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Gatik and Loblaw agree C$50 million autonomous trucking deal

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Gatik, a developer of autonomous freight for regional logistics networks, has agreed a significant expansion of its commercial partnership with Loblaw, Canada’s largest retailer, said to be worth around C$50 million.

Marking a milestone for the autonomous trucking industry, the companies have signed a first-of-its-kind, multi-year growth agreement to deploy Gatik’s autonomous fleet across Loblaw’s distribution network in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Under the initial phase of the expansion, 20 autonomous trucks equipped with Gatik’s next generation sensor suite will be deployed by the end of 2025, with a further 30 autonomous trucks to be deployed by the end of 2026, creating a scalable platform for future growth phases. [Read more…] about Gatik and Loblaw agree C$50 million autonomous trucking deal

Brain Corp partners with Driveline to launch ‘first fully managed, robot-powered shelf intelligence service’

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Brain Corp, a provider of operating systems and software for robots, has partnered with Driveline, which has more than 15,000 retail outlets across the US, to launch ShelfOptix, a fully managed inventory management service for stores.

Brain Corp says the ShelfOptix service provides “robot-powered shelf intelligence at scale without the cost or complexity of technology ownership”.

Retailers and brands alike struggle to understand where in-store execution is impacting sales because they lack clear and consistent visibility at the shelf. [Read more…] about Brain Corp partners with Driveline to launch ‘first fully managed, robot-powered shelf intelligence service’

Hitachi to build ‘AI Factory’ based on Nvidia reference architecture

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Hitachi says it plans to establish a global “Hitachi AI Factory” based on Nvidia AI Factory reference architecture, yielding a centralized infrastructure designed to accelerate the development and deployment of physical AI solutions across Hitachi’s core business sectors.

The AI Factory is powered by Hitachi iQ with Nvidia HGX B200 systems featuring Nvidia Blackwell GPUs; Hitachi iQ M Series with Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 Server Edition GPUs; and Nvidia Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform.

This strategic initiative directly supports Hitachi’s ambition to create and deploy AI that interacts with the real world. [Read more…] about Hitachi to build ‘AI Factory’ based on Nvidia reference architecture

Franka unveils two new robot prototypes for advanced robotics research

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Franka Robotics has introduced two new research-focused prototypes designed to advance work in dual-arm manipulation, imitation learning, and mobile robotics.

The systems – the Franka Research 3 Duo and its mobile counterpart, the Mobile FR3 Duo – are aimed at providing high-performance, extensible platforms for robotics learning and experimentation.

The FR3 Duo integrates two Franka Research 3 robot arms on a single mount, creating a reference dual-arm system for control, manipulation, and imitation learning tasks. [Read more…] about Franka unveils two new robot prototypes for advanced robotics research

Fujitsu and AIST partner to strengthen international ‘industrial competitiveness in quantum technology’

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Fujitsu and the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI technology (G-QuAT) at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen international industrial competitiveness in quantum technology.

The agreement, signed last week, aims to enhance cooperation between the two organizations, thereby boosting Japan’s standing globally in this sector.

As part of the agreement, Fujitsu and G-QuAT will leverage their combined resources, including quantum computer-related technologies, manufacturing and evaluation facilities, and will promote research and development and personnel exchange. [Read more…] about Fujitsu and AIST partner to strengthen international ‘industrial competitiveness in quantum technology’

Nokia and Nscale partner to accelerate AI infrastructure build-out

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Nokia and Nscale have agreed a partnership to accelerate the build-out of AI infrastructure. Nokia will be a preferred partner for advanced networking technologies for Nscale AI-ready data center deployments globally.

Nokia is also joining other investors in Nscale’s Series B investment round, designed to advance the building of scalable, secure, and globally competitive AI infrastructure amid soaring demand for AI-ready data centers.

Headquartered in the UK and operating globally, Nscale is an AI-native infrastructure platform, providing vertically integrated compute, networking, storage, managed software, and AI services delivered in Nscale-owned and co-located data centers. [Read more…] about Nokia and Nscale partner to accelerate AI infrastructure build-out

IBM partners with AMD to develop architectures for ‘quantum-centric supercomputing’

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Companies aim to merge AI accelerators, quantum computers, and high-performance computing to help solve a wide range of ‘the world’s most difficult problems’

IBM says it is partnering with AMD to develop next-generation computing architectures based on the combination of quantum computers and high-performance computing, known as “quantum-centric supercomputing”.

AMD and IBM are collaborating to develop scalable, open-source platforms that could redefine the future of computing, leveraging IBM’s leadership in developing the world’s most performant quantum computers and software, and AMD’s leadership in high-performance computing and AI accelerators.

Quantum computing is a completely different way to represent and process information. While classical computers use bits that can only be either a zero or one, quantum computers’ qubits represent information according to the quantum mechanical laws of nature. [Read more…] about IBM partners with AMD to develop architectures for ‘quantum-centric supercomputing’

Kepler begins mass production of hybrid-architecture humanoid robot

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Shanghai-based Kepler Robotics has started mass production for its humanoid robot, the K2 “Bumblebee”, which the company describes as the world’s first commercially available humanoid built on a hybrid architecture.

The move signals a shift from research prototypes to large-scale deployment and is being billed as a milestone for the global humanoid robotics industry.

Kepler said it has already signed framework agreements covering several thousand units, with a total contract value in the hundreds of millions of yuan. [Read more…] about Kepler begins mass production of hybrid-architecture humanoid robot

Kubota unveils autonomous hydrogen fuel cell tractor

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Kubota has unveiled a concept model of an autonomous hydrogen fuel cell tractor, marking what the company describes as the world’s first public showing of such a machine.

The tractor was exhibited at the “Hydrogen Energy Park” event during the recent Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.

The concept combines two major trends in agriculture: decarbonization and automation. The tractor is powered by compressed hydrogen through a solid polymer fuel cell system, producing only water as a by-product. [Read more…] about Kubota unveils autonomous hydrogen fuel cell tractor

ABB Robotics adds generative AI assistant to RobotStudio

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ABB Robotics has enhanced its offline programming and simulation software RobotStudio Suite with the new RobotStudio AI Assistant, harnessing the power of generative Al to make robot programming faster, easier, and more accessible. 

Marc Segura, president, ABB Robotics, says: “This is the latest step in our decade-long journey to innovate and commercialize AI, extending value for our customers by enhancing robot versatility and encouraging their use beyond traditional manufacturing.

“The demand for AI in robotics is driven by the need for greater flexibility; faster commissioning cycles and a shortage of the specialist skills traditionally needed to program and operate robots. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics adds generative AI assistant to RobotStudio