Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Mars to invest €1 billion to boost manufacturing across the EU

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Mars, the confectionary and food products manufacturing giant, says it plans to invest €1 billion in its European Union operations by the end of 2026.

The company says the investment is aimed at strengthening the region’s manufacturing capabilities, sustainability and innovation pipeline, and increasing its economic resilience.

This new investment builds on more than €1.5 billion Mars has invested in EU manufacturing over the past five years, modernising facilities, increasing production capacity and accelerating efforts to decarbonise its value chain. [Read more…] about Mars to invest €1 billion to boost manufacturing across the EU

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

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John Deere has fully acquired GUSS Automation, a maker of autonomous sprayers for vineyards and orchards, headquartered in Kingsburg, California.

The acquisition builds on an existing joint venture established in 2022 and advances John Deere’s commitment to helping high-value crop growers address their biggest challenges around labor availability, input costs and crop protection.

Julien Le Vely, director, production systems, high value and small acre crops, at John Deere, says: “Fully integrating GUSS into the John Deere portfolio is a continuation of our dedication to serving high-value crop customers with advanced, scalable technologies to help them do more with less. [Read more…] about John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

Abu Dhabi’s TII and Nvidia open Middle East’s first AI and robotics research lab

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Pioneering humanoid and robotics R&D with next-generation AI integration

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has joined forces with Nvidia to launch the Middle East’s “first” joint lab dedicated to both artificial intelligence and robotics.

This landmark collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind hub in the region for developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies that will accelerate innovation across industries.

The announcement of the TII-NVAITC (Nvidia AI Technology Center) Joint Lab for AI and Robotics was made during a signing ceremony held at TII’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, bringing together senior leaders from both organizations. [Read more…] about Abu Dhabi’s TII and Nvidia open Middle East’s first AI and robotics research lab

Canadarm2 grapples Cygnus XL in key robotic arm manoeuvre at the ISS

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The International Space Station’s robotic powerhouse, Canadarm2, took centre stage this morning as it captured and installed Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo ship, delivering over 11,000 pounds of critical science and supplies.

At 7.24 am EDT, on September 18, astronaut Jonny Kim (with Zena Cardman as backup) used Canadarm2 to grapple the Cygnus XL, then manoeuvred it into position for installation at the ISS’s Unity module.

The supply ship launched from Cape Canaveral on September 14, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. It will stay docked until March 2026, when it will depart carrying waste to burn up during re-entry. [Read more…] about Canadarm2 grapples Cygnus XL in key robotic arm manoeuvre at the ISS

Autonomous underwater waste collection soon to be a reality

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Marine litter is a major environmental problem around the world. As part of the EU project SeaClear 2.0, a research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now developed an autonomous diving robot that can detect and retrieve litter.

It uses an AI system to analyze objects with ultrasound and cameras, picks them up and brings them to the surface. The autonomous underwater waste collection system demonstrated its capabilities for the first time in the port of Marseille in France.

In countless ports worldwide, divers regularly retrieve e-scooters, bicycles, lost fishing nets and old tires from the harbor basins. In Dubrovnik, researchers counted over 1,000 pieces of rubbish in an area of 100 square meters. [Read more…] about Autonomous underwater waste collection soon to be a reality

Italian Institute of Technology develops robot for vineyard applications

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The project stems from research at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia), in collaboration with several partners and in the framework of JOiiNT LAB – the joint laboratory between IIT and the Sistema Bergamo

A team of researchers from the Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) in Genova has conceived and developed Frasky, a new robotic prototype able to navigate and perform operations autonomously within vineyards. 

Coordinated by IIT researcher Manuel G. Catalano, the project results from the collaboration with the partners involved in “JOiiNT LAB”, the joint lab aiming at creating a synergy between research and industry, thus comprising IIT and the industrial ecosystem in the Bergamo area, including Consorzio Intellimech, Confindustria Bergamo, the University of Bergamo, and Kilometro Rosso Innovation District. [Read more…] about Italian Institute of Technology develops robot for vineyard applications

Flexiv to make largest appearance yet at China International Industry Fair

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Flexiv, a provider of general-purpose robotics, will make its largest appearance yet at the upcoming China International Industry Fair (CIIF), taking place from September 23rd to 27th.

With demand for adaptive robotics growing rapidly across China, Flexiv is eager to showcase its latest demonstrations and prove how the “adaptive advantage” can make a real difference to organizations of any size.

Visitors to Booth 8.1H B001 will be able to experience ten demonstrations designed to highlight the flexibility and adaptability of adaptive robots. [Read more…] about Flexiv to make largest appearance yet at China International Industry Fair

Why Well Fitted Construction Uniforms Are Becoming a Safety Imperative?

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A New Regulatory Landscape: PPE Must Fit

As of January 13, 2025, OSHA’s revised PPE regulations require that employers provide personal protective equipment that properly fits each construction worker.

This landmark update to 29 CFR § 1926.95 emphasizes fit as a core safety standard, aligning construction PPE requirements with those in general industry. (OSHA)  [Read more…] about Why Well Fitted Construction Uniforms Are Becoming a Safety Imperative?

Inspection and maintenance robots: Reaching the unreachable and dangerous

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Drones, crawlers, quadrupeds, and submersibles for inspecting bridges, pipelines, wind turbines, and more

Modern society relies on infrastructure that is both aging and mission-critical. Bridges, pipelines, refineries, power plants, and offshore wind turbines require constant inspection to ensure safety and reliability.

Yet traditional inspection is risky, expensive, and often disruptive. Workers climb tall stacks, enter confined tanks, or dive into murky waters. Outages are scheduled, scaffolding erected, and safety crews deployed – all before a single defect is recorded.

Enter inspection and maintenance robots. Equipped with advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and mobility systems, these machines are beginning to handle the dirty and dangerous jobs, collecting high-quality data at a fraction of the risk and cost. [Read more…] about Inspection and maintenance robots: Reaching the unreachable and dangerous

Fugro and NOAA partner to advance remote deep-ocean mapping

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Fugro and NOAA Ocean Exploration have entered into a five-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to design and deploy remote and uncrewed technologies that will accelerate deep-ocean mapping and characterisation.

This public-private partnership aims to close critical data gaps in one of the least understood parts of our planet, enabling informed decisions about offshore energy, marine resource management and national security.

The collaboration combines NOAA’s scientific and operational expertise with Fugro’s leadership in remote and uncrewed systems. [Read more…] about Fugro and NOAA partner to advance remote deep-ocean mapping