Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mark Allinson

Boston Dynamics partners with Robotics & AI Institute to develop reinforcement learning for humanoid robots

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Boston Dynamics and the Robotics & AI Institute (formerly The AI Institute) have formed a partnership to advance humanoid robots through reinforcement learning.

Together, the two organizations will establish a shared reinforcement learning training pipeline for the new electric Atlas robot to build dynamic and generalizable mobile manipulation behavior.

The work, which kicked off this month, brings together two of the industry’s leading research teams to advance robot technology and to produce new capabilities on Atlas. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics partners with Robotics & AI Institute to develop reinforcement learning for humanoid robots

Brightpick launches supertall robot with 20 ft reach for warehouse work

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Brightpick, a leading provider of warehouse automation solutions for order fulfillment, has unveiled Brightpick Giraffe, an innovative robot capable of reaching heights up to 20 feet (6 m).

With this advancement, Brightpick users can now achieve up to three times the warehouse storage density of manual operations and double the density compared to the previous Brightpick solution.

Brightpick Giraffe is designed to work alongside Brightpick Autopicker robots for automated order picking. It retrieves storage totes from upper-level shelf locations and delivers them to lower levels, where an Autopicker can access them for picking (up to a height of 11 feet / 3.4 m). [Read more…] about Brightpick launches supertall robot with 20 ft reach for warehouse work

Waabi and Volvo partner to jointly develop autonomous transportation solutions

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Waabi, a developer of generative AI for the physical world, has entered a strategic partnership with Volvo Autonomous Solutions for the joint development and deployment of autonomous trucks.

The partnership combines Waabi’s groundbreaking innovation in generative AI with Volvo’s leadership in automation and safety innovation to unleash autonomous trucking and usher in a new era of safer, more efficient, and sustainable freight transportation.

Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi, says: “At Waabi, we believe that vertically integrating next-generation AI technology directly into an OEM’s vehicle production is the path forward to bring safe, robust autonomous vehicles to the road, at scale. [Read more…] about Waabi and Volvo partner to jointly develop autonomous transportation solutions

Tennant Company begins manufacturing cleaning robots in Europe ‘to meet rising demand’

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Tennant Company, a designer and manufacturer of cleaning robots, will, for the first time, manufacture its T16AMR autonomous robotic floor scrubber at its Uden manufacturing facility in the Netherlands.

The milestone marks the first of Tennant’s Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) fleet to be locally manufactured in Europe, further strengthening the Company’s commitment to sustainability and to support growing regional demand and more efficiently deliver exceptional customer experiences and local support.

The T16AMR, powered by Brain Corp’s cutting-edge BrainOS AI technology, delivers a differentiated high-performance autonomous cleaning tailored to the rigorous demands of industrial and commercial facilities. [Read more…] about Tennant Company begins manufacturing cleaning robots in Europe ‘to meet rising demand’

Rocsys hands-free charging platform to be installed at Rotterdam port

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APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, one of the most advanced automated container terminals in the world, and Rocsys, a provider of hands-free charging solutions, have joined forces to deploy hands-free charging at Maasvlakte II in the Port of Rotterdam.

A critical component of the largest and most advanced container terminals will now be powered by Rocsys charging systems, enabling the seamless transportation of large volumes of goods distributed throughout the world.

This partnership aligns with the Port of Rotterdam’s commitment to electrification and sustainability, further advancing innovation in automated terminal operations. [Read more…] about Rocsys hands-free charging platform to be installed at Rotterdam port

Locus Robotics and The Quality Group partner to ‘transform fulfillment operations’ in Germany

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Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots and AI-driven warehouse automation, and The Quality Group (TQG), one of Germany’s fastest-growing e-commerce companies, have agreed a partnership to deploy the LocusOne mobile robotics platform at TQG’s new 40,000 sq m fulfillment center in Elsdorf, Germany.

Full deployment is set to begin in just a few weeks, with plans to scale significantly over the coming months to enable TQG to meet the growing demand for its high-quality, locally produced products.

The Quality Group is a standout success in the European eCommerce landscape, rapidly expanding its market presence with innovative brands like ESN and More Nutrition. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics and The Quality Group partner to ‘transform fulfillment operations’ in Germany

Zebra Technologies increases productivity with ‘30 percent fewer robots’

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Zebra Technologies, a supply chain workflow specialist, has expanded its Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment, a “comprehensive solution” that utilizes the company’s new Zebra Connect Fulfillment autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), wearable technologies, software, and analytics designed to increase productivity and reduce costs in warehouse operations.

This AI-powered solution combines the functions of a warehouse execution system (WES) with robot fleet management and powerful analytics.

Using the new Zebra Symmetry Connect Fulfillment AMR, the solution enables frontline workers to load and unload orders to and from carts without requiring the AMR to remain permanently attached to each cart. This increases utilization and reduces the number of AMRs required in the fulfillment system. [Read more…] about Zebra Technologies increases productivity with ‘30 percent fewer robots’

Robotics Plus unveils new multi-use autonomous vehicle for agriculture

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New Zealand-based agritech company Robotics Plus has showcased Prospr, its autonomous, multi-use, hybrid vehicle for vineyards and orchards, at the recent 2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California this week.

Prospr is a robust autonomous vehicle with a unique modular architecture, advanced AI capabilities, and all-day running that tackles various crop tasks, including automated intelligent spraying.

Prospr significantly increases efficiency across tasks, reduces fuel consumption by 70 percent with its hybrid diesel-electric and decreases emissions, and reduces inputs – enhancing environmental sustainability and health and safety while reducing operational cost and reliance on increasingly hard-to-find machine operators. [Read more…] about Robotics Plus unveils new multi-use autonomous vehicle for agriculture

Square Robot makes further progress with its robotic tank inspection system

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After much anticipation, Square Robot, a specialist in robotic tank inspections, has knocked down two more barriers for its onstream, robotic tank inspections.

The SR-3 submersible robot has formally received the NEC/CEC Class I Division 2 (C1D2) certification and Square Robot’s Side Launcher has received the NEC/CEC Class I Division 1 (C1D1) certification.

The C1D2 and C1D1 certifications were issued by third-party Nationally Recognized Test Lab, FM Approvals, proving our systems safe for use in hazardous locations. [Read more…] about Square Robot makes further progress with its robotic tank inspection system

Fanuc robots ‘ease pain’ for Takeda Pharmaceutical

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A collaborative robotic solution from Fanuc and system integrator SKDK is alleviating health and safety issues at a German pharmaceutical manufacturing facility by working collaboratively with human employees to pack and stack packets of tablets onto pallets.

Prior to the cobot’s installation, workers at the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in Oranienburg, Germany were physically moving loads totalling 5.8 tonnes per shift, resulting in numerous days lost to sickness.

Since the introduction of the Fanuc CR-15iA, productivity has improved considerably, with the cobot working 24/7 while meeting all health and safety requirements. [Read more…] about Fanuc robots ‘ease pain’ for Takeda Pharmaceutical