Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mark Allinson

Foundation EGI launches AI platform to streamline engineering and manufacturing processes

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MIT spin-out aims to tackle $8 trillion in industrial inefficiencies with engineering-focused AI platform

A new startup out of MIT, Foundation EGI, has emerged from stealth mode with a mission to apply domain-specific artificial intelligence to one of the most complex and least-digitized sectors of the global economy: manufacturing.

The company today unveiled what it calls the first Engineering General Intelligence (EGI) platform – an AI system designed to automate and optimize every phase of product lifecycle management.

The platform is currently being piloted by several Fortune 500 manufacturers, who are exploring its potential to reduce production delays, cut waste, and drive revenue growth. [Read more…] about Foundation EGI launches AI platform to streamline engineering and manufacturing processes

Locus Robotics ‘doubles warehouse productivity’ at French retailer Boulanger

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Locus Robotics has installed its AI-powered warehouse automation platform, LocusONE, at Boulanger, one of France’s largest consumer electronics and home appliance retailers.

The move marks a significant shift in Boulanger’s fulfillment strategy, transitioning from manual processes to scalable robotic automation.

The system was implemented at Boulanger’s central distribution facility in Hénin-Beaumont and fully integrated within four months. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics ‘doubles warehouse productivity’ at French retailer Boulanger

Bombardier expands use of Siemens Xcelerator to digitally transform aircraft engineering

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Bombardier is deepening its investment in digital transformation by expanding its adoption of Siemens Xcelerator software, aiming to streamline aircraft engineering processes from initial design through to production.

The Canadian aerospace manufacturer has selected Siemens’ NX software for 3D modeling, simulation, and manufacturing, as well as Capital software for electrical systems design.

These new tools will complement Bombardier’s ongoing use of Siemens’ Teamcenter product lifecycle management (PLM) system, first implemented in 2018. [Read more…] about Bombardier expands use of Siemens Xcelerator to digitally transform aircraft engineering

Coca-Cola invests $15 million in Malawi production line with AI technology

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Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the continent’s largest bottling partner of the Coca-Cola Company, has announced a $14.9 million investment in a new high-tech production line at its facility in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The upgrade, implemented through its local subsidiary Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi (CCBM), significantly boosts the company’s production capacity.

The new line will enable the company to manufacture a variety of beverages – including Coca-Cola-branded products and the popular local brand Sobo – on a single integrated system. [Read more…] about Coca-Cola invests $15 million in Malawi production line with AI technology

Apple’s push for automation: Airlifts, tariffs, and the future of iPhone manufacturing

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As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global trade, Apple finds itself re-engineering not just iPhones but its entire production model.

Reports that the company recently airlifted large quantities of its smartphones out of China to avoid tariffs have highlighted the mounting pressure to diversify its supply chain – and potentially to expand manufacturing closer to home.

The airlifts, which reportedly moved iPhones to markets like India and Vietnam, underscore a broader shift under way. [Read more…] about Apple’s push for automation: Airlifts, tariffs, and the future of iPhone manufacturing

Is spinning off a business a smart move? The ABB case and lessons from other corporate breakups

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ABB, one of the world’s largest industrial robotics and automation companies, has announced plans to spin off its “Robotics & Discrete Automation” business into a separate, publicly listed entity.

According to ABB chairman Peter Voser, the move is intended to give the robotics business enhanced focus and agility, enabling it to capitalize on what ABB sees as a $112 billion market opportunity by 2030.

It’s a bold move by ABB and we will see how – or indeed if – it works out. [Read more…] about Is spinning off a business a smart move? The ABB case and lessons from other corporate breakups

ABB to spin off robotics division, creating standalone public company by 2026​

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Swiss industrial giant ABB says it is planning to spin off its robotics division, establishing it as an independent, publicly traded company by the second quarter of 2026.

This strategic move aims to enhance focus and agility for both ABB and the new entity, provisionally named “ABB Robotics”.

ABB’s robotics division, recognized as the world’s second-largest industrial robot manufacturer after Japan’s Fanuc, reported revenues of $2.3 billion in 2024, accounting for approximately 7 percent of ABB’s total sales. [Read more…] about ABB to spin off robotics division, creating standalone public company by 2026​

The coming price war in humanoid robotics: From industrial workers to household helpers. How much for each?

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As the race to commercialize humanoid robots intensifies, companies across the globe are staking their claim in a market that spans industrial powerhouses to everyday household helpers.

Once confined to research labs and sci-fi films, humanoid robots are now inching closer to mainstream reality – and price is emerging as one of the key battlegrounds.

A new generation of robots is being launched at dramatically different price points, reflecting divergent visions for how these machines will integrate into workspaces, homes, and public environments. [Read more…] about The coming price war in humanoid robotics: From industrial workers to household helpers. How much for each?

XPeng to mass produce its humanoid robot next year

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XPeng, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is set to begin mass production of its humanoid robot, Iron, in 2026, marking a significant expansion into robotics.

Iron, unveiled at XPeng’s AI Day in November 2024, is designed for tasks in manufacturing, retail, and healthcare. Standing at 1.73 meters and weighing 70 kilograms, Iron features 60 articulating joints and 200 degrees of freedom, enabling fluid, human-like movements.

It is powered by XPeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip, a 40-core processor capable of handling 30 billion AI parameters, allowing it to perform complex tasks such as assembling EV components and navigating factory floors. ​ [Read more…] about XPeng to mass produce its humanoid robot next year

Tennant unveils new autonomous floor scrubber for large and complex facilities

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Tennant Company has launched the X6 Rovr, a mid-sized autonomous floor scrubber designed to meet the cleaning demands of large commercial and light-industrial facilities.

Building on the compact X4 Rovr, the new X6 model offers expanded floor coverage – up to 75,000 square feet per cleaning cycle – with minimal operator assistance.

Equipped with Brain Corp’s BrainOS autonomy platform, the X6 Rovr is capable of intelligent, real-time navigation, including obstacle detection and adaptive rerouting. [Read more…] about Tennant unveils new autonomous floor scrubber for large and complex facilities