Robotics & Automation News

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DB Cargo and Bosch develop fully automated shunting locomotive for series production

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As Europe’s largest freight operating company, DB Cargo is systematically driving forward the digitalisation and automation of rail freight transport. An important part of the progress it is making is the automation of shunting in formation yards.

Freight trains are taken apart, wagons sorted and new trains put together at the yards. The shunting locomotives required for these movements are still controlled manually in most cases. In the future, fully automated hump locomotives will be used.

The automation technology facilitating this innovation is currently being developed and made ready for series production with the two Bosch subsidiaries Bosch Engineering and ITK Engineering as strong industrial partners. [Read more…] about DB Cargo and Bosch develop fully automated shunting locomotive for series production

Deutsche Bahn and Kia give used electric car batteries a second life as stationary energy storage systems

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Korean carmaker Kia and Deutsche Bahn have partnered up to increase the useable life of batteries used in electric mobility. Their solution is to re-use used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles to create efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems for green electricity.

These second-life battery energy storage solutions are modular and can be used in a wide variety of different applications.

For example, they can save surplus electricity from photovoltaic systems or, as part of a distributed system, can supply power throughout the day to DB maintenance depots and depots where trains are prepared for operations. [Read more…] about Deutsche Bahn and Kia give used electric car batteries a second life as stationary energy storage systems

Flinkster relies on MOQO for the future

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Deutsche Bahn has been operating its own car sharing services for 20 years and currently offers the largest car sharing network in Germany. The service has grown to include 4,500 vehicles that can be booked in more than 400 cities and municipalities.

In order to initiate faster growth and new innovations, Deutsche Bahn will rely on MOQO as its carsharing software in the future with its car sharing service Flinkster. Plans for the technical move next year are already in place. [Read more…] about Flinkster relies on MOQO for the future

Deutsche Bahn invests in Gideon Brothers 
in $32 million financing round

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Gideon Brothers, a robotics and AI solutions company, has received a new investment from Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, the venture capital arm of Deutsche Bahn Group, as part of the recent Series A financing round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies valued at $32 million.

The Series A investment will accelerate the development and commercialization of Gideon Brothers’ AI and 3D vision-based autonomous mobile robots that automate horizontal and vertical material handling operations.

The company is also expanding its manufacturing, sales, customer success, and marketing operations across key markets of the EU and United States, by opening offices in Munich, Germany and Boston, Massachusetts. [Read more…] about Deutsche Bahn invests in Gideon Brothers 
in $32 million financing round

Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany

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A pilot project on truck platooning has been successfully completed by DB Schenker, MAN Truck & Bus and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

‘Platooning’ is when two or more trucks drive in a tight convoy on a motorway, benefiting from reduced air drag. All vehicles driving in the platoon are electronically linked to each other

Operating electronically linked trucks on German motorways is safe, technically reliable and easily applicable in the routine of a logistics company.

[Read more…] about Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany