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XTEND acquires drone inspection specialist Performance Rotors

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XTEND, the developer of XOS, a human-guided autonomous operating system, or human-machine interaction system, has acquired Performance Rotors, a Singapore-based drone inspection specialist.

XTEND says the move will boost its ability to offer human-guided, remote interactive operations in a range of inspection scenarios, and grow its global business. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Aviv Shapira, co-founder, and CEO at XTEND, says: “Our acquisition of Performance Rotors marks the latest step in furthering XTEND’s vision of making remote interactive operations accessible to everyone, in a range of scenarios, including inspection, public safety and security. [Read more…] about XTEND acquires drone inspection specialist Performance Rotors

Apptronik signs partnership with NASA for humanoid robots

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Apptronik, an Austin, US-based company specializing in the development of versatile, mobile robotic systems, has agreed a partnership with NASA to accelerate commercialization of its new humanoid robot.

The robot, called Apollo (main picture), will be one of the first humanoids available to the commercial markets.

At Apptronik’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, the first prototype of Apollo is now complete, with the expectation of broader commercial availability in 2023. [Read more…] about Apptronik signs partnership with NASA for humanoid robots

FarmWise raises $45 million to expand AI-powered farm equipment

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Farm automation startup FarmWise Labs has completed an oversubscribed $45 million Series B funding round, led by leading ag-tech venture firms Fall Line Capital and Middleland Capital, with participation from GV and Taylor Farms, a grower and processor of leafy greens and fresh vegetables.

Existing investors Calibrate Ventures, Playground Global, SVG Ventures and the venture arm of Wilbur Ellis also participated in the round. To date, FarmWise has raised $65 million in equity.

With this round, Clay Mitchell, co-founder and managing director of Fall Line Capital and a fifth-generation Iowa farmer joins the FarmWise board of directors. [Read more…] about FarmWise raises $45 million to expand AI-powered farm equipment

Hyphen raises $24 million to commercialise automated kitchen system

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Hyphen, an automation company that uses software and robotics to help improve efficiency and consistency in commercial kitchens, has raised $24 million in Series A financing led by Tiger Global, with participation from Steve Fredette, the co-founder and president of Toast, Inc.

Existing investors who also participated in this oversubscribed round include Marc Rowan, co-founder and CEO of Apollo Global Management; Donald Moore, former chief culinary officer and EVP at The Cheesecake Factory; and more.

Hyphen has raised $34.4 million to date and will use the funds to build out their factory, expand into new markets, invest in research and dvelopment for next-generation products, and deploy with customers across the United States. [Read more…] about Hyphen raises $24 million to commercialise automated kitchen system

GreyOrange and Vicarious launch autonomous vertical pick-and-pack solution for apparel

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GreyOrange, a provider of AI-enabled software and robotics for fulfillment automation, is partnering with Vicarious, an AI robotic integrator that automates tasks too versatile and complex to be handled by traditional, hard-coded automation systems.

Together Vicarious and GreyOrange have launched what they say is “the industry’s first and only autonomous vertical picking solution for automated pick-n-pack operations in omnichannel fulfillment”.

Autonomous Vertical Picking from Vicarious interfaces smoothly into a global workflow orchestrated by GreyOrange’s GreyMatter Fulfillment Operating System (FOS), which uses advanced science to continuously evaluate order fulfillment performance and prioritize decisions and workflows. [Read more…] about GreyOrange and Vicarious launch autonomous vertical pick-and-pack solution for apparel

ANYbotics raises $23 million in Series A funding

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ANYbotics, a maker of four-legged robots, has raised CHF20 million ($23 million) in its Series A financing round led by Swisscom Ventures.

The startup says the funding will serve to accelerate the commercialization of its autonomous robots for industrial inspection applications.

ANYbotics enhances safety and productivity in industrial operations through autonomous mobile robots capable of navigating complex environments. [Read more…] about ANYbotics raises $23 million in Series A funding

Oqton raises over $40 million investment for its digital manufacturing platform

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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

MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

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MMI Micro, an Italian company specialised in improving clinical outcomes for patients undergoing microsurgery, has launched what it claims is “the world’s smallest wristed surgical instruments”.

The company’s system has been awarded the CE Mark, a standard in Europe, and it has already completed the first human use of its Symani Surgical System for open microsurgical procedures.

The first four robotic surgeries were successfully performed in Florence, Italy, including three complex, post-traumatic lower limb reconstructions as well as a post-oncological reconstruction of the pharynx. [Read more…] about MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

Robust AI raises $22.5 million to build ‘world’s first’ industrial-grade cognitive engine for robotics

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Robust.ai, the company pioneering an industrial grade cognitive engine for robots, announced today the close of a $15 million Series A investment round, taking the company’s total funding to date to $22.5 million.

JAZZ Venture Partners led the Series A round and was joined by previous investors Playground Global, Liquid2, Fontinalis, Jaan Tallinn and Mark Leslie. Esther Dyson, Steve Blank and Tim O’Reilly are also angel investors in Robust.ai.

Historically, robots have largely been confined to highly predictable environments; Robust aims to change that by creating a new cognitively-driven AI platform that gives robots the problem-solving capabilities they need to work alongside humans in dynamic, open-ended environments, vastly increasing their potential in complex public spaces. [Read more…] about Robust AI raises $22.5 million to build ‘world’s first’ industrial-grade cognitive engine for robotics

Dexai Robotics raises $5.5 million to develop commercial kitchen automation solutions

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Dexai Robotics, an artificial intelligence and robotics company focused on commercial kitchen automation, says it has raised $5.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round, led by Hyperplane Venture Capital.

New investors Rho Capital, Harlem Capital, Contour Venture Partners, and NextView Ventures also participated in this financing round. Vivjan Myrto, a managing partner at Hyperplane, joined Dexai’s board of directors.

The company will use the funding to expand its engineering, sales, and product teams, allowing it to serve new cuisines and fuel its growth in the foodservice space. [Read more…] about Dexai Robotics raises $5.5 million to develop commercial kitchen automation solutions