Robotics & Automation News

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Denver schools bring in robots to clean floors

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Brain Corp, a developer of software for robots, says that Denver Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest school districts, has selected BrainOS-powered robotics scrubbers, manufactured by Tennant Company, to enhance cleanliness and sanitation at some of its more than 200 schools.

Denver Public Schools made the decision to invest in a large fleet of self-driving floor cleaners to give its facility management employees increased bandwidth to work on other higher-value tasks, such as cleaning between classes and other in-depth cleaning. The machines will be deployed this summer at various high schools in the 90,000-student district.

Rich Archuletta, director of facility operations at Denver Public Schools, says: “These new autonomous floor cleaners are a critical technology investment that will help us enhance cleanliness at 14 of our largest buildings, mainly our 10 comprehensive high schools. This is a huge benefit to our students, while maintaining future operating costs. [Read more…] about Denver schools bring in robots to clean floors

Advanced Intelligent Systems launches UV light disinfection robot

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Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS), a Canadian custom robotics engineering firm, has launched an ultraviolet light robot to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses in healthcare facilities and combat the spread of infectious diseases in public spaces.

The development was made possible by a grant from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen).

Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen, says: “At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NGen rallied industry leaders from across the country to help build a domestic supply of critical equipment. Support for organizations like AIS enabled the rapid development of viable disinfecting solutions and demonstrates the diverse manufacturing and technology capabilities that exist here in Canada.” [Read more…] about Advanced Intelligent Systems launches UV light disinfection robot

Multi-purpose security inspection robots call for embedded systems with highly flexible configuration

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The miniaturized, light, modular, and general-purpose security inspection robots in China have improved the intelligence level of inspections by DFI high-performance and fanless embedded system.

Not limited to being deployed in dangerous fields such as substations, multi-purpose security inspection robots must be suitable for inspection needs in parks, communities, schools, factories, stations, and other places where visibility is needed.

[Read more…] about Multi-purpose security inspection robots call for embedded systems with highly flexible configuration

Brain Corp adds new capabilities to its OS for robots

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Brain Corp, a San Diego-based AI for robotics company, has launched its new user experience (UX) design and reporting capabilities for autonomous mobile robots.

The software enhancements are designed to optimize usage of BrainOS-powered robots for different types of users – from a robot operator to management personnel – on a global basis.

They also include powerful new software features for BrainOS-enabled robotic scrubbers that deliver improved cleaning efficiency and flexibility for commercial locations. [Read more…] about Brain Corp adds new capabilities to its OS for robots

Deep Clean Your Car Back to Brand New with These 6 Tips

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For many of us, our cars are one of our most significant investments, and whether you own something at the top of the line or something a little more affordable, chances are you want to keep it in the best condition possible (with the least amount of effort).

In this article, we are going to talk about six tips to help you deep clean your car back to brand new.

Interested? Then let’s get started! [Read more…] about Deep Clean Your Car Back to Brand New with These 6 Tips

iRobot launches ‘Genius’ robotic floor cleaners

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iRobot, maker of robotic floor cleaners for the home, is unveiling new ways to clean with the launch of its iRobot Genius Home Intelligence. (See video below.)

The company describes the new system as a “powerful new robot platform” that unlocks an expansive range of digital features and experiences for the company’s line of Wi-Fi connected products, including the Roomba robot vacuum and Braava jet robot mop.

iRobot Genius gives users an “unmatched level of personalization and control over their cleaning robots”, accounting for their unique homes, schedules, cleaning preferences and smart home integrations, says the company. [Read more…] about iRobot launches ‘Genius’ robotic floor cleaners

Robotics and Automation News Review: Fanuc and Kuka launch new robots, Pittsburgh ready to go to ‘infinity and beyond’, Foxconn moves operations out of China, and much more…

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Friday 14 August 2020: This is a new, weekly column – to be published every Friday – which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form. 

This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel.

Comau Robotics says it has created an “innovative, in-line testing and quality control system that optimizes the construction and assembly of batteries”. The company says the MI.RA / Thermography system uses thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to perform non-invasive automated assessment and control of welded joints, to ensure battery integrity and prevent waste.

