Robotics & Automation News

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Kodiak partners with Atlas Energy to deliver 100 autonomous ‘RoboTruck’ loads

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Kodiak Robotics, an autonomous truck developer, and Atlas Energy Solutions say that Atlas has completed the delivery of 100 loads of proppant (a sand-like material used to keep fractures open in oil and gas wells) with its two RoboTrucks, semi-trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s self-driving system.

This milestone marks the first time ever that a customer has taken ownership of a RoboTruck and launched driverless commercial semi-trucking operations.

The initial driverless operations, which were announced in July 2024, involved Kodiak delivering Atlas’s frac sand along a 21-mile off-road route in West Texas’s Permian Basin with Kodiak-owned driverless trucks. [Read more…] about Kodiak partners with Atlas Energy to deliver 100 autonomous ‘RoboTruck’ loads

Self-Driving Trucks Liability: Insights from a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

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The transportation sector has seen significant changes since self-driving trucks entered service. Autonomous vehicles use AI and advanced systems including LiDAR and machine learning technologies to deliver better safety outcomes and improve transportation efficiency.

Yet this innovation poses unique legal issues, especially regarding personal injury law cases involving autonomous trucks involved in accidents – when this occurs it becomes an intricate puzzle of assigning liability between multiple parties involved, cutting-edge technology involved and many different companies involved.

This blog explores this in more depth while discussing why legal representation by Houston truck accident lawyer is crucial in helping victims navigate these legal complexities successfully. [Read more…] about Self-Driving Trucks Liability: Insights from a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

Cyngn supplies its autonomous tugger to Coats Company facility

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Cyngn has initiated a production implementation with Coats Company, the largest full-line wheel service equipment manufacturer in North America.

The installation of Cyngn’s DriveMod Tugger – a self-driving industrial vehicle that can haul goods indoors and outdoors – is under way at Coats’ 150,000+ square foot manufacturing facility in La Vergne, Tennessee.

This deployment will leverage Cyngn’s previously launched next-generation DriveMod Tugger, which features an increased towing capacity from 6,000 lbs to 12,000 lbs. [Read more…] about Cyngn supplies its autonomous tugger to Coats Company facility

Indy Autonomous Challenge achieves ‘world’s first’ multi-car autonomous race at CES 2025

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) made history at CES 2025 with the world’s first successful completion of a multi-car autonomous race.

This groundbreaking event held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway marked a major milestone in the evolution of physical AI and autonomous racing, with four IAC AV-24 fully autonomous racecars piloted by AI drivers from top global university teams competing head-to-head in a 20-lap exhibition race.

The race ended in a thrilling side-by-side photo finish, with Unimore Racing crossing the finish line less than three-tenths of a second faster than Cavalier Autonomous Racing. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge achieves ‘world’s first’ multi-car autonomous race at CES 2025

Cyngn raises $33 million in December to scale autonomous mobile robot business

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Autonomous mobile robotics developer Cyngn has secured $33 million in funding. This funding positions the company to accelerate its growth and deliver on its mission to proliferate industrial autonomous vehicles.

Lior Tal, chairman and CEO of Cyngn, says: “This capital infusion strengthens our ability to fund operations, drive commercialization, and continue investing in groundbreaking autonomous vehicle technologies.

“With increasing demand for automation solutions, especially in the automotive, heavy machinery and logistics industries, this funding allows us to build on recent momentum, including our upcoming autonomous forklift launch and other strategic advancements.” [Read more…] about Cyngn raises $33 million in December to scale autonomous mobile robot business

SMD partners with Beam to ‘mobilise’ autonomous underwater vehicles

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SMD, an underwater technology and services company, and Beam, a deep technology company, are partnering to “mobilise” autonomous vehicles in harsh offshore environments using Beam’s Pathfinder software.

Having purchased SMD’s market-leading Quantum EV, Beam plans to mount its innovative subsea perception system, SubSLAM – running their Pathfinder software – to the vehicle, enabling AI-driven autonomous piloting in deeper, harsher waters.

By combining SubSLAM’s localisation, AI and mapping technology with Quantum EV’s exceptional high-current performance, vital progress will be made towards improving the efficiency of offshore wind farm maintenance. [Read more…] about SMD partners with Beam to ‘mobilise’ autonomous underwater vehicles

John Deere reveals new autonomous machines and technology at CES

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John Deere has revealed several new autonomous machines at CES 2025 to support customers in agriculture, construction, and commercial landscaping.

Building on Deere’s autonomous technology first revealed at CES 2022, the company’s second-generation autonomy kit combines advanced computer vision, AI, and cameras to help the machines navigate their environments.

While each of these industries experiences their own set of challenges, a commonality across all is skilled labor availability. [Read more…] about John Deere reveals new autonomous machines and technology at CES

Common ground: Are mobile robots technologically the same as autonomous cars?

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For a long time, I’ve been wondering if an autonomous mobile robot – those small wheeled boxes you see moving shelf units and other items in warehouses – could be increased in size, then fitted with a car chassis and body, with a couple of seats inside, and marketed as a road-going, passenger-carrying autonomous vehicle. 

Yes, of course, some serious design refinements of the sketched out idea above would be required and a torrent of regulations would have to be navigated, but beyond that, the internal technologies would not need to change much because, fundamentally, they are the same. Right? Or not?

Actually, I don’t know. I’m not an engineer. But from what’s called a high-level perspective, both AMRs and autonomous vehicles are essentially the same thing or at least perform the same function – carry goods and people around autonomously. [Read more…] about Common ground: Are mobile robots technologically the same as autonomous cars?

Toyota, Aurora and Continental to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia platform

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Toyota, Aurora and Continental have joined the list of mobility technology providers developing and building their consumer and commercial vehicle fleets on chipmaker Nvidia’s accelerated computing and AI platforms.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, will build its next-generation vehicles on Nvidia Drive AGX Orin, running the safety-certified Nvidia DriveOS operating system. These vehicles will offer functionally safe, advanced driving assistance capabilities.

The majority of today’s auto manufacturers, truckmakers, robotaxi, and autonomous delivery vehicle companies, tier-one suppliers and mobility startups are developing on Nvidia Drive AGX platform and technologies. [Read more…] about Toyota, Aurora and Continental to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia platform

Nexcom showcases ‘next-gen’ autonomous mobile robot at CES

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NexAIoT, a developer of AI-driven industrial automation technologies and a subsidiary of Nexcom International, is showcasing its second-generation autonomous mobile robot (AMR), the NexMOV-2.

The company says its new AMR represents “cutting-edge advancements in intelligent mobility and modular design”.

The global mobile robot platform market is projected to grow from an estimated $2.42 billion in 2023 to approximately $8.02 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12.7 percent over this period. [Read more…] about Nexcom showcases ‘next-gen’ autonomous mobile robot at CES