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delivery

Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

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Volansi, a drone company specializing in medical logistics, has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceuticals and biotech giant Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, Volansi is piloting the delivery of cold-chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about drone technology’s role and ability to improve access to healthcare.

With 1.4 million people across 29 counties, eastern North Carolina’s vast, rural environment can create challenges for accessing care. Initial flights in the project resulted in the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the US. [Read more…] about Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

Piestro partners with Kiwibot to bring ‘automated artisan pizzas’ to your door

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Piestro, a start-up automating artisan pizza creation, is partnering with Kiwibot, the robotics company providing “affordable and accessible” delivery services, to offer consumers a touchless, contactless pizza delivery experience.

The partnership follows a successful campaign to raise finance on crowdfunding platform StartEngine, where Piestro had an oversubscription of investor interest.

As a result, Piestro will open a second funding campaign on StartEngine to give more everyday investors an opportunity to bring fresh, quality pizza to the masses. [Read more…] about Piestro partners with Kiwibot to bring ‘automated artisan pizzas’ to your door

Delivery vehicles moving to electric ecosystem

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The unlikely convergence of a global pandemic and electric vehicle technology is driving delivery fleets to adopt electric vehicles at ever increasing rates.

The coronavirus pandemic has reportedly caused a huge spike in package delivery. According to CNBC.com, UPS for instance, delivered up to 21.1 million packages a day in the second quarter of 2020, a nearly 23 percent jump in average daily US volume from a year earlier.

Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020, published by BloombergNEF, states that there are over 500,000 e-buses and almost 400,000 electric delivery vans and trucks on the road globally. [Read more…] about Delivery vehicles moving to electric ecosystem

PAL Robotics completes testing of robots with Accerion positioning sensors in hospitals to fight Covid-19

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With the unpredictable health crisis of Covid-19 continuing to place high demands on hospitals, PAL Robotics says it has successfully completed testing of its delivery robots in Barcelona hospitals this summer. (See video below.)

The TIAGo Delivery and TIAGo Conveyor robots were deployed in Hospital Municipal of Badalona and Hospital Clínic Barcelona following a winning proposal submitted to the European DIH-Hero project.

Accerion sensors were integrated onto the TIAGo Delivery Robot and TIAGo Conveyor Robot for use in this project. [Read more…] about PAL Robotics completes testing of robots with Accerion positioning sensors in hospitals to fight Covid-19

US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

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The US Federal Aviation Administration has given Amazon permission to make drone deliveries, certifying the company as an “air carrier” – basically like an airline company.

The world’s largest online retailer has been trying to get permits to operate its Amazon Prime Air drones for several years, making test deliveries by drones while it waits.

One sticking point was that the FAA had originally wanted drone operators to maintain human vision on the drone while in the air. [Read more…] about US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

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Logistics and snail-mail delivery giant Japan Post is partnering with Yamato, one of Japan’s largest door-to-door delivery service companies, to test delivery robots on the streets of Tokyo, according to Nikkei.

The robot the two companies are using was built by a local company called ZMP, which appears to specialise in autonomous mobile vehicles, be they delivery robots or cars.

This particular one is called “DeliRo” (main picture), probably short for “delivery robot”. [Read more…] about Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

Baemin launches outdoor delivery robot in South Korea

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A company called Baemin, or Baedal Minjok, whose parent company is the better-known Woowa Brothers, has launched an outdoor delivery robot which is expected to be used for food deliveries. 

The robot is in service at the Gwanggyo Alley Way, a multipurpose housing complex in Gwanggyo, a planned city 25 km south of capital city Seoul.

When orders are placed in restaurants within the plaza via a Baemin app, the robot delivers to the ground floor of customer’s residence. [Read more…] about Baemin launches outdoor delivery robot in South Korea

Wing AI partners with KiwiBot to develop robotic delivery services

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Wing AI is partnering with KiwiBot to develop robotic delivery services.

The companies say the partnership will “help make consumer deliveries easier, safer, and more affordable in the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Wing is a 24/7 mobile assistant app powered by humans and artificial intelligence. It is the only on-demand concierge app that learns about its users to better tailor and improve its services. [Read more…] about Wing AI partners with KiwiBot to develop robotic delivery services

LG supplies delivery robot to posh hotel

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LG Electronics is providing the services of its delivery robot to an upmarket hotel in South Korea, according to The Korea Herald.

The small, mobile robot is being employed at the Mayfield Hotel, in the capital city Seoul, and will deliver food from an indoor kitchen to diners seated outside on the terrace. It will also be used to carry dishes back to the kitchen.

There are two robots currently in operation at the Mayfield, and they look very similar to the ones unveiled by TeleRetail a couple of years ago., although we cannot confirm at this stage whether it is the same. [Read more…] about LG supplies delivery robot to posh hotel

Opinion: A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation is happening in China

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By Gao Feng Advisory

A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation appears to be taking place in China. There are a number of forces driving this catalysis in automation technologies. 

Firstly, the Chinese government and its policies are playing a central role. This will be particularly reflected in the unprecedented spending on “new infrastructure” as a response to the pandemic.

Secondly, the technologies and related-industries targeted by the government’s new infrastructure agenda are critical components. [Read more…] about Opinion: A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation is happening in China