Kuka Robotics has launched a new compact industrial robot. The company says its new KR 4 Agilus is “a hot candidate for first place in the small robotics charts from October onwards”.

Fanuc Robotics has launched a new “extremely compact” robot which it claims has the “best precision in its class”. The new M-10iD/16S robot is the most compact model of the M-10iD series, says Fanuc, adding that it combines the best features of its two predecessors, M-10iA/10MS and M-10iA/12S.

Hyundai Robotics has signed an agreement with Korea’s Asan Medical Center and KT for joint development and commercialization of smart hospital solutions on June 30th. The company is planning to prepare for the post-corona era with a smart hospital solution for infection management by ICT-based digital transformation.

Techman Robot, a manufacturer of collaborative robots, says it has adopted proactive steps against the new coronavirus. Techman Robot says it checks the health of its employees on a daily bases and collects global virus information. It also implementing prevention measures. The company maintains business communications online and is frequently in touch with all overseas offices, global distributors, partners, and customers.

HRG International Institute of Research and Innovation has unveiled a new floor cleaning robot, the SW10. The company says it is exclusively designed for floor cleaning tasks in commercial and industrial environments. The robot is combined with sweeping, mopping and vacuum cleaning functions and its work can maintain 2,000 square meters per hour.

Denso has established the Pittsburgh Innovation Lab, a new US research and development center designed to strengthen open innovation and enhance technology development that enables automated driving.

FedEx has installed industrial robotic arms to do what is considered the “most difficult” job to automate in a sorting facility in Memphis, USA. The logistics giant has integrated Yaskawa robots and software from Plus One Robotics into a robotic system that performs a task which involves picking up parcels or envelopes from a tray and placing them on a conveyor.

Foxconn, Apple’s main contract manufacturing partner, has moved a significant portion of its operations outside of China. The company has already moved an additional 5 percent of its operations to countries other than China, bring it up to 30 percent, compared with 25 percent last year.

Pittsburgh local authorities say they are looking to “infinity and beyond” after NASA awarded a local company, Astrobotic Technology, a $200 million contract to build and send the first-ever US robotic rover to the Moon by 2023.

Commercial cleaning robots using Brain OS log 2 million hours of autonomous operation

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Commercial cleaning robots which run Brain Corp’s operating system have racked up 2 million hours of autonomous operation.

Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence company which provides its “Brain OS” software to commercial cleaning robots, says it now powers “the world’s largest fleet of autonomous commercial mobile robots operating in public indoor spaces”, estimated to be more than 10,000.

The milestone was achieved earlier this month due in part to a recent surge in activity by retailers who are maximizing their use of Brain OS-powered cleaning robots in the wake of the Covid-19 health crisis. [Read more…] about Commercial cleaning robots using Brain OS log 2 million hours of autonomous operation

Fetch Robotics and Piedmont to launch autonomous disinfecting robot

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Fetch Robotics, a warehouse and cloud robotics company, and automated packaging solutions supplier Piedmont National are to launch the SmartGuardUV disinfecting autonomous mobile robot (AMR).

Purpose built to autonomously disinfect high-traffic areas such as warehouse facilities, retail stores, office spaces and hospital rooms, SmartGuardUV combines the safety and flexibility of the Fetch Robotics cloud robotics platform, the strength of PURO Lighting pulsed Xenon UV lamp technology, and the advanced disinfecting reporting of the Piedmont 4Site cloud analytics platform.

The result is a completely autonomous, broad spectrum UV disinfection robot that eliminates up to 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria with UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A as well as reports on the results of the disinfection. [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics and Piedmont to launch autonomous disinfecting robot

Sprint Robotics launches innovation challenge with €50,000 for winner

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Sprint Robotics has launched a new industrial innovation challenge and has issued a call for robotic technologies for Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance.

Sprint Robotics announces the CFM Challenge, aiming to find demonstrable robotic technologies that can be used for the cleaning and fabric maintenance of storage tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, and their associated supporting infrastructure.

One winning solution provider will receive a reward of €50,000 and the opportunity to further develop their solution and its application. [Read more…] about Sprint Robotics launches innovation challenge with €50,000 for winner