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Geek+, the global leader in AMR technology, is pleased to announce that German third-party logistics provider Bergler Industrieservices has put their faith in Geek+’s Picking and Put-away solution, now fully operational in Bergler’s new logistics center in Erlensee, not far from Germany’s transportation hub, Frankfurt.

Bergler’s success is derived from providing top-quality logistics services, including order fulfillment and returns management, for German and international e-commerce actors.

To modernize their picking and put-away processes, Bergler opted for Geek+’s P-800 picking AMRs and sophisticated warehouse management system. [Read more…] about Geek+ automates German third-party logistics provider Bergler’s picking operations