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ABB predicts key trends that will change robotic automation in 2022

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Marc Segura, ABB’s new robotics division president, outlines the key 2022 robotic trends

With demand for robots growing as companies in multiple sectors look for new ways to enhance their productivity and competitiveness post-pandemic, ABB has compiled a set of growth predictions, looking at key trends driving demand for robots in the coming year.

“The pandemic accelerated far-reaching global mega trends – from labor shortages and supply chain uncertainty, to the individualized consumer and growing pressure to operate sustainably and resiliently – leading new businesses to look to robotic automation,” says Marc Segura, ABB’s newly appointed robotics division president.

“As technology opens new opportunities for meeting customer demands, new trends will continue to emerge that will further drive demand in areas where robots have traditionally not been used.” [Read more…] about ABB predicts key trends that will change robotic automation in 2022

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

Evocargo to exhibit autonomous logistics vehicle technology at CES

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Evocargo will showcase its cutting-edge services in cargo transportation based on their own electric unmanned vehicle in the Vehicle Tech category at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022, being held in Las Vegas from January 5-8.

Established in 2019, Evocargo will exhibit its Smart Logistic service based on unmanned all-electric platforms. Evocargo’s EVO.1 vehicle (3.5 tons full weight) will be displayed, featuring a payload capacity of 1.5 tons, power reserve of 155 miles and operating time of 20 hours with 40-minute charging time.

Evocargo’s all-electric/hydrogen autonomous vehicles ensure its customers’ operations are always on time, optimized and precisely coordinated through all process cycles. [Read more…] about Evocargo to exhibit autonomous logistics vehicle technology at CES

ABB launches ‘FlexBuffer’ robotic work cell for e-commerce supply chain operations

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ABB is responding to the growing consumer demand for choice and fast delivery with the launch of its FlexBuffer application cell.

FlexBuffer brings new levels of flexibility for logistics, food and beverage, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, restaurants and retailers, offering a highly adaptable multi-functional solution for handling a variety of tasks such as sequencing, buffering, storage and order consolidation.

Marc Segura, group senior vice president managing director consumer segments and service robotics at ABB, says: “The constantly changing nature of today’s consumer landscape and the explosion of e-commerce is challenging the conventional systems used for processing and delivering orders. [Read more…] about ABB launches ‘FlexBuffer’ robotic work cell for e-commerce supply chain operations

Pandemic drives smart appliance and consumer robotics market revenues to $80 billion in 2021

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Consumer robotics and smart appliance vendors will continue to benefit from the boost in consumer spending on home technology in 2021, building on the uplift that started in the second half of 2020.

Global tech market advisory firm ABI Research calculates that the consumer robotics and smart appliance market will generate $80 billion in revenues in 2021, up 40 percent on 2020 revenues.

Growth comes as two dynamics combine, says the analyst. [Read more…] about Pandemic drives smart appliance and consumer robotics market revenues to $80 billion in 2021

Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

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A startup company called Ghost has raised $100 million Series D financing, fueling the development of its autonomous driving system that features what it describes as “a revolutionary breakthrough in crash prevention”.

Returning investors Sutter Hill Ventures and Founders Fund participated in the round, along with a new commitment from Coatue.

Ghost was founded in 2017 with the belief that driving should not be dangerous. Despite all the technology and features included in modern cars, cars still crash – accidents and fatalities are going up, not down. [Read more…] about Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

ABB’s new collaborative robot GoFa wins prestigious Best of the Best Red Dot award

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ABB’s GoFa cobot has been awarded the prestigious Red Dot Best of the Best design award in recognition of its unique design concept to make the new robot appealing and accessible to users.

The global Red Dot Design Awards recognize achievements in product design, with the jury assessing thousands of entries every year.

Red Dot’s “Best of the Best” award is for groundbreaking design and is the highest award in the competition, reserved for the most aesthetically appealing, functional, smart or innovative design. [Read more…] about ABB’s new collaborative robot GoFa wins prestigious Best of the Best Red Dot award

Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

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Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics, has entered into a definitive agreement with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, to create a leading publicly listed robotics and automation solutions company with a post-transaction equity value of up to $2.7 billion.

Founded in 2013 by the current chief executive officer, Tom Wagner, PhD, the former chief technology officer at iRobot, BG is a pure-play robotics company offering fully integrated, AI-based software and hardware solutions to automate business operations in warehouses and logistics fulfillment centers.

The company’s solutions help retailers and logistics companies meet the exponential growth of e-commerce and ever-increasing consumer demands. BG’s management, engineering, and commercial teams each have extensive robotics expertise and deep industry experience. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

Pandemic lockdowns boost consumer robotics market to $10 billion in 2020 revenues

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Lockdowns around the world caused by the coronavirus pandemic have provided a boost to the consumer robotics market, according to ABI Research.

The consumer robotic market pushed through the pandemic’s disruption to deliver continued growth in 2020 as consumers spent more time at home and invested in robotic offerings that made life simpler.

Global tech market advisory firm ABI Research finds the consumer robotics market generated $10.4 billion in revenues in 2020, up $448 million, or 4.3 percent, on pre-pandemic expectations. [Read more…] about Pandemic lockdowns boost consumer robotics market to $10 billion in 2020 revenues

Last mile: Micro-fulfillment centers bring supply chains to the consumer

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Over the last few years, as e-commerce sales have increased and customer expectations have shifted, there has been a steady race to move fulfillment closer to the customer.

Something once so innovative as two-day delivery has led to next-day delivery, which is quickly becoming obsolete as consumers demand same-day delivery.

This trend has accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially as more consumers become comfortable with online ordering of perishable items and groceries. One of the significant changes in supply chain strategies we are seeing as a result of this is the rise of fulfillment centers that bring fulfillment closer to the consumer. [Read more…] about Last mile: Micro-fulfillment centers bring supply chains to the consumer