australia

Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

Takeoff Technologies has closed its Series C fundraising with an additional $25 million in investment for 5 percent of the company, with a valuation of $500 million, bringing the total funds raised to $86 million.

The Series C funding was led by Forrestal Capital. This funding is set to propel a rollout scale across North America, Europe and Australia.

Takeoff is at the forefront of microfulfillment as the first and only solution provider with several operating sites in partnership with major grocery retail chains. [Read more…] about Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

Agtech startup Robotics Plus wins prestigious award

Robotics Plus, a developer of robotics and automation technologies for the agriculture sector, has won a prestigious award in its home region of Australia-New Zealand.

The startup has won an ANZLF Trans-Tasman Innovation and Growth Award, from the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.

The awards, which celebrate innovation, growth and impact of emerging businesses in Australia and New Zealand, were presented by Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern at a reception in Auckland this week. [Read more…] about Agtech startup Robotics Plus wins prestigious award

Komatsu supplies 41 giant autonomous haulage trucks to BHP

Komatsu has supplied 41 giant autonomous haulage trucks to mining behemoth BHP.

The vehicles are the “new model” Komatsu 930E-5 ultra-class haul trucks, made “autonomous-ready”, and will be operated at BHP’s new South Flank iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, from next month.

Sean Taylor, Komatsu Australia’s CEO and managing director, says: “People-powered technology is our central philosophy at Komatsu, and it’s this people-first approach to technology that we feel we share with BHP.” [Read more…] about Komatsu supplies 41 giant autonomous haulage trucks to BHP

Australian university focuses on future food systems

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers will play a key part in developing smart logistics to link growers with their markets and high-tech methods of growing customised food, with the announcement of the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre.

The Future Food Systems CRC will involve more than 50 commercial and research partners, with the Federal Government injecting AUS$35 million in funding over 10 years along with almost AUS$150 million in support from the research centre’s educational and commercial participants.

QUT’s involvement in the CRC is spread across the centre’s three research and development programs of planning and logistics in linking growers to their markets, developing smart automated indoor cropping and creating nutrient-dense foods and hybrid food and medical goods tailored to growing domestic and export markets.

[Read more…]

Australians developing robotic sheep-shearing system

Australia is facing a human labor shortage in the area of sheep-shearing, just at a time when demand for wool has been increasing. The country has around 73 million sheep and approximately 2,800 shearers.

To try and tackle this problem, the industry association Australian Wool Innovation has been researching and developing robotic sheep-shearing systems. (See video below.)

The organization has been testing delta robots as well as robotic arms. The ones shown in the main picture above were made by Rethink Robotics, which was recently effectively taken over by Hahn Group. [Read more…] about Australians developing robotic sheep-shearing system