Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Nidec is set to enter the robotics market, according to a report on Nikkei.
Nidec is probably the world’s largest supplier of motors and drives, used in computer hard drives and all sorts of other devices. But it has so far, avoided entering the industrial robotics market in a big way.
Now, however, Nidec has reportedly “added robots to its core products along with electric vehicle motors”. [Read more…] about Nidec to enter robotics market
DHL Supply Chain, the global and North American contract logistics business unit within Deutsche Post DHL Group, is making a $15 million investment in robotics solutions from Boston Dynamics.
Boston dynamics is famous for making scary humanoid and canine robots but it has also become one of the leading developers of mobile robotics, and the robots it will supply DHL – which include an autonomous mobile robot with arm called “Stretch” (main picture) – will “further automate warehousing in North America”.
The companies have signed a multi-year agreement that begins with equipping DHL facilities with Stretch, Boston Dynamics’ newest robot specifically designed to automate the unloading process in distribution centers. [Read more…] about DHL to invest $15 million on Boston Dynamics robots for supply chain operations
Vecna Robotics, a provider of robotic material handling automation, has raised $65 million in its Series C funding round led by Tiger Global Management, along with additional funding from new investors Lineage Logistics, Proficio Capital Partners, and Impulse.
The new financing will help fund the company’s technology roadmap with new autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and software, and will accelerate fulfillment of new orders and expanded operations to address the $165 billion market opportunity for pallet-moving autonomy.
Craig Malloy, CEO of Vecna Robotics, says: “There is huge headroom for growth in automated material handling with over 5 billion pallets in the world being moved by more than 5 million forklifts and nearly 5 million manual operators. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics raises $65 million in Series C funding
Monarch Tractor has been showcasing what it says is “the world’s first fully electric, driver-optional tractor” and has been selected for 2022 CES Innovation Award in the process.
The annual CES competition honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.
Monarch says it has been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree and was honored in the Robotics category for its flagship MK-V tractor, which it says is “the first to deliver a convergence of electrification, automation and data analysis that empowers sustainable farming, increases efficiency and safety, and maximizes profitability for farmers”. [Read more…] about Monarch Tractor showcases ‘world’s first fully electric, driver-optional tractor’
Sunflower Labs, a provider of autonomous security systems, has installed its Beehive System to its partners’ facilities.
The customers include ADT, 10 Federal Self Storage, Swiss Federal Railways, Security Robotics Development & Solutions, and Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Sunflower Labs’ Beehive System is a drone-in-a-box solution that can enhance and extend any security or video surveillance system. The Beehive system consists of a fully autonomous drone called the Bee and a compact base station called the Hive. [Read more…] about Sunflower Labs provides its security drone system to range of new customers
“How do we build robots that can optimally explore space?” is the core question behind Dr Frances Zhu’s research at the University of Hawai’i. One part of the answer is, “with motion capture”.
“It is my hope that my research contributes to the way extraterrestrial robots move and make decisions on other planets,” explains Zhu (main image), an assistant researcher and deputy director at the University’s Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology.
That research is in its early stages, but NASA has seen the value in it and awarded Zhu an EPSCoR grant by the name “Autonomous Rover Operations for Planetary Surface Exploration using Machine Learning Algorithms”. [Read more…] about Motion capture is guiding the next generation of extraterrestrial robots
Robots may be able to assist in various ways in the ecommerce industry. Some of these roles include marketing, providing customer service, and even content generation.
With the advent of new technologies, many companies are using robots to make their businesses more efficient. These robots are used for various tasks on ecommerce websites like order fulfillment, inventory tracking, picking and more.
Examples of robots include virtual assistants, chatbots, machine learning systems, and robot sellers.
Virtual assistants are the main type of robot used in eCommerce – they aid users in accomplishing tasks by providing any requested information about products or services. [Read more…] about How Robots Can Contribute to the Ecommerce Industry
Mercedes-Benz and Luminar Technologies has agreed a partnership to accelerate development of future automated driving technologies for passenger cars.
A central component of this is the optimal access to new technologies and global competencies.
The new partnership with Luminar underlines Mercedes-Benz’s policy of continuously expanding its network of top-flight tech partners and suppliers for passenger cars. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz partners with Luminar to develop automated driving systems
With growing labour availability issues, how can grocery logistics operations significantly boost performance? Vincent Jacquemart, CEO at French autonomous mobile robot designer and manufacturer iFollow, offers a solution.
Faced with the likelihood of long term staff shortages and resulting rises in pay rates, warehouse and distribution centre operators in grocery and many other sectors are turning sometimes belatedly to automation. This is certainly an option but not all solutions deliver really significant productivity improvements.
Labour shortages in logistics have been building for some years, by no means just because of Brexit, and the inability to fulfil orders reliably is becoming an existential threat for many firms.
Logistics UK in October claimed that “13 percent of traders are reporting severe warehouse staff shortages”; in November the Cold Chain Federation noted “10 percent to 20 percent shortage rates” among its members. [Read more…] about Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots
Pudu Robotics, provider of commercial service robots, has wrapped up what it describes as “a highly successful showcase” at CES, which took place earlier this month.
In addition to exhibiting its flagship commercial service robots in the global arena, Pudu Robotics used the event to reaffirm its increased focus on IoT technology and layout its product roadmap based on a “multi-functional, multi-scenario” strategy.
The highlight of Pudu Robotics’ booth was the Afra C1 cleaning robot, which officially made its international debut on the commercial cleaning robot market at CES 2022. [Read more…] about Pudu Robotics showcases its service robots at CES
