Sam Francis

Caterpillar acquires delivery robot maker Marble

June 24, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Caterpillar, the manufacturer of large-scale equipment for sectors such as construction, mining and transportation, has agreed to acquire Marble, a startup company that makes delivery robots.

According to a report on construction news website KHL.com, Caterpillar is looking to build on its work in autonomous mining vehicles, where it’s famous for using gigantic driverless dump trucks (see infographic below).

Innovations and developments gained through the Marble acquisition could help Caterpillar to supply a new generation of technology to its other markets. [Read more…] about Caterpillar acquires delivery robot maker Marble

Grote automates sandwich production using Stäubli robot to make one per second

June 24, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

US-based company Grote specializes in automating production lines that slice, fill and cut sandwiches. Until recently, the upper and lower halves of the sandwich were put together manually. Now, Grote has managed to automate this process as well, using a Stäubli TX2-60 HE six-axis robot with wash-down capability.

Filling a sandwich is not a particularly arduous task. That is, unless it is being done on an industrial scale with a throughput of thousands of sandwiches per hour.

The raw materials – slices of sausage, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce – can be difficult to handle and the assembly process consists of many steps that can vary for each product. [Read more…] about Grote automates sandwich production using Stäubli robot to make one per second

Georgia university presents ‘hyper-efficient conservation robot’ based on the sloth

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

The Georgia Institute of Technology has unveiled what it describes as a “hyper-efficient conservation robot” based on the sloth, that painfully slow-moving hairy creature that looks really weird. (See video below.)

For the next several months, visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be able to observe the testing of a new high-tech tool in the battle to save some of the world’s most endangered species.

“SlothBot”, as its creators have called it, is a slow-moving and energy-efficient robot that can linger in the trees to monitor animals, plants, and the environment below, and will be tested near the Garden’s popular Canopy Walk. [Read more…] about Georgia university presents ‘hyper-efficient conservation robot’ based on the sloth

Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Agilox says its autonomous mobile robots are “substantially saving costs” by applying artificial swarm intelligence.

Swarm Intelligence and bio-inspired computing have attracted great interest in almost every area of science and engineering, including robotics, over the last two decades.

Being an innovative manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, Agilox directs most of its effort into developing one of the most unique robotic material handling features on the market – completely decentralized autonomy. [Read more…] about Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

Qualcomm launches ‘world’s first’ 5G and AI-enabled robotics platform

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Qualcomm Technologies has launched what it claims is the “world’s first 5G and artificial intelligence-enabled robotics platform”. (See video below.)

The company says its Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is its “most advanced, integrated, comprehensive offering designed specifically for robotics”.

Building on the Qualcomm Robotics RB3 platform and its broad adoption in a wide array of robotics and drone products available today, the Qualcomm says its RB5 platform is comprised of an extensive set of hardware, software and development tools. [Read more…] about Qualcomm launches ‘world’s first’ 5G and AI-enabled robotics platform

Apple’s new iPad Pro sports LiDAR and new chip

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Apple’s latest version of its iPad Pro tablet computer integrates technology more commonly found in robots and autonomous cars – LiDAR.

LiDAR, short for Light Detection and Ranging, refers to a type of sensor which gives the device information about objects around it and the distance to them.

Apple says it decided to put LiDAR in the new iPad Pro to give the camera in the device a greater sense of depth. [Read more…] about Apple’s new iPad Pro sports LiDAR and new chip

AnyBotics ships first Anymal robot units to customers

June 17, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

After a long time in stealth and development, startup company AnyBotics has shipped the first production batch of its Anymal C robots, which are four-legged, canine-type walking robots.

Although it doesn’t name its customers specifically, the company says the units have been delivered to “engineering partners and research customers worldwide”.

The company says the deliveries mark a “significant milestone” for AnyBotics as a mobile robot manufacturer as well as an “important step in revolutionizing the industrial inspection and maintenance workflow”. [Read more…] about AnyBotics ships first Anymal robot units to customers

5 ways robots are cleaning up the world’s oceans

June 15, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Written by Pippa Strickland from iDiveblue.com

Robotics have changed our lives in remarkable ways and when you consider the vastness of our oceans (which cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface), it makes sense that robotics is being harnessed to conduct research and preserve our ocean health.

From improving ship fuel efficiency to repopulating reefs and removing marine litter, here are five ways that robotic innovations are leading to a brighter future for our ocean-dwelling species. [Read more…] about 5 ways robots are cleaning up the world’s oceans

Robotics one of the hottest investment sectors of the decade, says Silicon Valley Bank report

June 12, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Entrepreneurs have invested more money in robotics than all other sectors combined, according to a new report by Silicon Valley Bank.

In a report called The Future of Robotics, SVB says: “Investment in robotics has significantly outpaced the rest of venture (financing), making robotics one of the hottest sectors of the decade.”

SVB’s data shows that robotics venture capital funding represented 55 percent of all venture financing (see bar chart below). [Read more…] about Robotics one of the hottest investment sectors of the decade, says Silicon Valley Bank report

SEMI backs US government initiative to support to chipmaking in America

June 12, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Global semiconductor manufacturing industry association SEMI has expressed its backing for the US government’s initiative to support to chipmaking in America.

Facing a staggering “50 percent decline” in the US share of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity over the past 20 years, Congress has introduced the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act – also known as CHIPS for America Act.

The measures called for in the Act include a federal investment tax credit, which is “strongly supported” by SEMI, which represents the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain. [Read more…] about SEMI backs US government initiative to support to chipmaking in America