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Local Motors selects Ouster lidar for its next-generation autonomous shuttles

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Ouster, a provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, has signed a strategic customer agreement with electric autonomous vehicle company, Local Motors.

The agreement includes a binding commitment for over one thousand OS digital lidar sensors through 2023 and a non-binding forecast of over 20,000 sensors through 2025 which will be used to meet production demand for Local Motors’ next-generation shuttles.

Local Motors intends to equip its next-generation 3D printed autonomous shuttles with the full suite of Ouster OS sensors. This includes wide field of view, mid-range, and long-range digital lidar sensors for complete coverage as Local Motors aims to meet demand for Level 3 autonomous vehicles operating on mapped routes within campuses, city centers, and municipalities. [Read more…] about Local Motors selects Ouster lidar for its next-generation autonomous shuttles

Xwing and Textron Aviation to develop autonomous flight

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Xwing, a startup developing autonomy for aviation, has signed a joint development agreement with Textron Aviation.

Under this non-exclusive agreement, Xwing and Textron Aviation, home to the iconic Cessna and Beechcraft brands, can begin to work together to accelerate the seamless integration of autoflight technologies into existing and future aircraft, beginning with the Cessna Grand Caravan.

On the heels of its recent $40 million funding round, $400 million valuation, and completion of the world’s first autonomous gate-to-gate flight of a commercial cargo aircraft, Xwing enters the agreement as a leader in autonomous flight technology. [Read more…] about Xwing and Textron Aviation to develop autonomous flight

Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines partner to develop smart ship and autonomous ship control solutions

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Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines Robotics have agreed a collaboration that they say will deliver “comprehensive remote command, autonomous control and intelligent crew support systems to the marine market” and complement Rolls-Royce’s mtu NautIQ marine automation portfolio.

The companies say the plan is to provide customers with “complete automation solutions from a single trusted source”.

As part of this agreement, Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems and Sea Machines, the leading developer of remote-vessel command and autonomous control systems, will join forces on the development and sale of fully and semi-autonomous vessel control systems. [Read more…] about Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines partner to develop smart ship and autonomous ship control solutions

Comau to develop new robotic systems with shipbuilder Fincantieri

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Shipbuilder Fincantieri and Comau Robotics, two Italian industrial giants in their respective markets, have signed a letter of intent to develop prototypes of robotized steel welding solutions and the resulting construction of series of machines, to be implemented at first in Fincantieri shipyards.

Paolo Carmassi, Comau CEO, and Fabio Gallia, Fincantieri general manager, signed the agreement.

The first joint project, of which the operating agreement is currently under way and related tests are scheduled at the Fincantieri shipyards by the first half of the year 2022, will involve a welding robot vehicle consisting of an anthropomorphic welding robot and a remote control tracked vehicle. [Read more…] about Comau to develop new robotic systems with shipbuilder Fincantieri

Omron agrees distribution deal with OnRobot

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Omron Industrial Automation Europe has signed a new distribution agreement with OnRobot, the Danish manufacturer of tools for collaborative robot (cobot) applications.

This will enable Omron to offer OnRobot’s products – which can be fully integrated with the Omron TM cobot – to its customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The agreement between the two companies will give their customers greater agility when implementing collaborative solutions. [Read more…] about Omron agrees distribution deal with OnRobot

Avinor ploughs €40 million into Yeti autonomous snow removal vehicles

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Norwegian airport operator Avinor is taking the next step towards autonomous snow removal through a new framework agreement regarding the purchase of self-driving runway sweepers.

The self-driving technology is developed by the technology company Yeti Move, where Semcon is one of the co-owners.

Since the winter of 2018/2019, a number of self-driving runway sweepers have been tested at Oslo Airport. With Avinor’s new framework agreement with snowplough manufacturer Øveraasen, which runs for eight years, more autonomous vehicles will be put into operation during the winter of 2021/2022. [Read more…] about Avinor ploughs €40 million into Yeti autonomous snow removal vehicles

Rockwell Automation and OSIsoft extend digital data partnership

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Rockwell Automation has extended its 15-year partnership with industrial data platform provider OSIsoft to “ensure continued” value for industrial manufacturing customers by enabling informed, data-driven decisions.

OSIsoft’s PI System is the market-leading operations data management platform for industrial organizations meeting next-generation demands for efficiency, reliability, security, sustainability, and resilience.

The agreement reinforces the companies’ joint commitment to drive outcome-based digital transformation solutions for customers across essential industries, including energy, mining, oil and gas, utilities, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and more. [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation and OSIsoft extend digital data partnership

UPS sells UPS Freight to TFI International for $800 million

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Logistics giant United Parcel Services has entered into an agreement to sell UPS Freight to TFI International for $800 million, subject to working capital and other adjustments.

Carol Tomé, UPS CEO, says: “We’re excited about the future and the opportunities this creates for both UPS and UPS Freight as part of TFI International.

“The agreement allows UPS to be even more laser-focused on the core parts of our business that drive the greatest value for our customers.” [Read more…] about UPS sells UPS Freight to TFI International for $800 million

Columbia-Okura agrees strategic relationship with Integra Systems Brazil

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Columbia-Okura and Integra Systems have agreed a partnership that will allow Integra Systems to produce the complete line of Columbia-Okura robotic palletizers in Brazil.

This milestone achievement follows a similar agreement reached in 2020 between Integra Systems and Columbia Machine.

Columbia-Okura has been working with Integra since 2014. The execution of these recent license agreements reflects Columbia Machine’s and Columbia-Okura’s ongoing confidence and strategic relationship with Integra Systems. [Read more…] about Columbia-Okura agrees strategic relationship with Integra Systems Brazil

Motional and Lyft to launch fully driverless rideshare service

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Motional, a driverless technology developer, and rideshare service provider Lyft have agreed joint plans to launch a multimarket robotaxi service in major US cities, beginning in 2023.

Motional says its next generation, fully driverless vehicles will be integrated, operationalized, and implemented on the Lyft network.

The two companies claim this agreement marks the largest robotaxi partnership for a major ridesharing network. It follows an ongoing and successful three-year partnership, in which Motional and Lyft operate the world’s longest-standing commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas. [Read more…] about Motional and Lyft to launch fully driverless rideshare service