Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Formant acquires Formation to add robot remote control to its fleet management solutions

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Formant, a robot fleet management software company, has acquired Formation, a robot teleoperation startup based in Pittsburgh.

Formant will integrate the startup’s solution to enable customers to remotely control their robots through its browser-based, cloud-enabled robot fleet management system.

According to Formant’s CEO, Jeff Linnell, adding teleoperation to Formant’s offerings will create an end-to-end solution that robots-as-a-service companies can leverage to scale their fleets, enabling them to easily manage thousands of robots. [Read more…] about Formant acquires Formation to add robot remote control to its fleet management solutions

Connected Signals launches cloud-based vehicle-to-infrastructure system

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Connected Signals, a provider of predictive real-time traffic signal information, has launched its Signal Priority System product suite for smart cities.

SPS is a proprietary vehicle-to-infrastructure technology that is a cloud-based, centralized system connecting vehicles to traffic signals, and providing prioritization of buses, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and others.

Connected Signals says this fresh approach capitalizes on existing traffic management infrastructure and cellular data, rather than requiring dedicated roadside equipment.

[Read more…] about Connected Signals launches cloud-based vehicle-to-infrastructure system

Washington passes law allowing robots to take over the streets

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Washington Governor Jay Inslee (main picture) has signed a bill allowing delivery robots to take over the streets.

Governor Inslee approved House Bill 1325, thereby creating the framework to regulate what are termed “Personal Delivery Devices”, or PDDs, across the entire state.

The legislation specifically permits the use of Starship Technologies’ robots – or PDDs – in the state of Washington and marks the eighth state-wide approval for such machines on sidewalks and crosswalks in the US. [Read more…] about Washington passes law allowing robots to take over the streets

Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

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By Thomas Knudsen, general manager Northern Europe, OnRobot

Within a diverse and innovative sector like the manufacturing industry, flexibility is key.

Robotics, a key enabler of this, has already taken this industry by storm, allowing factories worldwide to automate more and more tasks, cutting costs and increasing productivity.

However, simple automation is no longer enough. Manufacturers now require unique automation solutions for each specific production environment, to tackle the talent shortage they are facing, but can’t redesign facilities for every different process and application.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

Waypoint Robotics launches MAV3K omnidirectional autonomous mobile robot

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Waypoint Robotics has launched the MAV3K (pronounced May-vick) industrial grade autonomous mobile robot (AMR). It has a 3000lb carrying capacity and omnidirectional mobility.

MAV3K comes equipped with Waypoint’s Dispatcher software, allowing it to be set up and autonomously operating in under 15 minutes.

MAV3K’s batteries keep it moving through the longest workday and Waypoint’s EnZone wireless charging system enables MAV3K to charge itself.