Robotics & Automation News

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Caja Robotics and Bastian Solutions to build mobile goods to person solutions in America

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Caja Robotics, a provider of robotic and flexible goods-to-person solutions for order fulfillment, says it will be working closely with Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics company, to integrate Caja robotic systems in the USA.

The two companies will leverage each other’s capabilities and leadership positions in the material handling space to serve a range of projects and customer sites.

Matt Kuper, vice president of global sales and applications at Bastian Solutions, says: “We are excited to collaborate with Caja Robotics and add their flexible and modular robots to our solutions roster. [Read more…] about Caja Robotics and Bastian Solutions to build mobile goods to person solutions in America

Kawasaki demonstrates unmanned cargo transport system which combines an aircraft and a mobile wheeled robot

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Kawasaki Heavy Industries says it has successfully completed proof-of-concept (PoC) testing for an unmanned cargo transport system. (See video below.)

The system combines Kawasaki’s K-Racer-X1 prototype unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and what is commonly described in the industry as an autonomous mobile robot, and which the company describes as a “delivery robot”.

Kawasaki says the PoC testing was conducted with the aim of helping to solve societal issues such as labor shortages in the logistics industry. [Read more…] about Kawasaki demonstrates unmanned cargo transport system which combines an aircraft and a mobile wheeled robot

Kivnon’s AGV ROI Calculation Starts on Product Delivery Date

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By Mike Kotzian, managing director, Kivnon USA

Modex 2022 in Atlanta March 28-31 will feature many AGV vendors who cannot deliver product this year. Too much emphasis has been placed on features, advantages, and benefits; too little attention has been paid to delivery dates.

AGV vendors must promise a delivery date with a guarantee not to exceed 180 days from purchase order to delivery. Failing to provide that commitment is unacceptable.

Solving the immediate challenges in production by delivering product by Q3 2022 and mitigating the hiring constraints plaguing industries must be the top priorities. The current state of the supply chain has exacerbated the situation. [Read more…] about Kivnon’s AGV ROI Calculation Starts on Product Delivery Date

Swisslog to deliver another AutoStore to Bring Parcels’ major venture in Copenhagen

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In early 2021, Swisslog signed a framework agreement with Bring Parcels for the supply of warehouse automation for the logistics company’s new fulfillment solution “Shelfless”.

A decision has now been made to build the fully automated fulfillment solution also in Køge outside Copenhagen.

It is now clear that Bring will build its third automated AutoStore facility, this time in Køge outside Copenhagen. The facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. The service already operates in Oslo and a facility is under construction in Stockholm. [Read more…] about Swisslog to deliver another AutoStore to Bring Parcels’ major venture in Copenhagen

Ouster and Vecna Robotics partner to accelerate material handling automation

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Ouster, a provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, has signed a strategic customer agreement with Vecna Robotics, a material handling automation company and autonomous mobile robot maker.

The agreement includes a non-binding forecast for approximately 3,000 OS digital lidar sensors through 2025 as Vecna Robotics scales production to meet increasing customer demand for warehouse and logistics automation.

Vecna Robotics plans to fuse Ouster lidar into its multi-sensor autonomy stack to equip self-driving pallet trucks, tow tractors, and lift trucks for high-capacity material handling operations. [Read more…] about Ouster and Vecna Robotics partner to accelerate material handling automation

Hexagon unveils automated platform to accelerate autonomous robotic quality assurance

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Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, which supplies smart manufacturing technologies to giants from Volkswagen to Boeing, has unveiled its HxGN Robotic Automation, which it describes as a “pioneering robotic programming and control software” that enables non-specialist quality professionals to program industrial robots to perform fully automated quality inspection.

The platform enables manufacturers to equip greenfield factories or retrofit existing production lines with state-of-the-art autonomous optical inspection cells, accelerating time to market by eliminating historic bottlenecks while providing more complete data direct from the production line as products are made.

HxGN says its robotic automation enables manufacturers to accelerate adoption of Industry 4.0 by intelligently devising optimal inspection routines in a single step; a task that would typically demand significant time and attention from both a metrology and robotics professional. [Read more…] about Hexagon unveils automated platform to accelerate autonomous robotic quality assurance

Mercedes-Benz receives ‘world’s first internationally valid system approval’ for conditionally automated driving

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Mercedes-Benz says it has become the first automotive company in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements of UN-R157 for a Level 3 system.

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has granted system approval for this on the basis of the technical approval regulation UN-R157, thus paving the way for offering such a system internationally, provided that national legislation allows it.

Germany has taken a pioneering role in this with the opening of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz receives ‘world’s first internationally valid system approval’ for conditionally automated driving

Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

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Photoneo, a developer of robotics for warehouse tasks, has raised $21 million in new funding.

The new funding was from AI Capital, IPM Group, Earlybird, Venture to Future Fund, and Credo Ventures as well as all investors who participated in previous investment rounds.

The newly raised capital will accelerate 3D Sensor business and enable expansion of its fully automated fulfillment solutions for warehouses and dark stores – called BrightPick. [Read more…] about Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

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Universal Robots, the world’s leading collaborative robot provider, says Stanley Engineered Fastening has successfully introduced robotic quality inspection using its collaborative robots.

15 UR3e cobots act as key components in its brand-new cells for Breakstem autonomous manufacture which have reduced product costs by approximately 10 percent and shortened lead times by up to 70 percent.

They are producing approximately 350 million fasteners per annum from across the company’s product range. [Read more…] about Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

Top 3 Predictions on the Future of Automation in Warehousing

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In recent years, warehouses worldwide have adapted advanced technologies to automate processes to enhance efficiency.

In fact, a report by Research and Markets reveals that the global warehouse automation market will reach $30.99 billion in 2025, according to PR Newswire. But that’s not all there is in warehouse automation.

There are plenty of reasons to use automated warehousing for your small business, such as cost savings, improved services, and increased customer satisfaction. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your warehouse processes, you might want to learn more about the predictions on the future of automation in warehousing discussed below. [Read more…] about Top 3 Predictions on the Future of Automation in Warehousing