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Wikifactory secures $2.5 million funding to expand its manufacturing marketplace

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Wikifactory, an online platform for collaboratively creating physical products, has secured $2.5 million in pre-series A funding from existing shareholders and new investors including, Seier Capital, the investment vehicle of Lars Seier Christensen. This brings Wikifactory’s funding to date to a total of nearly $8 million.

Wikifactory enables developers, designers, engineers and startups from across the globe to collaborate, prototype and produce hardware solutions in real-time that solve real world problems.

The company is working to build the Internet of Production, which is an emerging concept of a distributed, interoperable, open standards-based system, linking together product definitions, software services, and manufacturing-as-a-service (MaaS) solutions. [Read more…] about Wikifactory secures $2.5 million funding to expand its manufacturing marketplace

Nvidia invests $10 million in delivery robot startup Serve Robotics

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Nvidia and Serve Robotics have established a strategic technology collaboration to further the development of autonomous robotic transportation, which includes a $10 million equity investment in the company.

Serve Robotics, which specializes in robotic delivery services and sidewalk delivery systems, says its strategic technology collaboration with Nvidia will further efforts in developing the future of autonomous robotic transportation.

As part of the collaboration, Nvidia will provide its Jetson edge AI computing platform to Serve Robotics, a well as its perception and mapping tools, and many other technologies. [Read more…] about Nvidia invests $10 million in delivery robot startup Serve Robotics

Veo Robotics selects Gray Solutions as integrator partner

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Veo Robotics, the industrial automation company that created FreeMove, a 3D safeguarding system for industrial robots, has agreed a partnership with Gray Solutions, an automation services provider for the food and beverage sector.

This partnership will enable Gray Solutions to include Veo’s safety-certified flagship product as part of collaborative palletizing solutions for the CPG industry.

Ron Ledoux, regional sales manager at Veo Robotics, says: “Gray Solutions understands and has the ability to integrate new technologies like 3D dynamic safety, it is part of their DNA. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics selects Gray Solutions as integrator partner

Honeywell partners with Otto Motors to develop robotic solutions for supply chain operations

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Honeywell has agreed a strategic collaboration with Otto Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics, giving warehouses and distribution centers throughout North America an automated option to handle some of the most labor-intensive roles in an increasingly scarce job market.

The collaboration enables Honeywell customers to increase efficiency, reduce errors and improve safety by deploying Otto’ autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in their facilities.

These AMRs provide significant productivity benefits by automating the movement of carts used to transport picked orders or returns and can travel over any floor surface smooth enough to handle a traditional cart pushed by a worker. [Read more…] about Honeywell partners with Otto Motors to develop robotic solutions for supply chain operations

John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

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Deere & Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural and forestry vehicles, is expanding its US footprint and technology operations with a new office in Austin, Texas.

Deere says the new location enables it to further strengthen its technology capabilities and attract talent interested in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges – including feeding a growing population.

Jahmy Hindman, Chief Technology Officer at John Deere, says: “Austin is a growing destination for some of the brightest minds in technology. Opening this office was a strategic decision from both a talent and collaboration perspective, particularly in software and data analytics. [Read more…] about John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

Aurora Innovation and US Xpress partner to develop driverless truck networks

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Aurora Innovation, a startup developing driverless trucks, is partnering with US Xpress, one of America’s largest asset-based truckload carriers.

The two companies say the collaboration will explore the implementation of the Aurora Driver auonomous truck platform within US Xpress operations.

This strategic collaboration is designed to fine-tune Aurora’s autonomous Driver-as-a-Service product, Aurora Horizon, for efficient installation at commercial scale. [Read more…] about Aurora Innovation and US Xpress partner to develop driverless truck networks

ZF partners with Embotech to develop freight yard automation systems

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ZF, one of the world’s largest automotive systems suppliers, has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Embotech, a developer of autonomous vehicle software.

The companies have agreed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly develop fully autonomous systems for commercial vehicle yard operations.

The partnership aims to enhance the operational safety and productivity of distribution hubs and yards. [Read more…] about ZF partners with Embotech to develop freight yard automation systems

Intel Mobileye and Geely Zeekr to build autonomous car for consumer market

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Mobileye, an Intel subsidiary which develops advanced driver assistance systems, and Zeekr, the premium electric car brand owned by China’s largest automaker Geely, are to develop a new all-electric consumer vehicle with Level 4 capabilities.

The plan represents an expansion of their existing strategic technology partnership.

The planned autonomous vehicle will be powered by six EyeQ 5 system-on-chips to process Mobileye True Redundancy sensing, Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS)-based driving policy and a new open collaboration model on Road Experience Management (REM) mapping technology. [Read more…] about Intel Mobileye and Geely Zeekr to build autonomous car for consumer market

GXO pilots customised robotic arm for fashion e-commerce logistics

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GXO Logistics, which claims to be the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, has launched an “industry-first” pilot of intelligent automation at its fashion e-commerce warehouse in Tilburg, the Netherlands. 

GXO’s pilot of the Pick-it-Easy Robot station is tailored for one of its key global customers, in collaboration with value chain tech provider Knapp AG.

The pilot is the first application of Knapp’s Pick-it-Easy Robot technology for automated pocket induction in the sector for apparel logistics. [Read more…] about GXO pilots customised robotic arm for fashion e-commerce logistics

Panasonic Robot and Welding expands collaboration with Claas Saulgau

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Panasonic Robot and Welding System Solutions, a business unit of Panasonic Factory Solutions, and Claas Saulgau GmbH, a producer of agricultural machinery with over 100 years of experience, say they have “intensified” their existing collaboration.

Claas Saugau is extending its production facilities with three new welding systems with a total of five Panasonic welding robots of the latest generation and technology.

Frederik Kahlbau, key account manager for Claas Saulgau, says: “We delivered the first Panasonic welding system to Claas Saulgau GmbH in 2014. [Read more…] about Panasonic Robot and Welding expands collaboration with Claas Saulgau