Robotics & Automation News

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SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

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SoftBank Robotics says it has sold 10,000 units of its industrial or commercial vacuum cleaning robot, Whiz, making it “the global number-one in autonomous professional cleaning robots by sales”, according to Grand View Research.

SoftBank Robotics says that, as of the end of June 2020, it recorded global cumulative sales of more than 10,000 units of Whiz, which is an AI-enabled vacuum-cleaning robot.

Following SoftBank Robotics’ launch of the humanoid robot Pepper, the company launched Whiz as its second robot in November 2018, and it began providing Whiz commercially from May 2019 in Japan. [Read more…] about SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

Facilities management leaders call for strategic partnerships to drive robotics and innovation

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With cleaning robots increasing in number and being installed in many types of buildings, a study about the future of facilities management has been published.

In the survey, it was found that the vast majority of facilities management leaders across the EMEA region believe that technology suppliers should offer performance-based contracts in order to improve the success rate of innovation projects within facility management and commercial cleaning.

New research from SoftBank Robotics EMEA, reveals that 89 percent of supply side and 78 percent of demand side facilities management leaders think that performance-based contracts are positive for the cleaning industry. [Read more…] about Facilities management leaders call for strategic partnerships to drive robotics and innovation

Kuka to supply 50 robots for production lines for e-mobility provider

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Industrial automation specialist Kuka is to supply approximately 50 robots for the production lines of an e-mobility provider.

Kuka system partner SAR Elektronic is building five fully-automated production and inspection lines for a leading German automotive supplier.

The lines will be equipped with the 50 Kuka robots for “fully-automated handling, plasma cleaning and bonding processes, and an integrated functional inspection”, says the company. [Read more…] about Kuka to supply 50 robots for production lines for e-mobility provider

Sesto launches mobile disinfectant robot

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Singaporean company Sesto Robotics has launched a mobile disinfectant robot that it says can provide “round-the-clock environment disinfection and surface hygiene”.

Aimed initially at the medical sector, the Sesto HealthGuard, the autonomous mobile disinfectant robot can disinfect high-touch surfaces with dual-operational abilities – a multi-nozzle sprayer and high-output germicidal UVC lamps – during and after operational hours.

Sesto says the robot has a “high performance uptime” of six hours, with battery hotswap possible in less than five minutes. [Read more…] about Sesto launches mobile disinfectant robot

Brain Corp launches $1.6 million ‘Robot Relief’ program to support essential businesses

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Brain Corp has launched a $1.6 million “Robot Relief” program to support essential businesses.

The company says it will make its technology available to qualifying organisations that are helping in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Commercial cleaning robots provide verifiable, consistent cleaning at a time when customer and employee safety has never been more important. [Read more…] about Brain Corp launches $1.6 million ‘Robot Relief’ program to support essential businesses

OnRobot unveils compact Gecko gripper for smaller jobs

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OnRobot, a global leader in robotic end-of-arm tooling, has launched a compact, single-pad version of its innovative Gecko no-mark adhesive gripper.

The new Gecko Single Pad (SP) gripper brings the previous model’s revolutionary adaptability to more varied applications with smaller payloads.

It is available in three sizes, SP1, SP3 and SP5, indicating the different grippers’ lifting capacities in kilos. [Read more…] about OnRobot unveils compact Gecko gripper for smaller jobs

How Automating Your Household Chores Can Free Up More Time For You

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If you think about it, there are many household chores we all wish we could automate to make our life easier for us.

Chores such as cleaning the carpet, mowing the lawn, doing the dishes and laundry, cleaning your gutters and even feeding your pets can turn out to be very boring, repetitive and time wasting really fast.

Automation is the solution.

Automating these chores will not only free up more time for you, but will also save you the energy which you would otherwise have spent carrying them out. [Read more…] about How Automating Your Household Chores Can Free Up More Time For You

The mundane revolution: Unexpected innovations in robotics

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By Rhys Davies, product manager at Canonical, publishers of Ubuntu

Today’s headlines tend to focus on the weird and wonderful robots of this world: the Hollywood Terminators or mechanical dogs developed by Boston Dynamics and other Silicon Valley start-ups.

The greatest innovations, however, can often be found in the more mundane corners of our society, within the industries and environments people least expect.

It’s happened with medicine and the discovery of penicillin, for example, while Archimedes had his eureka moment in the bath. [Read more…] about The mundane revolution: Unexpected innovations in robotics

SoftBank and ICE Robotics launch Whiz commercial autonomous vacuum sweeper

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SoftBank Robotics America and ICE Robotics have launched an autonomous vacuum cleaner called Whiz.

The initial launch is in North American, and Whiz is described as a “commercial-grade autonomous vacuum sweeper”.

The machine has been unveiled at the ongoing ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas, Nevada. [Read more…] about SoftBank and ICE Robotics launch Whiz commercial autonomous vacuum sweeper

Brain Corp partners with Kärcher to develop new autonomous floor cleaner

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Brain Corp is partnering with Kärcher, one of the world’s largest providers of cleaning technologies, to develop a new type of “autonomous stand-on vacuum cleaner”.

Kärcher and Brain Corp, a San Diego-based artificial intelligence and robotics company, made the partnership announcement at the ISSA Show North America.

The companies aim to develop and bring autonomous floor care solutions to market in a joint effort. [Read more…] about Brain Corp partners with Kärcher to develop new autonomous floor cleaner