Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mark Allinson

Humanoid robots: Stepping out of science fiction, into the real world

by

For many decades, science fiction films and books have described and shown us a variety of humanoid robots that range from ones that look clearly mechanical and follow simple orders and have limited functionality to ones that are indistinguishable from human beings in appearance but are far stronger, faster and more capable in many ways.

And over those decades, audiences have been encouraged to imagine such robots as figments of the imagination, something for the future – a future after our own lifetimes.

Now, however, instead of waiting there for us to die and spare us from having to deal with it, that future is hurtling towards us with unsettling speed.

[Read more…] about Humanoid robots: Stepping out of science fiction, into the real world

Opinion: The fundamental automation systems driving our universe

by

It was Nikola Tesla who said that if you want to understand the universe, “think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration”.

That statement, in itself, doesn’t really explain anything at all to the average person like me. Maybe a scientist can make something of it, but even for scientists, such answers are incomplete. In fact, I would argue that the biggest questions all remain unanswered.

I mean questions such as, for example, What happened before the Big Bang? [Read more…] about Opinion: The fundamental automation systems driving our universe

The Benefits of Implementing RFP Automation Software

by

In the competitive realm of business procurement, adopting advanced software to manage requests for proposals (RFPs) can mark the difference between success and mediocrity.

RFP automation software is increasingly becoming vital for companies seeking efficiency and effectiveness in their procurement strategies. Automating the RFP process saves time, reduces errors, and enhances collaboration.

If you’re considering upgrading your procurement process, understanding the myriad benefits of RFP automation is crucial. Below, we delve into the significant advantages and transformative potential of RFP automation software.

[Read more…] about The Benefits of Implementing RFP Automation Software

Opinion: Exploring the correlation between robotics utilisation and economic growth

by

Here at RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, we often wonder about the relationship between a nation’s reported economic growth and its utilisation of robotics and automation systems. We have a hunch that the more automated machines a country integrates into its economy, the more growth it experiences. We can’t say we prove this hunch in this article, but we think most readers will agree that it is an important correlation that deserves some investigation.

Economic growth sounds like a concept that’s easy to understand, but we don’t think it’s as straightforward as it seems. Each nation and region has its own way of calculating what is called “economic growth”, and there are countless gears turning to drive nations’ economies forward.

Among these, automation – robotics being a sub-set of automation – has emerged as one of the most powerful engines for transforming many previously small economies into global payers. Over the past few decades, while being derided for using cheap labour to gain an advantage – which undoubtedly has happened, countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have surfed the automation wave to reach remarkable economic heights. [Read more…] about Opinion: Exploring the correlation between robotics utilisation and economic growth

Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

by

It’s been said that we know more about the surface of the moon than the floor of Earth’s oceans. For more than two decades, Virginia Tech’s Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics has been developing robots that can find what lies beneath the sea surface with the support of the Office of Naval Research.

Bringing together faculty and students from the College of Engineering and the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, the center is developing advanced underwater robots and autonomy algorithms that enable them to operate intelligently without human oversight.

The research team recently was awarded two grants totaling more than $5 million to continue that mission. Two additional grant proposals, totaling about $2.4 million, have been selected by the agency and awards are in process. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

Mobile robot shipments set to grow from 547,000 to 2.8 million by 2030, says report

by

Mobile robot shipments will remain the highest across all robot form factors. ABI Research, a technology intelligence firm, forecasts shipments to grow from 547,000 units in 2023 to 2.79 million by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 24.1 percent.

Mobile robots are most used within warehousing and logistics, but the form factor is increasingly essential in manufacturing, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and healthcare. Mobile robots demonstrate efficiency improvements for diverse applications varying from cleaning to security.

Accordingly, revenue generated from mobile robots will rise from $18 billion to $124 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 23.6 percent. [Read more…] about Mobile robot shipments set to grow from 547,000 to 2.8 million by 2030, says report

Locus Robotics and Geodis celebrate ‘10 million units picked’ at US distribution facility

by

Locus Robotics, a warehouse automation company, working with its customer, Geodis, a global logistics provider, has surpassed 10 million units picked using Locus’s warehouse automation solution at its Carlisle, Pennsylvania, distribution center.

The companies say the milestone achievement further demonstrates the transformative impact of Locus warehouse automation technology on productivity, operational efficiency, and unmatched flexibility at an “unprecedented scale”.

Rick Faulk, CEO, Locus Robotics, says: “As a trusted collaborator for more than six years, Geodis is setting new standards for speed and efficiency within its facilities. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics and Geodis celebrate ‘10 million units picked’ at US distribution facility

Exotec expands pharmaceutical sector portfolio through partnerships with Hygie31 and Hartmann

by

Exotec, a provider of warehouse automation and robotics solutions, has agreed partnerships with two new organisations in the pharmaceutical sector: Hygie31 and Hartmann Group. Both companies will adopt Exotec’s Skypod robotic system to automate warehouse processes and increase efficiency.

Hygie31, a major player in the healthcare industry has chosen Exotec to transform its pharmacy Dhygietal logistics platform, with the Skypod robots implemented at the company’s La Veuve warehouse.

The Exotec installation covers 1,500 sq m and comprises 38 Skypod robots, moving autonomously in all directions and up to 11 metres in height.

[Read more…] about Exotec expands pharmaceutical sector portfolio through partnerships with Hygie31 and Hartmann

Drev and Kollmorgen to develop ‘groundbreaking’ AGV with integrated contamination control technology

by

As gigafactories and recycling plants scale to meet rising demands, the need for innovative solutions that address both safety and efficiency continues to grow.

To meet this demand, Drev and Kollmorgen Autonomous Mobile Solutions have agreed to jointly develop “a groundbreaking Automated Guided Vehicle with integrated contamination control technology”.

Designed to operate in large, highly restricted and hazardous environments, this AGV aims to ensure the safety of workers by operating where humans should not, while at the same time recovering valuable raw materials that would otherwise be discarded as dust. [Read more…] about Drev and Kollmorgen to develop ‘groundbreaking’ AGV with integrated contamination control technology

FlexLink introduces new ‘collaborative palletizing’ system

by

FlexLink, a Coesia company and a provider of material handling solutions, has launched the new RC12, its third-generation collaborative palletizer.

Designed to enhance efficiency and safety in end-of-line operations, the RC12 provides a streamlined, flexible palletizing solution for demanding production environments requiring no robotics programming skills to operate.

Building on over a decade of experience in collaborative palletizing, FlexLink has developed the newest generation of RC12 to meet the growing demand for smarter and safer palletizing systems. [Read more…] about FlexLink introduces new ‘collaborative palletizing’ system