Robotics & Automation News

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Human-like hands for robots move one step closer with Italian scientist’s invention

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An Italian scientist has invented a robotic end effector that could bring the goal of robots having human-like hands one step closer.

Corrado De Pascali and his colleagues on the Italian Institute of Technology have unveiled an end effector which uses tiny, 8-gram actuators to power many different joints in the complex component.

According to report in New Scientist and several other outlets, the actuators – although small – can actually lift “1,000 times their own weight”. [Read more…] about Human-like hands for robots move one step closer with Italian scientist’s invention

DHL surpasses 100 million units picked with Locus Robotics machines

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DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group, says it has surpassed 100 million units picked in its North American facilities by LocusBots from Locus Robotics.

The milestone was achieved in DHL’s Hanover Township, Pennsylvania location, fulfilling orders for a major apparel retailer. The milestone achieved in this facility is one of more than a dozen DHL sites in North America, using more than 2,000 LocusBots – more than any other contract logistics company.

Sally Miller, CIO, DHL Supply Chain North America, says: “As this milestone illustrates, our unrivaled implementation and productization of assisted picking robots has been a tremendous success for our customers’ supply chains. [Read more…] about DHL surpasses 100 million units picked with Locus Robotics machines

Blueprint Lab secures Australian Government contract to develop advanced robotic clearance diver technology

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The Australian government has made a $19 million investment in multiple companies for technology protecting Australian Defence Force members.

As part of this, Blueprint Lab has been awarded $1.04 million to develop remote operation systems for underwater expeditions as part of this investment.

The investment will allow the company to fast-track innovation on its world-first remote intervention manipulator systems. [Read more…] about Blueprint Lab secures Australian Government contract to develop advanced robotic clearance diver technology

Motiv Space Systems wins contract to supply NASA with new type of actuation system

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Motiv Space Systems is has won a key contract with NASA that will continue to power the future of space exploration and innovation, with eyes set on NASA’s Artemis program.

Motiv was recently awarded a $5 million contract to begin development of the Distributed Extreme Environments Drive System (DEEDS) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Sequential Phase II Program.

This revolutionary technology has applications across a broad spectrum of missions, including in-situ resource utilization systems, robotics, payload offloading systems and mobility systems on the Lunar and Martian surfaces. [Read more…] about Motiv Space Systems wins contract to supply NASA with new type of actuation system

Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

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Alstom, a large transportation vehicles manufacturer, has won a €156 million contract from the Italian city of Turin to supply its latest generation of fully driverless metro trains.

Turin’s transportation infrastructure agency, Infra.To, actually placed the order. Infra.To is owned by the city of Turin and is one of Europe’s largest public companies.

The contract is for the supply of Alstom’s latest generation of fully driverless train-to-train CBTC system for line 1 of Turin Metro along with four new Metropolis trains. The contract includes an option for 12 more Metropolis trains. [Read more…] about Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

Kuka wins order for 700 robots from Ford Otosan

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Industrial robotics and automation specialist Kuka has won an order from Ford Otosan in Turkey for the delivery and installation of a very large number of robots.

The two companies have signed a new framework contract for supplying more than 700 robots for Ford’s next generation electrical and connected commercial vehicle projects in Ford’s plants in Kocaeli, in the north-east of Turkey, just south of Istanbul.

Kuka says the contract marks a continuation of the companies’ partnership which has been in place for more than 20 years. [Read more…] about Kuka wins order for 700 robots from Ford Otosan

UK’s Universities and Colleges Admission Service renews contract with Infosys to drive automation

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The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has renewed its contract with Infosys for another three years in an attempt to increase automation and the efficiency of its services for students.

According to Sander Kristel, UCAS’s chief operations officer, the deal marks a very real move forward in the partnership between the two organizations that has existed since 2015.

“UCAS is seeing an increase in student demand across all areas. A demographic uplift and a growing demand from mature students and overseas applicants means we are anticipating a million undergraduate applicants by 2025. [Read more…] about UK’s Universities and Colleges Admission Service renews contract with Infosys to drive automation

Sea Machines Robotics signs $3 million contract with US DoD to create autonomous supply stations globally

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Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and control and perception systems for the marine industries, has advanced its multi-year agreement with the US Department of Defense.

Phase 2 of the multi-phase contract delegates $3.1 million to the deployment of a full-scale ocean-going replenishment platform.

In October 2020, Sea Machines was enlisted by the DoD to engineer, build and demonstrate ready-to-deploy system kits that transform existing commercial barges to platforms capable of landing and replenishing military aircraft. [Read more…] about Sea Machines Robotics signs $3 million contract with US DoD to create autonomous supply stations globally

Kuka signs major contract with Daimler involving at least 1,000 robots, continuing ‘100-year partnership’

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The Daimler automotive group and the Augsburg-based automation specialist Kuka have signed a new framework contract for the coming years. This marks a continuation of the companies’ long-standing partnership.

Kuka has not released details of the new deal but says the order “encompasses a four-figure number of robots and linear units as well as other Kuka technologies such as software and controllers”.

This includes the KR Fortec heavy-duty robot as well as the next generation of the KR Quantec. Kuka linear units, in turn, add a further axis to the robot, thereby considerably extending the work envelope of the robot. [Read more…] about Kuka signs major contract with Daimler involving at least 1,000 robots, continuing ‘100-year partnership’

NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development firm, and Arizona State University are pleased to announce they have been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Phase I will focus on identifying and developing intent estimation and intent-expressive motion planning technologies that enable cooperative operation of low-cardinality swarms of space vehicles (for example, planetary rovers and flyers) in lunar and planetary exploration missions.

Brian Geisel, CEO at Geisel Software, says: “Geisel Software is excited to be working with ASU on this ground-breaking swarming research for NASA. [Read more…] about NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract