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Campaign to Stop Killer Robots sends peace envoy robot to United Nations

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The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots – an actual political and social group run mostly by humans – has sent a peace envoy robot to deliver a letter to the United Nations building in New York, in the US.

According to the Guardian newspaper, the campaign group will give UN diplomats a letter in which it is demanding that the world stops the development of autonomous war machines.

These can include, but are not limited to, technologies such as drones, tanks and other other machinery controlled by an autonomous computer which is running artificial intelligence systems that decide whether to kill people or not. [Read more…] about Campaign to Stop Killer Robots sends peace envoy robot to United Nations

Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

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Startup company Diligent Robotics has raised $3 million in seed funding to launch “Moxi”, the company’s hospital robot.

Diligent Robotics describes itself as an artificial intelligence company which builds socially intelligent robots that help people with their jobs.

Its first product, hospital robot assistant named Moxi, is now out of beta and into market, beginning with the roll-out of Moxi into a Texas hospital starting October 2, 2019. [Read more…] about Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

Panasonic’s exoskeleton to be used at Paralympics

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Panasonic, an Official Worldwide Paralympic Partner, says it will be providing its Power Assist Suit – an exoskeleton – for use at World Para Powerlifting events and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The suits will be worn by spotter / loader personnel tasked with moving weights and spotting lifters during the competition.

The suits feature built-in sensors that detect limb movements and motors synchronized to provide wearers with mechanized power for performing strenuous tasks easily and safely. [Read more…] about Panasonic’s exoskeleton to be used at Paralympics

Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

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Boston Dynamics is making its canine robot, Spot, available to the market in limited numbers and to select customers. (See video.)

This is the first time Spot will be on sale and most of Boston Dynamics’ robots are still in various stages of research and development, most famously perhaps its humanoids, but also its unusual “Handle” material handling robot, which is basically a robotic arm on two wheels.

Boston Dynamics describes Spot as “a nimble robot that climbs stairs and traverses rough terrain with unprecedented ease, yet is small enough to use indoors”. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase

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Comau, an industrial automation company and part of the Fiat Chrysler Group, is presenting its Muscular Aiding Tech Exoskeleton (Mate) in the all new Robotic Zone (booth N-850G) at Pack Expo Las Vegas.

Visitors to Comau’s interactive booth will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefit of incorporating exoskeletons into material handling processes by wearing a Mate in a typical pick and place operation.

Mate has been designed to improve work quality in an efficient and highly ergonomic manner by providing consistent and advanced movement assistance during prolonged overhead, as well as daily tasks. [Read more…] about Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase

Comau ‘Mate’ exoskeleton used in CC Jensen’s manufacturing processes

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Danish company CC Jensen is using exoskeletons from Comau in its manufacturing processes.

Comau calls its exoskeleton ‘Mate’ and has been supplying it to the market for around a year.

CC Jensen specialises in the design and manufacturing of oil filtration solutions, and says it uses Mate to better support workers in carrying out their daily activities. [Read more…] about Comau ‘Mate’ exoskeleton used in CC Jensen’s manufacturing processes

Misty Robotics starts shipping new robot to backers

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Misty Robotics has started shipping the second version of its small robot to the company’s backers.

Writing on the company’s blog, Ian Bernstein, founder and head of product, says: “Misty has already begun to land on doorsteps and she’ll continue to be delivered in the coming weeks. If you’re a backer, keep an eye out.”

Misty II will be shipping with software version 1.0.3 beta and the Misty SDK will be publically available to all developers enabling skill building using JavaScript. [Read more…] about Misty Robotics starts shipping new robot to backers

Hyundai unveils wearable exoskeleton as part of a range of robotics developments

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Hyundai Motor Group is developing a range of robotics technologies which the company says it will roll out over the next year or two. 

Hyundai has developed a new “Vest EXoskeleton” (VEX), a wearable robot created to assist industrial workers who spend long hours working in overhead environments.

The VEX enhances productivity and reduces fatigue of industrial workers by imitating the movement of human joints to boost load support and mobility. [Read more…] about Hyundai unveils wearable exoskeleton as part of a range of robotics developments

Smart homes to drive consumer robotics demand to 39 million shipments a year by 2024

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Smart homes are predicted to drive the demand for consumer robotics to 39 million shipments a year by 2024, according to analysis by ABI Research.

But a “disconnect between smart home and home robotics offerings has been a factor limiting home robotics adoption”. says ABI.

Pricing, availability, and consumer awareness have been factors too, but a new study finds that robot vendors increasingly see value in supporting the integration of their devices into smart home functionality. [Read more…] about Smart homes to drive consumer robotics demand to 39 million shipments a year by 2024

Global surgical robots market forecast to grow to $24 billion by 2025

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The global market for surgical robots is forecast to grow to $24 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Global Market Insights.

With technological advancements all set to revolutionize healthcare in the coming years, surgical robots market is anticipated to capture a significant share of the changing medical industry.

Of late, precision robots have been able to make minimally invasive surgeries a reality and are being increasingly used in the fields of urology, gynecology, oncology, gastroenterology, thyroid, bariatric, colon and rectal surgeries. [Read more…] about Global surgical robots market forecast to grow to $24 billion by 2025