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North America industrial robot orders drop for second quarter

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A slow US economy and high interest rates have taken a toll on robot orders in North American, resulting in a decline for the second quarter in a row after record purchases in 2021 and 2022.

According to the latest report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), companies ordered 7,697 robots valued at $457 million from April to July 2023, a 37 percent decline in robot orders and 20 percent drop in value over the same period in 2022.

When combined with first quarter results, the robotics market in North America is down 29 percent compared to the first half of last year with a total of 16,865 robots ordered. [Read more…] about North America industrial robot orders drop for second quarter

Tormach among America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2023

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Tormach, an innovator in CNC machine manufacturing, is celebrating its inclusion in the highly esteemed Inc 5000 list for 2023.

This “remarkable achievement” showcases Tormach’s dedication to excellence, innovation, and sustained growth in the ever-evolving manufacturing industry.

The Inc 5000 list, published annually by Inc Magazine, ranks the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. [Read more…] about Tormach among America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2023

Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

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Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean industries, has been awarded an additional $2.1 million under its current contract with Leidos, a science and technology company.

The additional funding augments the earlier award and this program has received $16.6 million in funding from Leidos since 2022. The technology developed is expected to underpin future, economically material opportunities. [Read more…] about Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

Olis Robotics secures $4 million funding to meet ‘surging demand’ for remote robot management

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Olis Robotics, specialists in remote monitoring, control, and error recovery technology for industrial robots, has raised $4.1 million funding in a round led by PSL Ventures.

Additional investors include Tectonic Ventures, Ubiquity Ventures, as well as several prominent strategic angel investors, including robotics pioneer Daniel Theobald, the president and co-founder of MassRobotics and founder and chairman of Vecna Robotics.

By safely enabling remote monitoring, control, and troubleshooting of industrial robots, Olis Robotics’ unique “Olis Connect” system significantly improves Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), effectively addressing costly robot downtime. [Read more…] about Olis Robotics secures $4 million funding to meet ‘surging demand’ for remote robot management

Serve Robotics raises $30 million financing to scale robotic delivery

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Serve Robotics, a developer of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, has raised another $30 million in financing, bringing the company’s total funds raised to over $56 million.

Concurrent with the raise of new capital and conversion of existing convertible notes, Serve also completed a reverse merger with Patricia Acquisition, a public Delaware corporation, whereby Serve became a wholly owned subsidiary of Patricia.

Following the transaction, Patricia changed its name to Serve Robotics and will continue the historic business of Serve. [Read more…] about Serve Robotics raises $30 million financing to scale robotic delivery

Plymouth university students design and build ‘scarecrow’ robots to protect wildlife

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Plymouth State University (PSU) students in their “Spring 2023 Industrial Robotics” course began work on a multi-semester project to bring new life to a pair of robots belonging to Casella Waste Systems, which has used six of these robots to ward off wildlife at their Bethlehem, New Hampshire landfill for roughly the past four years.

The project will continue during the next school year, providing a hands-on learning experience in a partnership that will benefit students, Casella, and ultimately regional wildlife.

The partnership between Plymouth State University’s first-in-the-state Robotics bachelor’s degree program and Casella was created in the hopes of bringing many of these robots, which use obsolete systems and have fallen into general disrepair, back into peak working order. [Read more…] about Plymouth university students design and build ‘scarecrow’ robots to protect wildlife

Fraunhofer designs robotic production system that is ‘as versatile as a Swiss Army knife’

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The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology has designed a new robotic production system that it says is “as versatile as a Swiss Army knife”.

Fraunhofer says the system’s features and benefits include:

  • it is utilization-optimized;
  • flexibly arranged production modules equipped via driverless transport systems which can manufacture a variety of products;
  • a production planning and control system that can flexibly allocate these modules;
  • segmentation and intelligent distribution of manufacturing tasks; and
  • possible to produce large-size components in small facilities.

Fraunhofer adds that its “Matrix production and SWAP-IT create a production infrastructure that enables highly efficient manufacturing of even smaller quantities”. [Read more…] about Fraunhofer designs robotic production system that is ‘as versatile as a Swiss Army knife’

Seaports to install almost 400,000 automated guided vehicles by 2030

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The maritime industry has drastically surged its automation efforts in the wake of global seaport congestion.

In addition to solutions such as gantries, automated port gates, and stacking cranes, autonomous horizontal transport modes such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that transport containers and loads to and from ships have been the most productivity-augmenting solutions in seaports.

According to ABI Research, a technology research firm, AGV seaport deployments worldwide will have a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 26 per cent from 2022 to 2030 and exceed 370,000 global deployments by 2027. [Read more…] about Seaports to install almost 400,000 automated guided vehicles by 2030

ATI Industrial Automation makes its multi-axis force/torque sensors compatible with Fanuc robots

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ATI Industrial Automation, a provider of robotic tooling and sensing solutions, says it has made its Multi-Axis Force/Torque (F/T) Sensors compatible with Fanuc Robots and Fanuc’s Force Control Software.

This collaboration opens up new possibilities for advanced automation and precision control in robotic applications.

The integration of ATI’s F/T Sensors with Fanuc Robots and Fanuc’s Force Control Software brings enhanced sensing capabilities to robotic systems, enabling users to achieve greater levels of accuracy, flexibility, and responsiveness. [Read more…] about ATI Industrial Automation makes its multi-axis force/torque sensors compatible with Fanuc robots

McCoy’s Building Supply brings in Badger robots to help operate stores

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Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil and specialist in retail automation, is rolling out in-store robots at McCoy’s Building Supply to elevate operational efficiencies and bolster customer-service excellence following a successful robotics pilot.

As a result, Badger Technologies multipurpose, autonomous robots empower McCoy’s stores to detect out-of-stock (OOS) and incorrectly priced products with more than 95 per cent accuracy while helping to decrease OOS products by up to 50 per cent. McCoy’s also improved price-tag accuracy by more than 97 per cent.

Based in San Marcos, Texas, McCoy’s Building Supply is one of the nation’s largest, privately held building supply retailers with 85 stores throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. [Read more…] about McCoy’s Building Supply brings in Badger robots to help operate stores