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Beep secures $20 million Series-A investment from Intel and Blue Lagoon

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Beep, a provider of multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility solutions, has closed the company’s Series A investment round with Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital, raising $20 million.

The funding will enable Beep to continue the expansion of its autonomous fleet deployments across North America and leverage its learnings to advance passenger mobility service for cities, business districts and campuses at scale.

Beep utilizes a combination of machine learning, contextual traffic data and the company’s existing centralized command center data to provide vital oversight in managing high-risk scenarios for autonomous vehicles in complex geo-fenced environments. [Read more…] about Beep secures $20 million Series-A investment from Intel and Blue Lagoon

Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

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The Chinese robotics sector generated almost half of total global patents in the most recent year available, according to a new report. 

The figure was published in the Annual Report on the Development of the Robot Industry in China, jointly written by HRG International Institute of Research and Innovation as well as the China Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation.

The two organizations produced what they call the 2021 Blue Book of the Robot Industry, based on their research. [Read more…] about Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

Blue Yonder launches inaugural ‘AI 50 List’ of world’s most influential artificial intelligence leaders

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Software developer Blue Yonder launched its inaugural AI 50 List today, highlighting people who the company believes are the “top thought leaders, innovators, and influencers working to advance the development and adoption of artificial intelligence globally”.

Identified by its team of hundreds of data scientists and machine learning (ML) experts, Blue Yonder sought out the most prominent AI players across a myriad of industries and geographies to honour their profound impact on advancing the business value and understanding of AI.

Uwe Weiss, executive vice president – machine learning at Blue Yonder, says: “While the world continues to navigate uncertainty, AI continues to help people and the planet, by enabling companies to make better predictions and business decisions, saving time, money, and waste. [Read more…] about Blue Yonder launches inaugural ‘AI 50 List’ of world’s most influential artificial intelligence leaders

Automating Performance Metrics: Start with Demand and Inventory Forecasting

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By Mike Mills, Director, Business Consulting, Blue Ridge

2021 is the year when companies need earlier insights into new market opportunities, including what items consumers want, on what channel, how much they should stock, and how much they will pay for these products.

The ability to compete in new areas with this level of agility will be the key to unraveling chaos. As e-commerce continues to threaten the market with competitive products that are available nearly instantly, shifting consumer trends can make stocking shelves even more challenging.

Two-thirds of distributors, retailers, and manufacturers report that transportation, labor, and goods were rising more quickly than in previous years. Automation has become a full imperative; Covid has magnified the need. [Read more…] about Automating Performance Metrics: Start with Demand and Inventory Forecasting

US military selects Parrot as new supplier of drones

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Parrot, a drone manufacturer, has been selected to take part in the Blue Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) programme by the US Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The DIU is a Department of Defense organisation that accelerates commercial technology for national defense.

The Blue sUAS programme is a spin-off of the Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) programme launched by the Army and DIU in April 2019. [Read more…] about US military selects Parrot as new supplier of drones

Reshoring from China to US not a short-term solution

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Reshoring industrial operations from China to the US has not been as straightforward as it may have sounded at first, and companies looking to do so “face significant problems”, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

American companies, encouraged by the administration of President Donald Trump to relocate to the US, have found that there are numerous problems with reshoring.

One of the main issues relates to recruitment. The industrial sector – whether you’re talking about manufacturing, logistics, or other segments – has long had to contend with deep, structural problems in attracting workers. [Read more…] about Reshoring from China to US not a short-term solution

Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

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Blue Yonder and Uber Freight have agreed a partnership designed to help businesses build efficient and transparent global supply chains at a crucial time.

Digital transformation initiatives have accelerated over the last few months, as enterprises that ship goods embrace flexible operations to keep up with shifting demand.

Quickly recovering from supply shortages and creating a resilient business for the long term requires a well-managed, digitized supply chain, including freight transportation. [Read more…] about Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

Robotic Process Automation Market to Gain Impetus from Blue Prism’s Digital Workforce and its Exceptionally Secured Automation

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In a world full of cutting-edge technologies and advancements, robotic process automation (RPA) plays a meaningful part in systemizing tasks of the ultra-modern businesses.

The pursuit of efficient, smarter, and superior chatbots with higher intelligence has inexplicably increased the degree of automation processes; improving conventional business at the far end of the spectrum.

Yet there are so many blurring confusions about the function of RPA. Let’s clear that first! RPA can be simply put together as a tool intended to support business processes with automation. [Read more…] about Robotic Process Automation Market to Gain Impetus from Blue Prism’s Digital Workforce and its Exceptionally Secured Automation

DHL partners with Microsoft and Blue Yonder to develop platform for warehouse robots

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DHL Supply Chain has launched what it describes as a new “plug and play” robotics platform in collaboration with Microsoft, and artificial intelligence driven digital fulfillment provider Blue Yonder.

The robotics platform significantly reduces integration time and programming efforts to on-board new automation devices into warehouse facilities, while giving DHL customers more flexibility in selecting suitable robotics systems according to their individual business needs.

The solution leverages Microsoft Azure IoT and cloud platform services. [Read more…] about DHL partners with Microsoft and Blue Yonder to develop platform for warehouse robots

Blue Ocean Robotics and its disinfecting robots recognised by Robotics Business Review Top 50

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Blue Ocean Robotics and its ultra-violet disinfecting robots have been recognised as Top 50 Most Influential Robotics Company by Robotics Business Review.

The company says it is experiencing “continued global growth” as disinfecting robots are used as effective weapons against coronavirus and hospital acquired infections.

Christiano Huscher, chief surgeon at Gruppo Poloclinico Abano, which operates a number of private hospitals in Italy, says: “Before we received the UVD robot, six of the hospital’s doctors had been infected with Covid-19. [Read more…] about Blue Ocean Robotics and its disinfecting robots recognised by Robotics Business Review Top 50