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Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

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Nidec Leroy-Somer has signed an agreement with Airbus, the worlds largest airplane manufacturer, to develop an electric motor for its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine prototype, as part of Airbus’ ambition to bring the first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

The long-standing expertise and extensive know-how of the French electric motor manufacturer, who already provides proven advanced technologies to many demanding industries, such as navy, nuclear, railway, automotive and robotics is now collaborating on aviation decarbonization.

Leroy-Somer, part of the Japanese Nidec Group since 2017, is entrusted to design and develop a series of electric motor prototypes which meet very high requirements in terms of safety, reliability, energy-efficiency and lowest weight for the targeted power. [Read more…] about Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

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Apptronik, a maker of general-purpose robots, exoskeletons and humanoids, has received an equity investment from Terex Corporation and has reached an agreement with Terex to co-develop “first-of-a-kind robots” to work alongside workers to support safety, productivity, and efficiency of industries that power the economy and are essential to building infrastructure.

Robots have long held the promise of solving labor shortages and productivity issues, but until recently have been limited to performing repetitive tasks within structured environments such as warehouses or factories.

While robots have proven useful at completing dull and repetitive tasks in controlled environments, they have not been leveraged for more complex tasks in unstructured environments. [Read more…] about Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use

Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

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Scythe Robotics, a startup company developing advanced, commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the professional landscape industry, has raised $42 million in Series B financing.

The round was led by Energy Impact Partners and included additional new investors ArcTern Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Amazon’s Alexa Fund alongside participation from existing investors True Ventures, Inspired Capital and more.

The funding will help Scythe meet demand for the more than 7,500 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous M.52 mower placed by commercial landscape businesses nationwide. This financing round brings the company’s total capital raised to date to $60.6 million. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

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Baidu, an AI company with strong internet foundation and often referred to as China’s equivalent of Google, has embarked on a major expansion of its commercialized fully driverless robotaxi service in Wuhan.

The new expansion would triple the size of its current operation area, increasing the number of robotaxis in service and expanding operating time to include key evening hours.

The move marks a major milestone on Baidu’s ambitious autonomous ride-hailing roadmap, as the company plans to put an additional 200 fully driverless robotaxis into operation across China in 2023, aiming to cover “the largest fully driverless ride-hailing service area in the world” by the end of the year. [Read more…] about Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

Japanese robot manufacturer Sugino Machine partners with Cenit to develop digital twin technology

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Cenit and Sugino Machine have agreed on a strategic partnership to further refine Sugino’s robotics and automation solutions. Cenit’s FastSuite E2 software will provide the technology basis for the collaboration.

Sugino Machine is one of Japan’s leading providers of machine tools, industrial robots and automation solutions.

Based in Namekawa City and employing about 1,200 staff, the machine maker boasts a broad portfolio covering development, production and sales of high-pressure jet cleaning equipment, drilling units and equipment for inspection and maintenance of nuclear power plants. [Read more…] about Japanese robot manufacturer Sugino Machine partners with Cenit to develop digital twin technology

Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’

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Saga Robotics says it has delivered “excellent results” in the company’s “biggest season yet”.

Last year, in what’s described as “a world-first”, the ag-tech company removed the requirement for fungicides to control strawberry powdery mildew. This season’s results consolidate the company’s status as a “stable and serious provider of automated integrated pest management”, according to Saga.

Saga Robotics is pleased to announce that its autonomous robotic platform, Thorvald has had its biggest season to date, operating and treating strawberry plants at Clock House Farm with UV-C light to control powdery mildew.

The ag-tech company says it achieved “complete control” of the pathogen treating all of Clock House Farm’s 30 hectares of tabletop crops. [Read more…] about Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’

US Army awards Kodiak Robotics $50 million contract for autonomous trucks

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, today announced it has been awarded a $49.9 million, 24-month United States Department of Defense (DoD) agreement to help automate future US Army ground vehicles led by the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program.

This effort will be in support of vehicles designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other high-risk missions.

Through this award, which started in October 2022 and was awarded by DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on behalf of the Army’s RCV program office, Kodiak will leverage its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for driverless vehicles that further strengthen national security. [Read more…] about US Army awards Kodiak Robotics $50 million contract for autonomous trucks

Mitsubishi tests automated robotic valet parking system using robots

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems have launched Phase 2 of demonstration testing of an automated valet parking system at Shisui Premium Outlets, an outlet mall located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

The system employs automated guided vehicle (AGV) robots, dubbed “Stan”, manufactured by Stanley Robotics, a French venture-backed company.

Phase 1 of the demonstration testing of this automated valet parking system, the first application of its kind in a commercial complex in Japan, took place in June 2022. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi tests automated robotic valet parking system using robots

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

Brain Corp unveils new platform for its autonomous commercial robots

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Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence company specializing in cleaning and inventory robotics, has released its “next generation autonomy platform for commercial robotics”.

The third generation platform represents the latest evolution of Brain Corp’s BrainOS autonomous robotic operating system, which currently powers over 20,000 autonomous robots operating in public spaces, and has been designed to underpin a future generation of intelligent robotic solutions to be applied across multiple commercial sectors.

The new, modular architecture promotes faster and easier product development and includes a number of key features designed to expand potential robot applications and advance machine capabilities, performance, safety and security. [Read more…] about Brain Corp unveils new platform for its autonomous commercial robots