Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Uber Technologies has completed the acquisition of delivery robot startup Postmates in an all-stock transaction.
The two companies have begun the process of integrating US operations.
The transaction brings together Uber’s global Mobility and Delivery platform with Postmates’ business in the US to strengthen the delivery of food, groceries, essentials, and other goods. [Read more…] about Uber completes acquisition of delivery robot startup Postmates
Oqton, an American-Belgian software company specialising in artificial intelligence-powered solutions for the manufacturing industry, has raised more than $40 million in a Series A financing round, led by Fortino Capital, a leading B2B software investor, by PMV, the regional Flemish investment fund, and by Sandvik, a global engineering group.
The founding team – Samir Hanna and Ben Schrauwen – and several angel investors, including Carl Bass, who is the former CEO Autodesk, Dries Buytaert, of Drupal and Acquia, and Peter Mercelis, of Layerwise, also participated in the round.
The financing will be used to further develop its platform, while expanding its commercial partnerships in multiple domains and verticals, including additive manufacturing, robotic welding, and CNC machining. [Read more…] about Oqton raises over $40 million investment for its digital manufacturing platform
Stäubli is starting the new year with a new chief executive officer – and it’s someone this website has interviewed before. (See video below.)
Gerald Vogt, previously responsible for the global business of the Robotics Division, will take over as CEO from retiring Rolf Strebel on January 1, 2021.
With Gerald Vogt, an experienced manager from within the company’s own ranks will take over the management of the diversified and growing family-owned company. [Read more…] about Gerald Vogt appointed new CEO of Stäubli Group
FLIR Systems has launched something called “FLIR Hadron”, which the company describes as the industry’s first dual sensor module for drone, robotic, and imaging original equipment manufacturers.
Designed to help reduce development costs and improve time-to-market, the lightweight, low power, and compact form factor includes a 12-megapixel visible camera paired with the FLIR Boson 320×240 resolution thermal camera with up to a 60-hertz framerate.
Paul Clayton, general manager, components business at FLIR, says: “With the introduction of Hadron, FLIR Systems is leading the way in offering low-cost, dual sensor integration across a variety of industries from commercial drones to industrial imaging systems. [Read more…] about FLIR Systems launches new sensor for drones and robots
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), the industry-led organization leading Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, is co-investing $5 million in projects leading to the development and production in Canada of automated hands-free disinfection technologies to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Five outstanding projects have been selected for funding under NGen’s Disinfection Robot Challenge. With matching contributions from industry, total value of these projects will exceed $10 million.
In April NGen challenged companies to develop innovative robotic solutions that would reduce the number of healthcare associated infections to protect the safety of both patients and healthcare workers, or that would disinfect private spaces and facilities so that businesses could bring employees back to work in a safe and sanitized environment. [Read more…] about NGen invests $5 million into manufacturing of disinfection robots
IAM Robotics, makers of autonomous mobile manipulation robots, has won a contract with new client A.S. Watson Group, one of the world’s largest international health and beauty retailers with over 15,700 stores in 25 markets.
A.S. Watson will implement a fleet of Swift robots from IAM Robotics at its Benelux e-commerce fulfillment center in the Netherlands to help solve labour and capacity constraints due to a fast-growing, high-volume health and beauty retail business.
Ed van de Weerd, CEO of A.S. Watson health and beauty Benelux, says: “Our business in e-commerce is growing rapidly, and we need a way to keep up with the growth while offering next-day delivery within our existing fulfillment center, which is important for us to deliver the group’s online and offline strategy. [Read more…] about IAM Robotics wins contract with global health and beauty retailer
Siemens has acquired Swedish service and software company Vizendo, a provider of virtual operator training for automotive manufacturing.
Virtual training enables industrial companies to reduce their training times and launch new products faster and in higher quality.
Karen Florschütz, CEO of the customer services business unit at Siemens, says: “Virtual training has huge growth potential. Vizendo’s service and software range ideally complements our digital services and thus our Digital Enterprise portfolio. [Read more…] about Siemens acquires provider of virtual training for industrial companies Vizendo
HERE Technologies says Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have completed their joint acquisition of a 30 per cent ownership stake in the company, after receiving regulatory approvals.
HERE welcomes Mitsubishi and NTT as strategic investors. The two companies have co-invested in HERE via their recently established, jointly owned holding company COCO Tech Holding in the Netherlands.
As a result, HERE now has nine direct and indirect shareholders: Audi, Bosch, BMW Group, Continental, Intel Capital, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, NTT and Pioneer. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies
DB Schenker, a global logistics company, has invested in Volocopter, a startup developing a new type of passenger-carrying drone which can also be used for good distribution.
DB Schenker says its investment shows that it is “a pioneer of urban air mobility”. With the new investment, Volocopter has extended its Series C funding to now a total of €87 million.
Besides DB Schenker, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, MS&AD Ventures, and TransLink Capital (Japan Airlines and Sompo Japan Insurance) join the round as new investors, existing investors Lukasz Gadowski and btov also invested. [Read more…] about DB Schenker invests in Volocopter as drone startup builds funds up to €87 million
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is to make the keynote address for GTC 2020, the company’s specially arranged online event.
Huang will provide his support in a speech scheduled for May 14th, at 6am US Pacific Time, and will be broadcast live on YouTube.
Nvidia’s GTC event is designed to provide insights, training and research findings on the latest platform breakthroughs related to artificial intelligence, deep learning, autonomous vehicles, robotics and professional graphics. [Read more…] about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to make keynote address for GTC 2020
