The CHAMP (Chewy Autonomous Mobile Picking) Challenge, created by Chewy and MassRobotics, tasked global robotics teams with solving one of warehouse automation’s toughest problems: autonomously picking large, heavy, and deformable items in tight, dynamic environments. [Read more…] about MassRobotics and Chewy select winners of innovation awards
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From asteroid mining to democratizing quantum: World Economic Forum selects ‘pioneers in new wave of global innovation’
The World Economic Forum has announced the 2025 cohort of its Technology Pioneers community, a group of 100 early-stage companies from 28 countries driving innovation across industries and borders.
Now in its 25th year, the programme celebrates its strongest cohort yet, marked by broader geographical representation, greater diversity beyond Silicon Valley and the rise of more ambitious frontier technologies.
Reflecting wider shifts in the innovation landscape, many of the companies spotlighted are using artificial intelligence (AI) to reach greater scale and sophistication with fewer resources. [Read more…] about From asteroid mining to democratizing quantum: World Economic Forum selects ‘pioneers in new wave of global innovation’
Underwater robots take to the deep to map unexplored oceans
Autonomous underwater robots from the University of Sydney supported an Australian Museum scientific expedition mapping unexplored reefs around Norfolk Island.
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) from the University of Sydney has taken a deep dive in the oceans surrounding Norfolk Island on an scientific expedition to document previously unexplored reefs.
The robots collected high-resolution seafloor images which will then be used to create three-dimensional underwater models of these unique reef ecosystems and marine habitats. [Read more…] about Underwater robots take to the deep to map unexplored oceans
When wheels won’t do: Humanoid robots for human-centric spaces
By Nicolas Lehment, senior principal system architect, NXP Semiconductors
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and wheeled mobile robots currently dominate factories and warehouses, following magnetic stripes or optical markers permanently embedded in warehouse flooring to navigate routes.
As requirements evolve, however, wheels are simply not enough. Demand is growing for machines capable of navigating more challenging, human-centric environments, such as hospitals, restaurants, homes, and even rugged outdoor terrain.
In such environments, perfectly flat floors, free from steps and stairs, along with conspicuous, clutter-free aisles, are luxuries. [Read more…] about When wheels won’t do: Humanoid robots for human-centric spaces
MIT research: Using generative AI to help robots jump higher and land better
By Alex Shipps, digital strategy coordinator, MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Diffusion models like OpenAI’s DALL-E are becoming increasingly useful in helping brainstorm new designs.
Humans can prompt these systems to generate an image, create a video, or refine a blueprint, and come back with ideas they hadn’t considered before.
But did you know that generative artificial intelligence (AI) models are also making headway in creating working robots? Recent diffusion-based approaches have generated structures and the systems that control them from scratch. [Read more…] about MIT research: Using generative AI to help robots jump higher and land better
The Changing Face of the Warehouse: Smarter Machines on Every Aisle
Warehouses have long been the backbone of supply chains, yet they’re undergoing one of the most profound technological transformations in their history.
From manually driven forklifts and basic inventory racks to interconnected smart ecosystems, modern warehouses are being reimagined with machines that think, communicate, and adapt.
This shift isn’t merely about automation replacing human labor – it’s about enabling unprecedented levels of efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility. [Read more…] about The Changing Face of the Warehouse: Smarter Machines on Every Aisle
Robotic piece-picking: Inside the quest for human-level dexterity
Exploring the convergence of advanced grippers, 3D vision, and sophisticated AI that is enabling robots to handle an ever-wider variety of items with near-human skill
The relentless surge of global e-commerce has transformed our expectations for speed and convenience. But behind the one-click purchase lies a vast, complex, and physically demanding logistics network.
At its heart is a critical bottleneck: the manual, often strenuous task of piece picking. For decades, the simple act of identifying a specific item from a diverse jumble in a bin, grasping it securely, and placing it in a shipping container has remained stubbornly in the human domain.
Humans’ innate combination of sight, touch, and judgment has been the one ingredient that automation couldn’t replicate. Possibly until now. [Read more…] about Robotic piece-picking: Inside the quest for human-level dexterity
Smarter Storage, Faster Shipping: Automation in the Supply Chain
In the global economy of 2025, customer expectations for fast, accurate, and affordable deliveries have reached an all-time high.
E-commerce giants and traditional retailers alike are under constant pressure to fulfill orders more quickly and efficiently than ever before.
To meet these demands, businesses are turning to automation to revolutionize their supply chains – from warehouse storage to final delivery.
According to McKinsey, companies that fully embrace supply chain automation can cut operational costs by 15% to 30% and improve delivery times by 20% to 40%. [Read more…] about Smarter Storage, Faster Shipping: Automation in the Supply Chain
Dürr and GROB showcase new concept factory for battery cell production
Dürr to adopt new brand name as it aims for ‘more innovation in 50 percent less production space’
Less space and energy requirements, but more performance and the highest battery cell quality – that is the approach taken by engineering companies Dürr and GROB for their new concept factory for the production of lithium-ion battery cells.
At this year’s Battery Show Europe trade fair in Stuttgart, the two partners will be the largest exhibitors, showcasing the technical innovations that make this possible.
Key technologies include dry coating of the electrodes, which does not require a drying process, and powerful Z-folder technology for cell assembly with integrated notching. [Read more…] about Dürr and GROB showcase new concept factory for battery cell production
The autonomous future of the warehouse: How AMRs are redefining logistics
The relentless pace of e-commerce, compounded by persistent labour shortages and consumer demand for near-instant delivery, has pushed the global supply chain to a critical tipping point.
In this high-pressure environment, the warehouse has become the central battleground for efficiency.
For years, automation in the form of conveyors and basic Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) offered a partial solution. Now, a new, more intelligent technology is taking the lead: Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). [Read more…] about The autonomous future of the warehouse: How AMRs are redefining logistics