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Opinion: Automation planning for employee safety in warehouses

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By Heico Sandee, founder and CEO of Smart Robotics

Robotics and automation undoubtedly address several safety and efficiency challenges that warehouses have grappled with for years.

While efficiency and productivity are primary motivations behind automation, warehouses must prioritize the safety and well-being of those who spend most of their time around these automated systems – the employees.

Productivity and profitability mean little if warehouses are unsafe. Numbers speak for themselves as the National Safety Council reports that a worker injury costs companies an average of $38,000 in direct expenses, while indirect costs can amount up to a total of around $150,000 per accident.

[Read more…] about Opinion: Automation planning for employee safety in warehouses

Robot Era raises $42 million and unleashes humanoids to traverse Gobi Desert in China

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Robot Era, a Chinese developer of humanoid robots, has tested its next-generation humanoid robot, the Star 1, in the challenging terrain of northwestern China’s Gobi Desert.

This exercise aimed to highlight the robot’s adaptability to real-world natural environments.

Two units of the flagship Star 1 were put through their paces during a running test in Yumen, a prefecture-level city in Gansu, renowned for its stunning red-sandstone Danxia landforms. [Read more…] about Robot Era raises $42 million and unleashes humanoids to traverse Gobi Desert in China

Universal Robots expands ‘beyond the welding cart’ at FABTECH 2024

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Universal Robots continues to blaze the trail in the cobot welding landscape, featuring new advanced welding solutions for multi-axis, coordinated welding.

New cobot capabilities were also showcased in extended reach and portability applications, and in tasks such as laser restoration, finishing, and press brake tending.

The line between traditional automation and collaborative robots continues to grey as cobots take on more advanced welding tasks. Since Universal Robots (UR) introduced North America’s first cobot welder at FABTECH 2017, cobot welding has come a long way in a short time. [Read more…] about Universal Robots expands ‘beyond the welding cart’ at FABTECH 2024

Achieve more with mobile robots using SICK modular sensor solutions

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The rapidly expanding use of automation has generated an array of technologies and applications; creating a critical need for high performance solutions for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) that can adapt to different scenarios.

Industry leader SICK has developed its modular series of sensors to do just this – meeting and exceeding industry needs for adaptability, safety and precision to provide long-term solutions.

SICK’s modular sensor technology enables manufacturers and users of mobile robots to select precisely the modules they require and combine them to create the ideal solution for their application. [Read more…] about Achieve more with mobile robots using SICK modular sensor solutions

Advancements in robotics continue to transform oil and gas operations, says GlobalData

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With the applications of robotics continuously evolving, the oil and gas industry has emerged as a significant adopter of the technology to improve safety and efficiency of operations.

Robots equipped with advanced technologies are yielding increasingly positive results, bringing a continued transformation in the operations of oil and gas companies, says GlobalData, a data and analytics research company.

GlobalData’s latest thematic report, Robotics in Oil and Gas, highlights the role of major oil and gas companies, such as ADNOC, BP, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Repsol, Rosneft, Shell, and TotalEnergies in the development and adoption of robotics to enhance safety and productivity on the field. [Read more…] about Advancements in robotics continue to transform oil and gas operations, says GlobalData

Abu Dhabi hosts ‘record numbers’ of delegates and visitors for IROS robotics conference

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The 36th edition of the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2024) successfully concluded in Abu Dhabi today, October 18th, 2024, with a “record number of nearly 10,000, visitors, delegates and participants in attendance”.

The success of what is arguably the world’s most prestigious robotics exhibition has “emphatically raised the profile of Abu Dhabi as a global destination for robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as for advanced technology innovation”, say the organizers. 

Researchers, academics, scientists and regulatory stakeholders inspired guests and visitors with their impactful plenary talks, keynote sessions, and individual poster and oral presentations at IROS 2024 that opened on 14 October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

[Read more…] about Abu Dhabi hosts ‘record numbers’ of delegates and visitors for IROS robotics conference

Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

The commercialization of Autonomous driving technology in the trucking industry has rapidly advanced in 2024, presenting substantial potential to address critical industry challenges such as high operational costs, driver shortages, and safety concerns.

It is expected that the global trucking fleet will be supported by an additional half million L4 autonomous drivers, while the remaining drivers will either transition into supervisory roles or continue to operate in less developed regions.

IDTechEx’s recent research on more than 10 companies in the autonomous trucking sector reveals that the industry has officially entered the commercialization phase, marked by deep collaborations across the global supply chain.

[Read more…] about Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst, IDTechEx

In recent years, the promise of the public transport revolution has been teased by autonomous buses and roboshuttles. These technologies promise to deliver significant cost reductions for operators and alleviate labor pressures.

More than 50 autonomous bus and roboshuttle players once competed in this space. However, as the autonomous driving industry evolved during 2022-2024, the commercialization progress of autonomous buses and roboshuttles has been slow, falling short of industry expectations.

IDTechEx has observed a yearly decline in the number of active companies from 2020 to 2024, and large-scale commercial testing has not been achieved. Roboshuttles need to overcome the uncertainties posed by dynamic routes and the performance challenges of navigating narrow urban streets.

[Read more…] about Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

The future of industrial mobility and autonomy, according to Cyngn

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In this article, Cyngn – a specialist developer and installer of autonomous mobile robot fleets and systems – explores how industrial mobility advancements are transforming operations, boosting efficiency, safety, and scalability across industries.

The industrial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the rise of digital technologies. One of the key drivers of this shift is industrial mobility, a concept that is changing how factories and manufacturing processes operate.

At its core, industrial mobility involves the use of advanced technology to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enable greater autonomy on the factory floor.

[Read more…] about The future of industrial mobility and autonomy, according to Cyngn

Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

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Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a robotic leg with artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, it jumps across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner.

Inventors and researchers have been developing robots for almost 70 years. To date, all the machines they have built – whether for factories or elsewhere – have had one thing in common: they are powered by motors, a technology that is already 200 years old.

Even walking robots feature arms and legs that are powered by motors, not by muscles as in humans and animals. This in part suggests why they lack the mobility and adaptability of living creatures.

[Read more…] about Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

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