Robotics & Automation News

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Jamba and Blendid expand pilot launch of robotic smoothie kiosks to more locations

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Health food and smoothie specialist Jamba and robotics company Blendid have added two new “Jamba by Blendid” autonomous robotic kiosk locations.

The new locations at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia and Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia mark the first Jamba by Blendid openings on college campuses, expanding beyond the current pilot locations in a shopping mall and big box retailer.

The company calls this a “significant step” as Jamba and Blendid continue to explore opportunities to open more Jamba by Blendid kiosks in a variety of non-traditional venues, including gyms, hospitals, airports, and more. [Read more…] about Jamba and Blendid expand pilot launch of robotic smoothie kiosks to more locations

Magazino extends robot fleet at Zalando

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Magazino has extended the robot fleet at one of Europe’s leading fashion platforms – Zalando. For the young robotics company, it is the largest delivery in the company’s history.

The existing fleet of eight robots at the Zalando logistics site in Lahr (Germany) will be expanded by 20 additional robots. Some of the additional robots will already support the picking of shoes ordered online during Cyber Week 2021.

The first ten additional robots were delivered by Magazino in September. These will support Zalando employees and the existing robot fleet in the upcoming Cyber Week at the end of November. [Read more…] about Magazino extends robot fleet at Zalando

Autonomous driving software startup Helm.ai raises $26 million in new funding

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Helm.ai, creator of next-generation AI software for autonomous driving, today announced it has raised $26 million in series B funding.

This funding will help Helm.ai better serve its rapidly growing customer base, and accelerate product expansion of its highly scalable approach to autonomous driving software.

Additional funding in this round was from JM Partners, Base Capital Funding, and Freeman Group, with additional participation from Nicolas Berggruen, ACVC Partners, OneWay Ventures, Binnacle Partners, Nadia Asoyan, Vlad Tenev, Mark Leslie, Jeff Rothschild, and Neil King. [Read more…] about Autonomous driving software startup Helm.ai raises $26 million in new funding

Locus Robotics secures $50 million in additional funding 
to accelerate global expansion

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Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has secured $50 million in additional funding from existing investor Tiger Global Management.

The funds will be used to facilitate continued growth and expansion into new markets around the globe, and more effectively meet the needs of its growing customer and partner ecosystem.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, says: “At a time of increasing volumes and ongoing labor shortages, this new round of funding underscores how critical flexible, scalable, intelligent robotics automation has become to the warehouse and the supply chain. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics secures $50 million in additional funding 
to accelerate global expansion

OnRobot releases ‘world’s most powerful’ electric vacuum gripper for robot arms

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OnRobot has released what it describes as the “world’s most powerful” electric vacuum gripper for robot arms. 

OnRobot says its new VGP20 electric vacuum gripper provides a powerful and versatile solution for challenging palletising scenarios including heavy, bulky and porous surfaces.

Large, unwieldy bags of dog food, non-airtight clothing or consumer goods packages, and bulky, porous cardboard boxes. These are just some examples of demanding packaging and palletising applications that OnRobot’s new VGP20 gripper can address. [Read more…] about OnRobot releases ‘world’s most powerful’ electric vacuum gripper for robot arms

Hanwha launches new collaborative robot solutions

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Hanwha has launched what it describes as “new advanced solutions”, including Hanwha Collaborative Robot Advanced (HCR Advanced) and a collaborative-robot-solutions package to continue building its momentum in the collaborative robot market that is expected to grow rapidly.

The global market for cobots was worth $1.2 billion last year, and it is expected to grow on average by 42 percent annually as more smart factories are built and the increasing demand for contactless services due to Covid-19 are expected to reach $7 billion by 2026.

In response, Hanwha is aggressively developing advanced cobots that combine Hanwha’s AI technology with its mobility capabilities. The company is integrating its robotics technology with existing logistics automation systems, secondary batteries, and display-related facilities to create synergy and satisfy the diverse needs of customers worldwide. [Read more…] about Hanwha launches new collaborative robot solutions

Top Australian retailer installs more than 100 Geek+ warehouse robots in partnership with Körber

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Geek+, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has been chosen by Catch.com.au, one of Australia’s leading online retailers, to provide more than 100 AMRs through its global integration partner Körber.

The companies say the partnership is bringing new opportunities for the e-commerce marketplace in Australia and New Zealand.

In the past year, Catch.com.au has seen its already rapidly growing business expand with thousands of additional SKUs being added to its already extensive range of brands and products. [Read more…] about Top Australian retailer installs more than 100 Geek+ warehouse robots in partnership with Körber

Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

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Volansi, a drone company specializing in medical logistics, has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceuticals and biotech giant Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, Volansi is piloting the delivery of cold-chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about drone technology’s role and ability to improve access to healthcare.

With 1.4 million people across 29 counties, eastern North Carolina’s vast, rural environment can create challenges for accessing care. Initial flights in the project resulted in the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the US. [Read more…] about Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

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Agilox says its autonomous mobile robots are “substantially saving costs” by applying artificial swarm intelligence.

Swarm Intelligence and bio-inspired computing have attracted great interest in almost every area of science and engineering, including robotics, over the last two decades.

Being an innovative manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, Agilox directs most of its effort into developing one of the most unique robotic material handling features on the market – completely decentralized autonomy. [Read more…] about Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

Retail giant Gap improves supply chain with Kindred ‘Sort’ robots

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Retail giant Gap says it has improved its supply chain output by implementing robots supplied by Kindred. (See video below.)

The system Kindred has supplied uses industrial robotic arms originally manufactured by Fanuc integrated into a solution called “Sort”.

Gap says that it has been “faced with an unprecedented surge in e-commerce and an extreme workforce disruption” which persuaded it that “now is the time for artificial intelligence and robotics solutions to solve complex fulfillment problems”. [Read more…] about Retail giant Gap improves supply chain with Kindred ‘Sort’ robots