Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Search Results for: st robotics

Bosch to acquire 12 percent of Husqvarna

by

Bosch has agreed to acquire shares in the long-established Swedish company Husqvarna. The acquisition will increase its shareholding to roughly 12 percent in the company’s share capital in total. Numbers were not disclosed. 

Husqvarna is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. In acquiring these shares today, Bosch intends to strengthen the battery alliance between the two companies.

Husqvarna also includes the Gardena subsidiary and its Flymo brand, both of which are also partners in the Bosch Power Tools division’s “Power for All Alliance”. [Read more…] about Bosch to acquire 12 percent of Husqvarna

Carnegie Mellon University’s new robot collaborates with humans to create art

by

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has a new artist-in-residence.

FRIDA, a robotic arm with a paintbrush taped to it, uses artificial intelligence to collaborate with humans on works of art. Ask FRIDA to paint a picture, and it gets to work putting brush to canvas.

“There’s this one painting of a frog ballerina that I think turned out really nicely,” says Peter Schaldenbrand, a School of Computer Science PhD student in the Robotics Institute working with FRIDA and exploring AI and creativity. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon University’s new robot collaborates with humans to create art

SSI Schaefer fully acquires DS Automotion

by

The SSI Schaefer Group, an international provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions employing some 10,000 people, and DS Automotion, a provider of mobile robotics such as automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots, have signed an agreement under which SSI Schaefer will acquire all shares in DS Automotion.

Through the new agreement, SSI Schaefer will expand the minority interest it has held since 2018 to reflect the growing importance of autonomous and mobile robotics and the AGV business in intralogistics.

The acquisition of the remaining shares will take effect on March 1st, 2023 and is subject to approval by Austria’s Federal Competition Authority. [Read more…] about SSI Schaefer fully acquires DS Automotion

Robotic pollinator: A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light

by

The loss of pollinators, such as bees, is a huge challenge for global biodiversity and affects humanity by causing problems in food production. At Tampere University, researchers have now developed the first passively flying robot equipped with artificial muscle. Could this artificial fairy be utilised in pollination?

The development of stimuli-responsive polymers has brought about a wealth of material-related opportunities for next-generation small-scale, wirelessly controlled soft-bodied robots.

For some time now, engineers have known how to use these materials to make small robots that can walk, swim and jump. So far, no one has been able to make them fly.

Researchers of the Light Robots group at Tampere University are now researching how to make smart material fly. Hao Zeng, Academy Research Fellow and the group leader, and Jianfeng Yang, a doctoral researcher, have come up with a new design for their project called FAIRY – Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly. They have developed a polymer-assembly robot that flies by wind and is controlled by light. [Read more…] about Robotic pollinator: A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light

Hannover Messe planning to be a ‘showcase for artificial intelligence’ this year

by

Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest trade shows for industrial technologies, is planning to make this year’s event a “showcase for artificial intelligence”.

From 17 to 21 April 2023, Hannover Messe, held in Germany, will be shining a spotlight on the topic of “AI in manufacturing”.

Along with the subject of process optimization, exhibitors will be focusing on the role of AI in simulation, testing and product development. Generative AI is also making major inroads into industry. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe planning to be a ‘showcase for artificial intelligence’ this year

Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

by

Nidec Leroy-Somer has signed an agreement with Airbus, the worlds largest airplane manufacturer, to develop an electric motor for its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine prototype, as part of Airbus’ ambition to bring the first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

The long-standing expertise and extensive know-how of the French electric motor manufacturer, who already provides proven advanced technologies to many demanding industries, such as navy, nuclear, railway, automotive and robotics is now collaborating on aviation decarbonization.

Leroy-Somer, part of the Japanese Nidec Group since 2017, is entrusted to design and develop a series of electric motor prototypes which meet very high requirements in terms of safety, reliability, energy-efficiency and lowest weight for the targeted power. [Read more…] about Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

by

Apptronik, a maker of general-purpose robots, exoskeletons and humanoids, has received an equity investment from Terex Corporation and has reached an agreement with Terex to co-develop “first-of-a-kind robots” to work alongside workers to support safety, productivity, and efficiency of industries that power the economy and are essential to building infrastructure.

Robots have long held the promise of solving labor shortages and productivity issues, but until recently have been limited to performing repetitive tasks within structured environments such as warehouses or factories.

While robots have proven useful at completing dull and repetitive tasks in controlled environments, they have not been leveraged for more complex tasks in unstructured environments. [Read more…] about Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

Hyundai launches delivery robot pilot programs

by

Hyundai Motor Group has started two pilot delivery service programs using autonomous robots based on its “Plug & Drive” (PnD) modular platform at a hotel and a residential-commercial complex located in the outskirts of Seoul.

The delivery robot consists of a storage unit integrated on top of a PnD driving unit. Alongside the loading box used to deliver items, a connected screen displays information for customers.

First shown at CES 2022, Hyundai’s PnD modular platform is an all-in-one single wheel unit that combines intelligent steering, braking, in-wheel electric drive and suspension hardware, including a steering actuator for 360-degree, holonomic rotation. [Read more…] about Hyundai launches delivery robot pilot programs

Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions

by

Performing human-like motions that involve multiple contacts is challenging for robots. In this regard, a researcher from the Tokyo University Science has envisioned an interactive cyber-physical human (iCPH) platform with complementary humanoid (physical twin) and simulation (digital twin) elements.

iCPH combines human measurement data, musculoskeletal analysis, and machine learning for data collection and augmentation. As a result, iCPH can understand, predict, and synthesize whole-body contact motions.

Humans naturally perform numerous complex tasks. These include sitting down, picking something up from a table, and pushing a cart. These activities involve various movements and require multiple contacts, which makes it difficult to program robots to perform them. [Read more…] about Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions

Ottonomy unveils new delivery robot

by

Ottonomy has unveiled Yeti, which it describes as “the first fully autonomous unattended delivery robot on the market”.

Ottonomy adds that the robot as ideal for curbside, first mile and last mile deliveries, locker integration and automating the return process for retailers.

Ottonomy is focused on innovating and paving the way for efficient and sustainable delivery logistics. With its global pilots throughout 2022, Ottonomy successfully demonstrated autonomous deliveries across a range of terrain and in varying inclement weather conditions, in order to provide sustainable solutions for automating deliveries for multiple use cases at scale. [Read more…] about Ottonomy unveils new delivery robot