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Kenco partners with GreyOrange to elevate fulfillment through AI-powered orchestration

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Kenco, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, has agreed a long-term partnership with GreyOrange, the global leader in AI-driven warehouse orchestration software.

Over the next five years, Kenco will deploy GreyOrange’s GreyMatter Multi-Process Orchestration Platform (MPOP) across its network of fulfillment centers, supported by fleets of robotic solutions from GreyOrange’s Certified Ranger Network.

The collaboration underscores Kenco’s commitment to redefining fulfillment in the 3PL market by integrating orchestration technology that synchronizes people, processes, and robotic systems across complex and continuously evolving distribution environments. [Read more…] about Kenco partners with GreyOrange to elevate fulfillment through AI-powered orchestration

ODW Logistics expects to improve pick rates by 42 percent with Zebra Technologies

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Zebra Technologies, a provider of warehouse automation technologies, says ODW Logistics has adopted Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment to optimize its e-commerce operations.

With this implementation, ODW Logistics anticipates realizing a 42 percent improvement in pick rates, enhancing its ability to scale while maintaining cost efficiency.

ODW Logistics selected Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment to enhance efficiency and flexibility across its fulfillment operations. [Read more…] about ODW Logistics expects to improve pick rates by 42 percent with Zebra Technologies

When customers see robots being mistreated, their reactions reveal something deeper about society

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A new study from Hanyang University ERICA, in South Korea, has found that when people witness someone abusing a service robot, their response follows one of two psychological paths: some copy the aggressor’s behavior, while others feel empathy for the robot and act more kindly.

The research, led by Professor Taeshik Gong, offers one of the first empirical looks at a phenomenon that many people have noticed but few have studied – the discomfort that arises when robots are kicked, shoved, or insulted in public or online videos.

Such scenes, once intended to showcase a robot’s balance or durability, increasingly strike observers as needlessly cruel. [Read more…] about When customers see robots being mistreated, their reactions reveal something deeper about society

Truck maker Scania marks historic milestone with new €2 billion global industrial hub in China

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Swedish truck maker Scania has taken what it describes as “a momentous step in its 134-year journey” by inaugurating its third global industrial hub, in China.

The company says that this investment not only strengthens Scania’s global footprint but positions the company “at the heart of the world’s largest truck market”.

The new industrial hub in Rugao, Jiangsu Province, represents one of Scania’s largest global investments to date.

Covering 800,000 square metres, the site has a licensed production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year and will serve both the Chinese market and selected export markets in Asia and beyond. [Read more…] about Truck maker Scania marks historic milestone with new €2 billion global industrial hub in China

Automotive giant Stellantis to invest historic record $13 billion to ‘grow in the United States’

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Announcing the ‘largest single investment in company’s 100-year history’, Stellantis plans to expand US production by 50 percent, with five new vehicle launches and 19 product actions over next four years, adding more than 5,000 new jobs at plants in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana

Stellantis has announced plans to invest a staggering $13 billion over the next four years to grow its business in the critical United States market and to increase its domestic manufacturing footprint.

The investment is the largest in the company’s 100-year US history and will support the introduction of five new vehicles across the brand portfolio in key segments; production of the all-new four-cylinder engine; and the addition of more than 5,000 jobs at plants in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

The new investment will further expand Stellantis’ already significant US footprint, increasing annual finished vehicle production by 50 percent over current levels. [Read more…] about Automotive giant Stellantis to invest historic record $13 billion to ‘grow in the United States’

Starship Technologies raises $50 million Series C to scale autonomous delivery across US cities

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Starship Technologies, one of the world’s largest autonomous delivery companies with over 9 million deliveries across seven nations, has announced the successful completion of a $50 million funding round led by Plural.

The company, founded by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, has now raised more than $280 million in total funding to replicate its success in European cities and US university campuses across American urban markets.

Starship operates at absolute commercial scale with a track record no competitor can match. Having proven autonomous delivery works across multiple European urban markets and US university campuses, the company is now positioned to transform American urban logistics. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies raises $50 million Series C to scale autonomous delivery across US cities

Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

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UC San Diego researchers have developed a soft robotic skin that enables vine robots that are just a few millimeters wide to navigate convoluted paths and fragile environments.

To accomplish this, the researchers integrated a very thin layer of actuators made of liquid crystal elastomer at strategic locations in the soft skin. The robot is steered by controlling the pressure inside its body and temperature of the actuators.

The researchers showed that a robot equipped with this skin could successfully navigate a model of the arteries in a human body. The robot also was able to navigate a model of the interior of a jet engine. [Read more…] about Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

Chinese shipping to the US collapses by 90 percent amid Trump tariff threats and higher port fees

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Chinese ships entering US ports have fallen by more than 90 percent since January, according to new data from maritime analytics firm Pole Star Global. The collapse underscores how quickly trade between the world’s two largest economies is deteriorating amid rising tariffs and new port fees. 

Pole Star says the number of Chinese vessels entering the United States dropped from 1,678 in January to just 156 so far in October (as of October 14th), following the introduction of reciprocal port fees and the renewed threat of tariffs from the Trump administration.

Saleem Khan, chief data and analytics officer at Pole Star Global, says: “We are seeing Chinese vessels that are being screened by our customers nearing zero. [Read more…] about Chinese shipping to the US collapses by 90 percent amid Trump tariff threats and higher port fees

Cyngn installs its robots at largest independent Pepsi bottler in the US

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Cyngn has announced a commercial DriveMod Tugger deployment with G&J Pepsi, the largest independent Pepsi bottler in the United States.

The expansion into material handling for consumer-packaged goods marks a new chapter in Cyngn’s mission to broaden the adoption of its advanced autonomous technology across industries.

Jeff Erwin, VP, manufacturing and quality at G&J Pepsi, says: “Our partnership with Cyngn underscores our commitment to innovation and operational excellence. [Read more…] about Cyngn installs its robots at largest independent Pepsi bottler in the US

eInfochips and InOrbit partner to offer edge-to-cloud solutions for deploying robots at scale

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eInfochips, a provider of product engineering and digital transformation services and an Arrow Electronics subsidiary, has agreed a strategic collaboration with InOrbit.AI, a provider of AI-powered robot orchestration.

This collaboration combines eInfochips’ extensive expertise in edge-to-cloud robotics development and integration with InOrbit Space Intelligence, a robust, vendor-agnostic robot operations platform to deliver seamless, scalable, and optimized solutions for a variety of industries.

This collaboration addresses the growing demand for large-scale autonomous mobile robot (AMR) deployments in warehouses, industrial hubs, large factories, and other indoor environments. [Read more…] about eInfochips and InOrbit partner to offer edge-to-cloud solutions for deploying robots at scale