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Toyota to acquire Lyft’s self-driving car division

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Lyft has signed an agreement with Woven Planet, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, for the acquisition of Lyft’s self-driving vehicle division, which is named “Level 5” in reference to the SAE’s definitions of levels of autonomous vehicles.

The transaction also includes multi-year non-exclusive commercial agreements between Lyft and Woven Planet to accelerate the development and enhance the safety of automated driving technology.

Logan Green, Lyft co-founder and CEO says: “Today’s announcement launches Lyft into the next phase of an incredible journey to bring our mission to life. [Read more…] about Toyota to acquire Lyft’s self-driving car division

Fetch Robotics machines ‘fully conform’ with first safety standard for industrial mobile robots

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Fetch Robotics says it has achieved “full conformance” with R15.08, the first safety standard specifically formulated for industrial mobile robots

Fetch Robotics says its full suite of autonomous mobile robots conforms with ANSI / RIA R15.08, the new safety standard for industrial mobile robots.

This latest milestone ensures that Fetch’s AMRs can be safely utilized in all current use cases throughout warehouses, factories, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.

Released on Dec 25th, 2020 by the RIA (Robotics Industry Association), R15.08 is the new safety standard for industrial mobile robots. [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics machines ‘fully conform’ with first safety standard for industrial mobile robots

MIT unveils robot that can brush your hair

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MIT has unveiled a robot that can brush your hair for you as you can’t be bothered because this is the 10,000th lockdown and no one has seen you for decades and your hair hasn’t even seen the light of day for at least a year. (See video below.)

MIT says the robotic arm is equipped with a hairbrush helps with brushing tasks and could be “an asset in assistive care settings”.

With rapidly growing demands on health care systems, nurses typically spend 18 to 40 percent of their time performing direct patient care tasks, oftentimes for many patients and with little time to spare. Personal care robots that brush your hair could provide substantial help and relief. [Read more…] about MIT unveils robot that can brush your hair

Baidu Apollo to launch fully driverless ride-hailing services in Beijing

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Baidu Apollo will launch fully driverless robotaxi services to the public in Beijing starting from May 2, 2021.

This will be China’s first paid autonomous vehicle service where users can hail a robotaxi without a safety driver behind the steering wheel, marking a landmark step on the road to commercialization of autonomous driving.

The fully driverless Apollo Go Robotaxi service will first be launched in Beijing’s Shougang Park – one of the venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics – and will soon be transporting visitors at the games. [Read more…] about Baidu Apollo to launch fully driverless ride-hailing services in Beijing

ABB robot enhanced with protection for harsh and cleanroom applications

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ABB says its 6-axis IRB 1300 industrial robot now includes new protection elements that enable it to be used in tough industrial applications and contamination-free production processes.

The company says the enhancements open up new opportunities for increased productivity, improved product quality and reduced cycle times in a variety of industries including electronics assembly, automotive and metals fabrication, among others.

Originally launched in 2020, the IRB 1300 is now available in IP67, Foundry Plus 2 and cleanroom ISO 4 versions. This will expand its use in tough environments, with high levels of liquids and dust. [Read more…] about ABB robot enhanced with protection for harsh and cleanroom applications

Continental to increase investment into developing autonomous mobility systems

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Continental is planning to increase its investment into developing autonomous mobility systems from €200 million to €250 million this year.

The company, which is mainly known as a manufacturer of tyres and related technologies, says it will create a separate business unit for autonomous mobility in 2022.

The reason for the additional funds in the area is because of the trends in the industry. [Read more…] about Continental to increase investment into developing autonomous mobility systems

SEAT introduces Effidence autonomous mobile robots at Martorell, Spain plant

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European automaker SEAT, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, has introduced two autonomous, collaborative mobile robots that adapt to the needs of employees to help them with tasks such as transporting parts.

The AMRs – called EffiBOTs, originally made by Effidence – have been integrated into the operations at the automaker’s Martorell plant in Spain.

SEAT says the incorporation of the AMRs at the Martorell factory continues the development and implementation of digital tools and solutions to make the facility a smarter, more digitalised and increasingly connected factory. [Read more…] about SEAT introduces Effidence autonomous mobile robots at Martorell, Spain plant

ABB RobotStudio now enables reduction of robotic cell footprint by 25 per cent

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ABB says its RobotStudio offline programming and simulation software has been upgraded with a new virtual robot braking distance function designed to create an exact simulation of the real-world stopping distance of a robot.

Enabling the robot’s braking distance to be accurately calculated, the function overcomes the need to add safety margins into cell designs, enabling space savings of up to 25 per cent.

Predicting exactly where a robot will stop depends on a range of variables including speed, payload and the robot’s own inertia. These factors, individually or combined, can result in the robot coming to a halt outside of its safety zone, sometimes by several meters. [Read more…] about ABB RobotStudio now enables reduction of robotic cell footprint by 25 per cent

Plus One Robotics raises $33 million to fuel expansion

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of vision software for logistics robots, has raised $33 million in Series B funding.

McRock Capital and TransLink Ventures co-led the round, with participation from BMWi Ventures, Kensington Capital Partners, and Ironspring Ventures alongside existing investors.

Whitney Rockley of McRock Capital and Toshi Otani of TransLink will join the company’s board of directors. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics raises $33 million to fuel expansion

SoftBank to acquire 40 percent of AutoStore

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SoftBank, the telecommunications giant which has huge investments in the robotics sector, is to acquire a large stake in AutoStore, a robotics and software company that specialises in automated storage and retrieval systems for warehouses.

SoftBank has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 40 percent of AutoStore from funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners and EQT Private Equity, among other shareholders.

THL will continue to be AutoStore’s majority shareholder and THL, SoftBank and EQT will each have representatives on AutoStore’s board of directors. [Read more…] about SoftBank to acquire 40 percent of AutoStore

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