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MassRobotics opens applications for third annual ‘Form and Function Robotics Challenge’

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Robotics accelerator MassRobotics has launched its third annual Form and Function Robotics Challenge.

This year’s competition is supported by Altium, AMD, Analog Devices, Autodesk, Copley Controls, Danfoss, FESTO, Harmonic Drive, Igus, Lattice Semiconductor, Maxon, Mitsubishi Electric, and Novanta.

The MassRobotics challenge is designed for college student teams to showcase their unique robotics projects. Teams from anywhere around the world are encouraged to enter. [Read more…] about MassRobotics opens applications for third annual ‘Form and Function Robotics Challenge’

Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES 2025

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a yearly race to showcase the latest in autonomous racecar technology high-speed autonomy, is gearing up for a “monumental return” to CES 2025 with exciting new developments, including the introduction of multicar racing and the future of physical AI.

Set to take place on January 9, 2025 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 2-4 PM PST, the Autonomous Challenge at CES 2025 will mark a significant milestone in the development of autonomous technologies, offering attendees a firsthand look at the evolution of AI in high-speed motorsport. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES 2025

ABB Robotics selects T-Robotics and Mbodi as AI startup winners

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ABB Robotics has selected T-Robotics and Mbodi as the winners of its 2024 ABB Robotics AI Startup Challenge, marking what the industrial giant says is “a significant milestone” in advancing artificial intelligence solutions for industrial robotics.

Selected from over 100 global applicants, these pioneering startups will help transform how industrial robots understand, learn, and adapt to complex manufacturing environments through breakthrough artificial intelligence solutions.

Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, says: “Today’s manufacturing challenges demand solutions that combine simplicity with sophisticated AI capabilities. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics selects T-Robotics and Mbodi as AI startup winners

MassRobotics partners with Chewy to launch $30,000 prize competition

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MassRobotics, in collaboration with Chewy, a pet food and care products retailer, has launched the CHAMP (Chewy Autonomous Mobile Picking) Challenge.

This innovation challenge invites robotics developers and innovators to tackle a pressing issue in warehouse automation: designing a system that efficiently grasps, lifts, and places heavy, awkwardly shaped items in confined warehouse spaces.

The CHAMP Challenge focuses specifically on the challenges of grasping and picking large, bulky items, such as bags, boxes, and pails of dog food and cat litter. [Read more…] about MassRobotics partners with Chewy to launch $30,000 prize competition

ABB Robotics launches global startup challenge

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ABB has launched its 2024 Robotics AI Startup Challenge, a global competition designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in robotics.

The challenge is part of ABB’s ecosystem for innovation, with a previous challenge resulting in the acquisition of Sevensense in January 2024, a Swiss-based start-up and leading provider of AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

ABB Robotics’ latest challenge will foster innovation and collaboration between ABB and pioneering startups and scaleups worldwide. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics launches global startup challenge

BlueBotics takes indoor robots outside

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Swiss autonomous robot navigation company BlueBotics has launched ANT everywhere, a new product extension for its ANT navigation products that widen the scope of AGV and AMR operations by enabling outdoor operations.

Outdoor use has traditionally been a challenge for producers of automated vehicles. This is because there are typically few permanent “features” visible outdoors, which are required for modern mobile robots to calculate their exact position.

Up to now, vehicle producers have addressed this challenge either by using ad-hoc navigation add-ons, such as patching a GPS system on top of an existing navigation product or by adding additional outdoor infrastructure, such as custom poles featuring reflectors. [Read more…] about BlueBotics takes indoor robots outside

K-Startup Grand Challenge 2023 from South Korea: The Most Remarkable Global Accelerator Program Invites Applications from Tech Startups

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15-week residency program open for technology startups seeking to expand to Asia

The K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC), South Korea’s largest accelerator program, has opened applications for its 2023 edition.

Overseen by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and organized by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, KSGC is accepting startup applications from April 10 to May 18, 2023.

The program aims to assist foreign startups looking to enter the Korean market and explore business opportunities in Asia. The 2023 edition of the accelerator, running from July 25 to November 10, will focus on deep tech startups. [Read more…] about K-Startup Grand Challenge 2023 from South Korea: The Most Remarkable Global Accelerator Program Invites Applications from Tech Startups

Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

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Soft Robotics has applied Nvidia Isaac Sim’s synthetic data to food processing automation in efforts to improve safety and increase production.

Developers have been striving to close the gap on robotic gripping for the past several years, pursuing applications for multibillion-dollar industries. Securely gripping and transferring fast-moving items on conveyor belts holds vast promise for businesses.

Soft Robotics, a Bedford, Massachusetts startup, is harnessing Nvidia Isaac Sim to help close the sim to real gap for a handful of robotic gripping applications. One area is perfecting gripping for pick and placement of foods for packaging. [Read more…] about Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

Autonomous car from Italian university wins the racing challenge

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A team called PoliMOVE, from Politecnico di Milano in Italy, has won the second annual Indy Autonomous Challenge @ CES.

The team’s car reached a maximum speed of 180 mph (290Km/h), a new autonomous speed world record for a racetrack.

Pushing boundaries of head-to-head autonomous-racing, PoliMOVE competed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway against a field of nine teams from 17 universities spanning six countries, seeking to break autonomous racing records. [Read more…] about Autonomous car from Italian university wins the racing challenge

Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) returns to CES 2023 to push the boundaries of head-to-head autonomous racing and showcase the future of autonomous mobility.

The IAC will have a significant presence throughout CES 2023 with the Autonomous Challenge @ CES at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 7; an exhibit in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in the LVCC West Hall booth #3601; a tabletop at CES Unveiled on January 3 and a press conference at CES Media Days on January 4. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES